Tech Talk

Advanced HDTV Tune-Up Tips

2008-07-28T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

If you've just dropped $1,000 or more on a new TV or projector, chances are you're serious about home theater. For true videophiles, the most effective--and expensive--way to get theater-like pictures is to have the display professionally calibrated. But some TVs perform well enough out of the box that you may not consider professional service a worthwhile investment. This section will help you decide.

What do the pros do?

Although the service you get will vary, professional calibrations almost always involve a few common steps aimed at improving the image. Many of these require accessing the display's internal service menu and measuring the image with test equipment, such as the Konica Minolta CS-200 used by CNET labs. Those are two good reasons why the service calls for a trained professional. We strongly advise against tampering with the internal service menu unless you know what you're doing.

Here are the services included in a typical calibration:

Direct-view and flat-panel TVs: Set grayscale to the NTSC standard of 6,500 Kelvin, improving color accuracy of the entire palette; set contrast, brightness, color, and so on using test patterns designed specifically for each of these controls; optimize overscan and picture position, enabling display of more of the incoming picture; correct "red push" in the color decoder when possible; optimize all DVD input sources using DVD test patterns and HDTV input using an HDTV test-pattern signal generator.

Rear-projection and front-projection TVs: All of the above for non-CRT displays; for CRTs, also converge all aspect ratios and focus the three guns to maintain image sharpness.

Other advanced services include mechanical focus of projector lenses, custom setups for every aspect ratio and input source, full projector installations from scratch, and the like.

Is it worth it for my TV?

Professional calibrations cost anywhere from $250 for a direct-view or plasma set to more than $1,000 for a CRT-based front-projector. If you're on a budget, we recommend you first purchase one of the test discs and follow its DIY calibration procedure. If afterward you still feel like your set isn't performing as well as it should or you simply want to guarantee the best picture, you should get a calibration.

One of the most important components of professional TV service--and one that definitely requires special gear--is grayscale calibration. This procedure equalizes the color of gray at various light levels, from very dark to very bright, at the NTSC standard color temperature (a.k.a. white balance) of 6,500 degrees Kelvin, or D6500K. DVDs are created to be displayed at that color temperature, so if your TV is set to 6,500K, you're that much closer to seeing the image the director intended.

Some TVs, however, have color-temperature presets that come close to 6,500K. If that measurement comes close to 6,500K, then the set is in less need of a grayscale calibration. Note that very few TVs come close to the ideal color temperature, even in their warmest mode.

The Imaging Science Foundation is a good source for qualified calibrators.How do I get a calibration?

There are two ways to get your display calibrated. If you bought the set at a specialty retailer, the vendor would probably be able to refer you to someone who could perform the service. Some retailers even include calibration in the price of the television.

The more common way, however, is to retain the services of an independent contractor. There are many calibrators operating around the United States, but we recommend you choose a contractor with calibration equipment who has been certified by the Imaging Science Foundation and who owns his or her own calibration equipment. Note that many calibrators perform their services only in conjunction with full audio/video installations and may not offer separate video calibrations.

Technorati Tags: HDTV,TV calibration,tv tune-up

Intermediate HDTV Tune-Up Tips

2008-07-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Adjusting your TV with the quick tips on the previous page will yield good results, but you can do even better by investing in a home-theater setup DVD. Each of the discs described below contains explanations and interactive demos designed to get your system looking and sounding as good as it can, short of retaining a professional.

Digital Video Essentials

(DVD International, 2001)

Upside: Wide array of reference test patterns; varied montage of images.

Downside: Difficult to navigate; test patterns not all adequately explained.

Best for: Experts who want reference-quality patterns and are already familiar with basic calibration procedures.

The second version released, Video Essentials is still the gold standard for professional calibrators and other experts who are intimately familiar with its labyrinthine navigation. Created by video consultant Joe Kane, its patterns and excellent video/film montage have tested thousands of monitors--but they're not easy for beginners to use. People who want less of a learning curve should stick to newer, less arcane discs.

Avia II

(Image Entertainment, 2008)

Upside: Wide array of reference test patterns and well-detailed calibration procedures; easy navigation; optional in-depth looks at many home home-theater topics.

Downside: Sometimes pedantic tone.

Best for: Beginners with patience and others who want comprehensive explanations of system details.

Avia is arguably the most complete calibration disc. This well-designed disc includes an excellent 40-minute walk-through that covers major aspects of home home-theater systems and setup, and curious users will love the in-depth, text-only explanations of topics from aspect ratio to subwoofers. The heart of the disc, however, is the suite of thoroughly explained calibrations that takes you step by step through TV and audio system optimization.

Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-Up

(DVD International, 2001)

Upside: Simple explanations of calibration and setup routines; nice graphical demonstrations.

Downside: Constant corny jokes; little elaboration of home-theater concepts.

Best for: Beginners who want a quick-and-dirty way to tune up--as opposed to calibrate--their systems.

Endorsed by the home-entertainment reviews magazine, this disc is positioned as an easy-to-use guide to home-theater setup. In most areas, it succeeds. The body of the program consists of a tutorial on equipment, room environment, and calibrations hosted by a lively pair of hosts--whose trite antics become tiresome after the first minute. Common-language explanations and clear diagrams help beginners immensely, but some important concepts, such as variations among different display devices, are glossed over or eliminated altogether.

Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics [Blu-ray]

(DVD International, 2008)

Upside: Excellent in-depth explanations of up-to-the-minute home-theater concepts; comprehensive test patterns and montages; mastered in 16:9 wide-screen format and high definition.

Downside: Sometimes inadequate explanations of setup routines; constant chapter stops; no human host.

Best for: True and aspiring videophiles who want the most current, in-depth video information and don't mind falling asleep to get it.

The successor to Video Essentials, is one the first calibration Blu-Ray disc--and a lot has changed in the last few years. Watching the tutorial is a little like attending a class taught by HAL from the movie 2001 since there's no visible human host, and the narrator sounds a little too nice. The explanations are extremely informative and complete, and they include details that other discs miss. But the actual how-to of setup isn't as straightforward; beginners should avoid Digital Video Essentials.

Technorati Tags: Avia II,Blu-Ray,Digital Video Essentials,Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics,DVE,HDTV,Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-Up,TV calibration,tv tune-up

Basic HDTV Tune-Up Tips

2008-07-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

The average American spends hours in front of the TV each week, but the picture on an average American TV looks like Times Square on steroids: too bright and garish to seem anything like real life. That's because default settings for TVs are configured to make an impact on the sales floor of your local electronics superstore, not necessarily in your living room. With the emergence of higher-quality wide-screen and high-definition TVs, not to mention the DVD movies and HD programs that fill their big screens, living-room images can look better than ever before--as long as you don't settle for the manufacturers' default settings.

This guide includes three steps you can take to help make your television picture look its best. For starters, I'll help you to properly set the basic picture controls available on most TVs. Next, we'll take a look at various home-theater setup DVDs that provide expert advice for both video and audio fine-tuning. And lastly, I'll give you the lowdown on professional calibration and whether it's worth the investment for your high-end set.

Basic

You can do a lot to improve your picture using the simple adjustments found on all televisions. Taking the steps below will make the picture look more realistic and closer to what the director intended.

Room lighting

Since most people turn down the lights to watch a movie, our recommendations are designed to deliver a better DVD picture in rooms with controlled lighting. Unless you have a big-screen projector or you're sitting at the minimum viewing distance, you shouldn't watch movies in complete darkness--it can cause eyestrain. For bright plasmas and smaller direct-view sets, the ideal setup is to place a dim light directly behind the TV and leave the rest of the room dark. Look for special "daylight" bulbs that glow at 6,500 degrees Kelvin. You should also prevent any light in the room from reflecting off the TV, as glare will hamper image fidelity. Watching at night is best, but if you watch during the day, thick curtains will really improve the picture.

Before you make any of the adjustments detailed below, set room lighting as if you were about to watch a movie. For viewing in brighter environments, we recommend you use one of the picture presets, such as Standard, Sports, or Vivid, and reserve your custom settings for dark rooms.

Brightness

What it is: Also called black level, brightness actually adjusts how dark the black sections of the picture appear.

What it does: Excessive brightness can result in a two-dimensional, washed-out look with reduced color saturation. Images with brightness set too low lose detail in shadows, and distinctions between dark areas disappear in pools of black.

How to set it: After connecting your DVD player using the highest-quality input available, insert a DVD that has letterbox bars above and below the image, and find a scene that has a roughly equal amount of light and dark material. Turn up the control all the way, and then decrease until the letterbox bars begin to appear black, as opposed to dark gray. If you notice a loss of shadow detail--for example, when people's eyes disappear into the depths under their brows--then you've set brightness too low. Some plasma, LCD, DLP, and LCoS TVs won't ever look black, so you'll need a setup disc to properly configure their brightness.

Contrast

What it is: Also called picture or white level, contrast controls the intensity of the white parts of the image and determines the overall light output of the display.

What it does: Contrast is usually set extremely high by default because it makes images look brighter in the store. High contrast can obscure details and distort lines in the image, cause eyestrain in dim rooms, and shorten the lifespan of tubes and plasma elements. Setting contrast too low robs the image of impact.

How to set it: Display a still image from DVD of a white object with some visible details--such as someone wearing a white button-up shirt or a shot of a glacier from the Ice Age DVD. Adjust the control up all the way, and then reduce it until you can make out all the details in the white (such as buttons on a shirt or cracks in the ice). In general, TVs look best when contrast is set between 30 and 50 percent.

Color

What it is: Also called saturation, this control adjusts how intense the colors look.

What it does: When there's too much color, the set looks garish and unrealistic. It's most noticeable with reds, which are often accentuated (pushed) by the TV's color decoder. On the other hand, too little color diminishes the impact of the picture, making it look drab. Setting color to zero results in a black-and-white image.

How to set it: If available, first set the color-temperature control to the warmest option as described below. Then find an image of someone with light, delicate skin tones, preferably a close-up of a face, on a DVD. Turn up the color control until it looks like the person has sunburn, and then reduce it until the skin looks natural, without too much red. If the rest of the colors look too drab, you can increase color slightly at the expense of accurate skin tones.

Other controls

Tint: Unless you're using one of the DVDs mentioned in the Intermediate section to set it properly, this control is best left at the midway point.

Sharpness: This adds artificial edges to objects, which sometimes helps with soft cable signals but almost always mars the already sharp image from a DVD. Reduce it to zero unless you detect visible softening along the edges of text; if you do, increase it until the edges appear sharp again.

Edge enhancement: Also called VSM or SVM for scan-velocity modulation, set this control to Off if possible.

Color temperature: This important control affects the entire palette of colors. Select the Warm or Low option, which should come closest to the NTSC standard of 6,500 degrees Kelvin.

Generally, the image looks best for DVD with picture "enhancements" such as auto color, auto flesh tone, auto contrast, noise reduction, and other proprietary processing modes turned off. DVD image quality is good enough that these modes usually do more harm than good.

Technorati Tags: HDTV calibration,HDTV tune-up

Samsung LN46A530 LCD TV Review

2008-07-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

LCD HDTV's are the hot choice for living rooms and dens across America. Not only are they affordable and gorgeous to look at, but they provide some of the best pictures for anyone's viewing pleasure. The Samsung LN46A530 is the next generation of Samsung Flat screens, and it keeps with the tradition of sharp, quality pictures that Samsung is known for producing.

Picture:

Let's just cut to what everyone wants to hear about. The Samsung LN46A530 has a picture that's just short of being clear as a diamond. The one thing holding it back from picture perfection is how it seems too bright at times when bright, vibrant colors are on the screen. This can be countered by changing the picture type from something dynamic to standard, but that would get annoying, and let's be honest, "Dynamic" and "Sports" viewing are simply the best unless you properly calibrate your picture settings, whether you're watching your favorite sports team, or the Home Shopping Network. One of the best things about LCD's is the viewing angle. Many sets boast anywhere from 150 to 172 degree viewing angles. The Samsung LN46A530 has a viewing angle of about 160 degrees max, but the best viewing is done at less than 140 degrees. Still, for a 46" screen, that's nice. Besides, who wants to sit next to a beautiful picture? Oh, and fear not: whether you have HD or not, the picture is beautiful, and when HD is in use, let me just say that the picture POPS! Even better, you'll experience minimal ghosting as well, which means you can stay clear of "Movie" mode. You'll never watch sports any other way again. And the picture is even more gorgeous with SD, and is just as good when watching DVDs and Blue Ray. Grade: A

Sound Quality:

The bane of many flat screens is that the sound is not very strong. The Samsung LN46A530 has decent sound, meaning that it gets loud, but not necessarily crisp. Still, unless you have trouble hearing or want to hear the TV from across the street, you'll rarely turn it up loud enough to notice the loss of crispness. However, when hooked up to a sound system, especially with surround sound, the Samsung LN46A530's sound is sublime. Still, when a television needs surround sound systems in order to sound perfect, then it is not as good as it could be. However, to be fair, one can hear clear enough no matter where they sit in the room, even if their seat is around a corner, for this LCD projects sound really well. Grade: B+

Ease of Use:

The remote control system is a bit confusing. If your cable or satellite provider has a good remote that is universal with most TV sets, your cable, and a sound system if you have one, then this shouldn't be an issue, however, if this isn't the case, then you may have some trouble with the remote control provided by Samsung. Let's just say that if you accidentally switch away from cable, good luck troubleshooting to get back to cable without a little trial and error and/or reading the manual. Plus, since the provided remote isn't universal for your cable, the channel buttons are useless, because all you'll get is a fuzzy picture, and a little frustration. It's probably best to get a universal remote from your cable provider, or a really good quality remote from a store, simply to avoid the headaches that could arise just from a slight finger miscalculation. Grade: B

Price:

Let's be honest, it's a 46" TV, and that's pretty big. Generally, big LCD Flat screens come with even bigger price tags. Want to know the price for one of these bad boys at, say, a Best Buy? $1499.99, that's it. You can also get it online at Amazon.com which is selling it for only $1399.99 and Buy.com will be offering the same Samsung LN46A530 - 46 Widescreen 1080p LCD HDTV - 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio - 5ms Response Time at the same price from 7/28 to 8/3. That's LESS than $2000. I'll let that soak in. Astounding, isn't it? I mean, similar sets can sell for anywhere between $2000 and $3500, especially Sony, LG, and Sharp. Still haven't recovered? Too bad, because you're wasting valuable time sitting there being amazed when you could be out buying this fantastic TV. Grade: A+

Essentially, this is a great buy for the astounding picture quality, and good sound quality, you get. There are other LCD's on the market with more bells and whistles, and, of course, larger screens (62" anyone?), but for a great view in your den that will make the neighbors jealous, the Samsung LN46A530 is the ideal steal at $1399.99. Overall Grade: A

Technorati Tags: Flat screen TV,HDTV,lcd,lg,LN46A530,Samsung,sharp,Sony

Microsoft confirms IE 8 will ship this year

2008-07-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Here's a quick update from Microsoft's Financial Analyst Meeting (FAM): Microsoft Senior Vice President of Online Services and Windows, Bill Veghte, just told attendees that Microsoft will release the final version of Internet Explorer (IE) 8 to the Web "later this year."

Microsoft has tried its best not to provide a ship target for IE 8 — like most of its Windows client family of products. Company officials did acknowledge last month that a second public beta of IE 8 is due out in August.

Microsoft has been warning Web developers to prep for IE 8, which will be more standards-compliant, to prepare now for IE 8 by adding a new tag to their sites to keep them from breaking when viewed with IE 8.

Hopefully, Microsoft has learned a thing or 2 from Mozilla from its launch of Firefox 3.0. Let's face it, IE 7 was and is a piece of junk. Nobody wants to get the new IE 8 browser and be forced to endure constant freezing and forced restarts.

Technorati Tags: Firefox,ie7,ie8,internet explorer 8,Microsoft,Mozilla

Games for Windows Live Multiplayer Now Free

2008-07-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!

At the Gamefest 2008 event on Tuesday, Microsoft announced that all Games for Windows Live multiplayer features are now free. These features -- including multiplayer achievements, matchmaking, cross-platform play with the Xbox 360, GFW voice chat, and more -- previously required a GFW Live Gold account. The change is effective immediately and across all GFW titles, both past and future.

In addition to making Games for Windows Live free, Microsoft will also be creating a brand new GFW marketplace this fall to rival the marketplace found on the Xbox 360. As with the Xbox Live Marketplace, GFW's will offer demos, videos, downloadable content, and more. The GFW interface will also receive some tech-friendly changes, lowering requirements for developers looking to make their games GFW compatible.

To cap off the news, two new games were revealed to be receiving the Games for Windows branding: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II and Battlestations: Pacific. So PC gamers finally get the totally free service they've been asking for since Games for Windows launched, but is it too little, too late to save Microsoft's attempt at a PC gaming service? And will this make 360 owners question why they have to pay?

Technorati Tags: GFW,Games for Windows,Xbox 360,video games,PC games,Microsoft,XBL,Xbox Live

LCD or Plasma?

2008-07-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

If you've been shopping for a flat-panel TV, that's the big question. According to a mystery-shopper survey, electronics salespeople don't know much about the differences, but still have a ready answer: LCD.

More than three times out of four, salespeople steer customers to a liquid-crystal display set rather than a plasma screen, according to a study by J.D. Power and Associates released Monday.LCD, Plasma, flat panel tv, liquid crystal display, HDTV, LCD TV,

Never mind that LCD TVs are more expensive for the same size. The survey also found that more than 37% of salespeople warned customers that images can "burn" into plasma screens.

"Although burn-in was once a problem with the first plasmas to hit the market, this has not been a serious issue for several years," said Larry Wu, senior director of the technology practice at J.D. Power. The longevity of plasma displays is now on par with LCD's.

Salespeople also often mentioned a plasma drawback that's still relevant: their glossy front surface can create distracting reflections of lights and windows in the room.

Even with their preference for LCD's, the salespeople rarely mentioned those TVs' advantages. Fewer than one-fourth told customers that LCD sets are lighter and consume less power than plasma.

The report was based on the experiences of more than 2,000 mystery shoppers during the last six months. It focused on sets 40 inches or larger, where plasmas are contenders. The recommendation rate for plasmas increased over the period, from 17% in the first quarter to 23% in the second quarter.

"At most retail stores, large-screen television shoppers face an array of flat panel sets that all look essentially the same to the untrained eye, which is why recommendations from salespersons carry so much importance," Wu said.

Plasma displays were the first mainstream flat-panel display technology, but LCD's have gained ground. Sony has stopped making plasma TVs to focus on LCD's. Samsung Electronic and Matsushita Electric Industrial, the parent of Panasonic, still make both kinds. Pioneer, the premier name in high-end plasma sets, has announced that it will stop manufacturing the displays, and will buy them from Matsushita instead.

Technorati Tags: LCD,Plasma,flat panel tv,liquid crystal display,HDTV,LCD TV

60 GB Xbox 360 Available for Pre-Order on Amazon.com

2008-07-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!

I just noticed today that the new Xbox 360 Console 60GBis now available on Amazon.com for pre-order. It is listed at $349.99 and scheduled to be released on August 4th. Here's a listing of what it will include according to Amazon.

Box Content

- Xbox 360 Console, 1 Wireless Xbox 360 Controller, 60GB Hard Drive, Wired Headset, Combination Component/Composite A/V Cable, and Silver Xbox Live Service

Design

- Sleek set-top design with horizontal or vertical placement option in a white finish

Xbox 360 Guide

- Access your games, friends, music, movies, and downloadable content from the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller with a single press of the Guide Button

Customizable Interface

- Customize your Xbox 360 Dashboard, Guide, and Gamer Profile with content from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace

Xbox Live

- Go online and enter a world where games and entertainment come alive with the ability to download games and entertainment straight from the Marketplace and join multiplayer sessions complete with voice chat

As always, if you pre-order through Amazon.com, if for any reason the price drops between the time you order it and the time it ships (like they have a special sale or something after you order it), then they charge you the lowest price it was offered for during that time.

Technorati Tags: Xbox 360,60 GB Xbox 360,Xbox 360 60 GB,Amazon.com

Sony BDP-S350 Detailed

2008-07-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

The Sony BDP-S350has just been released. Here's a list of the specs for it. I'll write a more in-depth review on the player after I've had a chance to try it out for a while.

Key Features

True 1080p Output (Learn more)

Dolby TrueHD compatible (Learn more)

Ethernet connection for BD-Live Compatibility and firmware updates (Learn more)

USB Port Allows More Storage for Access to More Special Features, Like Bonus View (Learn More)

Higher Bit Rates mean less video compression (Learn more)

Emmy-Award Winning Xross Media Bar Interface (Learn More)

Bravia Sync for Easy Connectivity (Learn More)

24p True Cinema Video Output

Most of all Hollywood movies are shot at 24 frames per second, and Blu-ray Disc movies are mastered at 24 frame per second, so it is only fitting that the Sony Blu-ray Disc Players can output your films at 1080/24p for a true film-like experience at home. Of course, Sony Blu-ray Disc Players can also output at 1080/60p for more traditional HDTV sets on the market. Either way Sony has you covered for the best picture possible in Full 1080p.

Backwards compatible and Upscaling

All existing Blu-ray Disc players will play your standard DVD collection without a problem. And with built-in 1080p video upscaling, they'll look even better.

Xross Media Bar

Xross (pronounced Cross) is Sony's Technical-Emmy award-winning graphic user interface for Sony WEGA and BRAVIA televisions and PS3 and PSX game systems. The interface features category icons spread horizontally across the screen that organize the viewing options (TV, Music, Internet, Tools, etc...). When a category icon is selected on the horizontal bar, a vertical bar appears showing the viewing options within that category. Using the directional pad on your remote, you can easily maneuver horizontally from category to category, then scroll vertically through individual viewing options to easily navigate through the wide range of programming available on today's televisions.

BD-Live

BD-Live is a Blu-ray feature that enables you to access special content via an Internet-connected Blu-ray player. Because it's not coded into the disc, BD-Live content is always updated, always fresh. With BD-Live, your Blu-ray disc is different every time you view it.

Check out the latest previews, download special scenes, exclusive features and ringtones, and participate in online communities or games.

As BD-Live continues to grow and expand, even more features will become available, customizing features and content to your location or preferences.

Inputs and Outputs

Analog Audio Output(s) : 2 Channel: 1 (Rear)

Coaxial Audio Digital Output(s) : 1 (Rear)

Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output(s) : (Y/Pb/Pr) Output(s): 1 (Rear)

Composite Video Output(s) : 1 (Rear)

Optical Audio Output(s) : 1 (Rear)

S-Video Output(s) : 1 (Rear)

Ether port for firmware updates

USB port for BD-Live External Memory

Audio Features

Dolby : Dolby Digital (Decoding): Yes (HDMI bitstream out)

Dolby Digital plus Decoding : Yes

Dolby TrueHD Decoding : Yes (HDMI™ bitstream out)

LPCM : Yes (multi-channel decoding): Yes (HDMI™ bitstream out)

MP3 Playback : No

DTS Decoding : Yes (HDMI™ bitstream out)

DTS Output : No

Video Features

BD-R/RE Read Compatibility : Yes (BDMV and BAAB format)

DVD+R Read Compatibility : Yes

DVD+RW Read Compatibility : Yes

DVD-R Read Compatibility : Yes (Video Mode AVR Mode

DVD-RW Read Compatibility : Yes (Video Mode AVR Mode

JPEG Playback : Yes

Service and Warranty Information

Limited Warranty : 1 years parts/1 years labor

Technorati Tags: BDP-S350,Blu-Ray player,Sony

Resident Evil 5 First Impressions

2008-07-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

We've been anxious to try our hand at Resident Evil 5 since we first got a look at the promising game earlier this year. The long-running series clearly found a cool new groove with the last entry for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 in 2005, and hopes have skyrocketed for this highly anticipated sequel. We got a chance to play a couple of levels of this survival horror game and lived to tell the tale.

The first level that we tried was a short, tutorial-style run called "Assembly Place." Main characters Chris Redefined and Sheva Alomar are in the back alleys of a shantytown when it starts. The first order of business is guiding the pair down a short path, at the end of which they drop down and enter a house. There were a few items to collect--ammo and health--on a dumpster by the door. The game's new co-op angle was front and center; the minute the option to collect the items came up, it was possible to direct Sheva to pick them up.

Once we guided Chris into the house, a lengthy cutscene kicked off. From the look of it, a fair chunk of the in-game cinematic has been shown in the previous trailers for the game. The action revolves around a dictator type speaking to a mob before an execution courtesy of a massive, hooded behemoth wielding a big axe. Shortly after the execution, the dictator spots Chris and Sheva; in retrospect, it probably wasn't the smartest thing for the pair to be watching everything go on while standing in the window. As you'd expect, the dictator and the mob aren't thrilled about the intruders, and the cutscene closes with him directing the mob to house.

We took control of Chris as the house came under siege by the masses, who could be seen through the windows. We had a few options as they started rushing, which were pretty interesting. We were able to push bookcases in front of the main door and one of the windows. We liked that; much like having the option to direct Sheva to collect items, we were able to get her to assist with the bookcase. Before we started pushing on our own bookshelf, we set her on the other, which was handy because time is of the essence when you're being set on by an angry mob. In the few seconds that we had left, we also collected loot from around the small house. As with previous games, the loot was laying in plain sight, and also hidden in drawers or left behind when smashing crates.

The level's pacing started with a slow burn, much like the first big rush of enemies in RE4, with the mob getting more and more aggressive in their attempts to enter. As we were getting our bearings, Sheva helpfully started shooting at anyone who showed their face in windows. We were actually able to take out quite a few by shooting them through the windows, but eventually the mob kicked in the main door and started streaming in. As if that wasn't bad enough, another highly motivated group started dropping down from a hole that they had made in the roof. The final kicker was when a massive, axe-wielding hulk smashed his way through the main wall...clearly a sign that it was time to get out.

We snaked past Mr. Axe and the enemies streaming into the house and took to the streets. Besides affording us more room to maneuver, the streets were littered with a number of useful items. There were crates to break that yielded assorted ammo, grenades, health canisters, and gold. More importantly, there were a few houses that we could loot, one of which contained an AK-47. Flammable barrels were the other useful element in the outdoors. Although they didn't explode, the fire that they kicked up took out most enemies, with the exception of the axe wielder who, we discovered, could kill us with just two hits.

Thankfully, one of the best perks of having Sheva around was that, when Chris' health was low or when he was about to get killed by a second axe blow, she could restore some of his health. This doesn't mean that you won't die, because we did; Sheva needs to be near you when you're on the brink of death. Regardless, it's certainly a handy mechanic. Once we survived long enough, we triggered another cutscene that featured a military helicopter coming in and tearing things up with an aerial salvo that cleared out most of the enemies in the town center.

We explored the cleared town a bit and made our way farther up, coming across a few more enemies, including some Molotov cocktail-pitching ones. We were able to shoot the bottles out of their hands as they were getting ready to throw, which had the added bonus of setting the enemy on fire. This short segment also introduced a new flying enemy that was all about clinging to our face and murdering us. Thankfully, they didn't stand up to a volley of bullets. The level ended when we reached a large gate.

The second level that we tried offered an even greater challenge but showed off more of the possibilities of co-op. The level, called "Shanty Town", started in the claustrophobic streets of a city. The initial run was simple enough, in that we guided Chris and Sheva through some gates and side streets, which had an assortment of ammo and health pickups. When we finally met with some enemies, they were fairly easy to deal with. However, things got complicated when our path through a building was blocked by a padlocked set of doors. We wound up heading to the top of the building and performing an assisted leap with Sheva to send her to a building across the way. Upon landing, she was beset by enemies and we were forced to cover for her, using a pistol or a sniper rifle, as she made her way down the building and onto the streets to the door blocking our way, which she helpfully opened.

Once the team was reunited, we started making our way up the streets, dealing with enemies and collecting loot. As we reached the end of the street we triggered a cutscene that introduced us to what is the front-runner on our most-hated enemy list in this game: a skinny, burlap-sack-and-hood-wearing, chainsaw-wielding fiend committed to gutting you. The skinny foe was agile and quick, which is a bad combination when mixed with the aggro-slash-crazy vibe he had going. The level ended when he was defeated, which took equal parts bullets, grenades, explosive barrels, and lucky dodging.

The two levels gave us a good sampling of the action that Capcom is packing into the promising game and also served as a good introduction to the co-op mechanic with Sheva. The demo's AI control of her was surprisingly helpful, which isn't always the case in games that pair you with an artificial buddy. She was handy and pretty aggressive when the action heated up. She got a little greedy with the loot at times, and she wound up Hoovering some much-needed ammo, but it's hard to hate considering how often she saved our life.

It's possible to share or request loot and weapons from Sheva, which helped make up for her acquisitive tendencies, although we wish that we could have split ammo to ensure that she wasn't left dry. The assisted jumping and climbing moves in the demo were similar to those in Army of Two, albeit a bit more straightforward; the moves simply involved a button press that triggered a short cinematic of the move executing. The life-saving bit was a nice touch that was actually dynamic and resulted in Sheva using a healing item if she had one, which would heal you both, or simply using an adrenaline shot that restored a small amount of life to you. You could return the favor during gameplay, given that she calls out for help when cornered. In the rare circumstances when she either wandered off during battle, or in which we were lost in a desperate rush to avoid trouble, we could call her back our way or locate her position by hitting a bumper and making our way to her.

The control scheme basically follows the RE4 model and adds new features, such as calling your partner and the new context-sensitive actions with Sheva, although so far we saw only a jump and a leap. Like before, you'll be able to aim and shoot with ease as well as use your knife when ammo is spare. You'll also be doing much shaking of the analog stick to get enemies off of you. The game handled well, and the new features fit in pretty seamlessly once you adjust to them.

The visuals in the game are looking fantastic, even in the work-in-progress version that we played. The game is sticking close to the gritty, realistic art style of RE4, which works well with its African setting and the tone. The color palette is a bit washed-out but the gray hue adds to the grim feel of the proceedings. Likewise, the character models look great and feature a ton of detail. We especially like how your enemies occasionally have their faces burst into tentacles when you're getting attacked, which raises some questions about what the heck is going on. The new destructible elements in the environment are a cool albeit unsettling touch. There's an added sense of danger now because nowhere is 100 percent secure or safe. As far as performance goes, the game purred along nicely, although there were some obvious work-in-progress loads for the cinematic's.

At the moment, Resident Evil 5 is looking like a wickedly good debut for the series on the current generation of consoles. The game appears to be building smartly on RE4's winning revamp of the series. The addition of Sheva is interesting and the promise of online co-op play has us really excited. Though the gameplay may be pretty similar to that in the previous game, that's hardly a fault. Resident Evil 5 is slated to ship on March 13, 2009 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Technorati Tags: RE5,Resident Evil 5,PS3,PlayStation 3,PS2,GameCube,Xbox 360,video games,RE4

Fallout 3 First Impressions

2008-07-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

During the Microsoft Press Conference at E3 2008, Todd Howard of Bethesda demoed Fallout 3 and mentioned that the game would have "extensive" downloadable content, exclusively for Xbox 360 and Games For Windows.

No word yet on if the Play station 3 will have its own exclusive content or if the 360 and Windows content is just a timed exclusive.

Fallout 3 was the first cab off the rank at Microsoft's E3 press conference, with the big news being that Bethesda is planning some future downloadable content for both the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game. No further details were unveiled about what form that content may take, but there has been rumors about potential new weapons and maps. It was also confirmed that it would be exclusive to Xbox Live.

As for gameplay, Bethesda showed a new locale and some new weapons in its postapocalyptic action role-playing game, and all of the action was showcased in a ruined Washington DC. The demo began with the character making his way past some dilapidated buildings, after which he pulled out a sniper rifle to scope out the territory in front. After spotting some raiders camped behind a car, the Bethesda rep playing the game switched to Fallout 3's VATS targeting system, aiming at the skull of one unsuspecting enemy. For the uninitiated, Fallout 3's VATS system is a way of targeting specific body parts on enemies, in which onscreen indicators show the percentage chance of a likely hit (depending on your character's attributes and weapons). Firing the rifle triggered the VATS system's slow-motion cinematic mode, and the raider's head exploded in a burst of bloody pulp as the bullet impacted. The player then switched to a shotgun to dispense with the other raiders, who had streamed from behind their vehicle hideout. One raider decided to take cover on a small bridge, at which point the Bethesda rep pulled out the in-game character's laser rifle, taking only two shots to completely vaporize the camping raider.

Once past the bridge, a huge Enclave helicopter appeared, dropping off a few soldiers several hundred meters in front. Instead of duking it out with conventional weapons, the Bethesda rep pulled out a missile launcher to deal with the situation. After softening up the Enclave soldiers with a couple of rounds, the character then switched to Fallout 3's BFG variant, the Fat Boy portable nuke launcher. The Bethesda rep aimed directly at one soldier's chest using the VATS system, and the slow-mo cinematic tracked the mini-nuke's curving path as it descended. We've seen the Fat Boy before, but it's still cool to see the small mushroom cloud that it leaves behind as it explodes.

Finally, the Bethesda rep playing the game confirmed that it would have plenty of single-player content, boasting of more than 100 hours of playtime. Fallout 3 ships this October on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The demo quelled any fears that I had about the game being too Oblivion like and I feel this may be the best RPG released this year. We'll see how it all pans out after it's released.

Technorati Tags: Fallout 3,PS3,PlayStation 3,Xbox 360,Games for Windows,XBL,Bethesda,Oblivion

Gears of War 2 First Impressions

2008-07-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

As Microsoft's biggest first-party release of 2008, it's no surprise that the company rolled out the red carpet for Gears of War 2, hosting a shindig in downtown LA to let journalists go hands-on with the game. The first portion of the demo was really just a walk-through of what was shown during the Microsoft Press Conference, so no real need to go into detail on that. We did, however, get a taste of two of the online modes in the game.

Horde is essentially a cooperative survival mode that lets you and four friends work together to deal with increasingly difficult mobs of enemies that come in waves. In addition to the new mode we had a chance to check out two new maps, avalanche and day one, which added a new wrinkle to the multiplayer experience.

So, first off, horde mode. The new mode lets you and four friends test your skills against waves of enemies. Basically every wave will be made up of a set amount of enemies. Once you clear the wave you'll have a few seconds to prep and collect ammo and whatever pickups have been left by your foes or gear that respawns. The first waves are totally manageable and are made up of familiar enemies. However, as the levels progress things get crazy as new enemies such as the mauler boomer, butcher boomer, grinder boomer, and the flamer boomer. Each variation comes packing new weapons and gear that bumps up their threat and irritation levels to new heights.

Horde has some unique features, including the ability to respawn at the end of each wave. There were many moments where the final guy in our squad was barely holding on against a handful of Locust, only to have one lucky grenade toss and save the game for the rest of us. Very exciting, indeed!

However, you might look back fondly on the new boomers when you hear about what else is coming. The blood-mounts are new and exciting enemies which find locust riding mounts that bring a world of pain. If you're fast you can take out their riders, but these new foes are something else. At the moment the mode is being tweaked for balancing so specifics on the number of waves, right now Epic is thinking 50 or so, and exactly how things will play out are still being determined. We got pretty far in our play time, but things got pretty brutal. The biggest challenge is keeping your ammo stocked by collecting what's handy before enemies spawn in. The best way to survive is teamwork as your group can revive each other if everyone's attentive and fast on their feet. If you can't be revived before something horrible happens you'll respawn in time for the next wave if one of your team members survives.

The mode also offers up some cool scoring features, giving you more points for headshots, flame kills and executions, leading to some neat rivalries as the leaderboard pops up at the end of each wave.

One of the cool new twists to the mode is the stage interactivity on the two new maps we saw, day one and avalanche. Day one is set in a city center and paints a disturbing picture of how things went down on emergence day. Basically the stage is made up of a downtown city street, complete with movie theater. At its center is an emergence hole that offers an unpleasant surprise every so often: a rampaging worm that reaches out and chomps on anything that's unlucky enough to be close by.

However the avalanche level featured an even crazier interactive element, an actual avalanche that changed the layout of the level. Before the mighty rush of snow hits the level is a simple mountainside town. The boxy level is bordered by structures you can go in and explore with a center area that has a gazebo like structure with weapons to collect. The problem with the center area is, when the snow hits, you don't want to be there as you'll instantly die. While the snow is dangerous, there are some nice perks to it. The biggest perk is that the level layout is changed by the snow and you'll be able to access different weapons, including some from the new weapon class being introduced in the game, the heavy weapon class. We got to see two, the mulcher and the mortar, from the new class which is essentially an incredibly powerful but challenging to aim firearm. The mulcher is a chaingun like weapon that is a powerful close quarters weapon with so much kick it's tough to be too accurate with. The secondary fire to it lets you actually plant it in the ground and create a mobile turret with a limited range of fire. The challenge is that the weapon uses a heat system which will lock up the gun if you use it too often. To help you balance usage you can manually cool it by flushing heat. The new mechanic is called active cooling and works like the active reload system.

The mortar follows the same logic and lets you fire a cluster of powerful explosives that present a danger to anything around, including you. However, if you plant it in the ground you'll get a range finder and be able to take out foes at a far range which is incredibly handy. The downside to both weapons is that you'll move slowly with them and using them on the fly isn't super effective.

The visuals in horde mode and the new maps are obviously along the same quality lines as what we've reported. We would like to call out the visuals for the avalanche which are very cool. The heavy weapons are a little nutty but feature some impressive effects that sell their raw power.

Based on what we played, horde mode is a slick new addition to the Gears experience. The five player support is cool, although we do still wish for some two plus player co-op, and a lot of fun. Another cool tidbit we didn't get to see too much of was bot support in the game which sounds like another cool touch that Epic's adding into the game.

Apart from Horde, we checked out Team Leader, which was a pretty standard mode which we've seen in other multiplayer games like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2. The concept is that each team of 5 has a leader. So long as that leader is alive, the teams will keep respawning. Kill the leader and you kill their ability to respawn (like a resurrection ship!), so it becomes a game of tactics, risking your life to try to take down the leader for the good of your team.

It was in this mode that we checked out some of the new weapons and executions. Chainsaw dueling is particularly intense, as each warrior must bash on the B button as much as humanly possible to win the battle and slice the other guy in twain. We also thoroughly enjoyed the poison grenades and the updated smoke grenades, which can now be set to proximity, allowing you to knock out an invader cold for a few seconds, leaving you with plenty of time to move in for the kill. We also tried the incredibly satisfying flame thrower and the new mortar launcher, which we promptly blew ourselves up with. Whoops!

Overall it seems Gears 2 has definitely gotten a nice-sized boost over the last 2 years. It's definitely the action game to beat this holiday season, and we hope to tool around with more of the multiplayer features in the near future. The game is slated to ship this November.

Technorati Tags: GOW 2,Gears of War 2,Microsoft,Xbox 360,E3 2008,Horde,Avalanche,Day One,Team Leader,Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Who Had The Best E3 2008 Showing?

2008-07-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

In the two days leading up to the year's biggest video games trade show, E3, it's become something of a tradition that the competing console manufacturers face off in a series of lavish press conferences. Now that 2008's round of announcements, demonstrations, trailers, and posturing are over, which console came out on top?

Despite rumors of price cuts, Microsoft opted to expand the hard drive of its mid-range offering instead of delivering any real savings to consumers. All the same, the 360's Dashboard interface is undergoing a serious overhaul this year, and looks to be coming out cleaner, with more downloadable games, and including custom avatars that are, not to mince words, a complete rip-off of Nintendo's Miis. ("Where else could you get an avatar creation system but on Xbox Live?" one developer commented. We have no idea.) On-demand movie and TV programming courtesy of Netflix will expand the 360's already bulging video abilities, and a new motion-sensing microphone controller will deliver new horrors to the terrifying world of karaoke games.

Sony put together a similar performance, shuffling its PS3 package offerings to little real effect (although you might pick up a bargain as retailers clear stock of the older lines). It's also expanding its video offerings by offering online movie rentals from an impressive portfolio of studios -- and you can take them on the road on your PSP, too. Unlike Microsoft's offerings, which have a vague "fall" ETA, Sony's new online features should be available by the time you read this.

That wasn't all, though. Sony's press conference rolled out a set of game trailers that had fans cheering: a new God of War game on PS3, a vast-looking massive action game named MAG, and a couple of promising superhero games: one massively-multiplayer title based on the DC superhero universe, and one futuristic, open-city game from the Sly Cooper studio. It's a great selection, and one that leaves Microsoft's roster of Gears of War 2 and Fable II looking a little tired.

Mind you, that wasn't the end of the software story. Although the Sony execs weren't visibly injured, Microsoft's press conference delivered them a metaphorical punch to the gut: the absolutely huge Final Fantasy series is no longer a PlayStation exclusive. Final Fantasy XIII will be coming to the 360, and unless you count the oddball, massively-multiplayer XI (we don't) it's the first time any of the modern Final Fantasy games have gone cross-platform. If nothing else dropped jaws at the Microsoft do, this announcement sure did.

In contrast, it was hard to dodge the grumbling on the way out of the Nintendo event. Where were the classic franchises we all know and love? Where, for that matter, was Mario? Nintendo fans had to make do with a new Animal Crossing title, and an oh-so-vague mention of a Grand Theft Auto game on the DS handheld. Accessories like the MotionPlus controller plug-in and the WiiSpeak microphone (pictured below) are all very well, but don't we have enough bits of plastic cluttering up our houses already?

Which, naturally, is Nintendo's modus operandi since the release of the Wii. For every disgruntled Nintendo hardcore fan, there's a whole houseful of delighted non-gamers enthused at the thought of getting together to play music without needing a bunch of instruments or, you know, any skill. But can Nintendo really deliver a music game experience that's as compelling as Rock Band?

Perhaps, perhaps not. Either way, this year's E3, so far, belongs to Sony -- and if you're still on the fence about which new system you're going to spring for, your decision just got a whole lot tougher.

Technorati Tags: E3 2008,Microsoft,Nintendo,Sony,Wii,Xbox 360,PlayStaion 3,PS3,XBL,Netflix,Gears of War 2,God of War 3

Microsoft details fall XBL update

2008-07-15T11:19:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

New information seemed to ooze out of every word uttered by presenters at Microsoft's E3 Media & Business Summit. One of the biggest reveals, though, concerned the long-rumored Xbox Live interface revamp. When the Xbox Live redux goes live this fall, it will bring a completely new look to the online platform, as well as an avatar-based community system and integration with Netflix's on-demand movie download service.

Significant happenings one and all, but those aren't the only changes Microsoft is slotting in for its fall update. In an open letter posted to Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's company blog, Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten ran down a number of other updates planned to be rolled out for the service in the near future.

Taking a play from Sony's book, Microsoft introduced a "Play From Hard Drive." The optional feature will quickly put Microsoft's new 60GB Xbox 360 to use, letting gamers install all games--whether they be already out or coming soon--to their hard drives. According to Microsoft, the install will both decrease load times and dampen noise by eliminating the need for the disc drive to spin a disc.

The avatars are coming! The avatars are coming! Microsoft will also be strengthening ties with its PC platform by opening up Xbox Live Marketplace for access through the PC. Xbox Live members will be able to browse and buy Marketplace goods through Xbox.com, and purchased content will then be downloaded automatically.

Whitten also further elaborated on a few of the key points of Microsoft's press conference. Addressing the avatar system, Whitten said that players will be able to join up in parties of up to eight to jump from game to game as well as view Netflix films, share photos, and chat through the Xbox Live dashboard. This community approach will also extend to Xbox Live Primetime, a casual-game portal that features gameshow-like events and contests. The publisher noted that a live host will be on hand for many of the events.

Those concerned with the hardware itself have two new features to look forward to. On the display side, Whitten said that Microsoft would be adding 16X10 aspect ratio over both VGA and HDMI, as well as implementing 1440x900 and 1680x1050 display resolutions. The game maker also debuted a pair of festively themed controllers. One green and one red, the wireless controllers will come bundled with a Play & Charge battery kit and will be available for $64.99 each on or about September 30.

Technorati Tags: Fall XBL update,Microsoft,XBL,Xbox Live,Netflix,Play from hard drive,Xbox Live Marketplace,Xbox Live Primetime

Final Fantasy XIII to be Released on Xbox 360!!!

2008-07-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday at its press briefing at the E3 Media & Business Summit, Microsoft stunned many in the audience by announcing that Final Fantasy XIII is now in development for the Xbox 360. Not only is the game coming to the console, but it will arrive on the same day and date as the PlayStation 3 edition of the game, with no timed exclusivity of any kind. What a huge coup for Microsoft, and what a great piece of news for Xbox 360 owners who also happen to be great console RPG lovers.

However, when exactly that is remains a mystery, given that the graphics-intensive role-playing game still has no firm release date.

"We believe that releasing an Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII will allow us to provide the game to even more fans in the two regions of North America and Europe," Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada told a stunned audience FFXIII's move to 360 is exclusively a development for the West. "The Japanese plans for 360 haven't changed," said Hashimoto. "We considered the situation, and we would like to provide the game to as many fans as possible given the spread of the hardware."

As the Xbox 360 is extremely popular in the West and practically a nonentity in Japan, the split decision makes sense. Furthermore, the migration to 360 is clearly a recent decision. According to Hashimoto, development has yet to begin in earnest for Microsoft's console. "We're ready to start developing FFXIII for 360," he said. "First, we will complete the game for PS3 in Japan, then begin localization for America and Europe while developing the 360 version simultaneously.

Technorati Tags: FFXIII,Final Fantasy XIII,Xbox 360,video games,Square Enix,Microsoft,E3,PlayStation 3,PS3,RPG

Microsoft Unveils New Completely Re-Designed Dashboard Interface!

2008-07-14T15:05:00.003-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Microsoft just announced at the E3 2008 briefing a completely new interface for the Xbox 360 coming this fall with an all new avatar system similar to that on the Wii. The new Xbox 360 interface looks clean and user-friendly. Paired with being able to kick off the avatar community with about 12 million users will give Microsoft an edge. What is interesting is also the style break of the first shooter hard core games Microsoft just showed with the very cute looking avatars.

Avatars will allow 360 owners to create their own virtual self, complete with an assortment of hairstyles, clothes (including pants, shirts, and hats), and accessories. While Nintendo's Wii had Mii avatars at launch, and Sony's Home avatars have been announced coming to the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 avatars seem to be a balance between the stylized look of Miis, and the more realistically proportioned Home avatars. The currently signed-in account's avatar is displayed next to their gamertag and achievement points in the My Xbox channel. The fully customizable avatars, designed by Rare, can be imported into other games to be used as playable characters. New channels include the My Xbox channel, which includes games, photos and video. The friend list will now be manifested as "Community," which uses the avatars to designate whether or not a friend is signed on.

The new features will place an emphasis on community with IM, video chat, and photo sharing, along with a brand new 3D slide interface for the main Dashboard screen. The Avatars will be integrated into your GamerCard, but you can also create a "Live party" and invite your friends, with as many as 8 of your three dimensional homies hanging out at once -- though you're not hanging out in an actual 3D environment.

The interface looks somewhat similar to Vista Media Center in its basic structure, but with more emphasis on visuals. Also, a new "party" mode will allow an 8 person chat to be carried out regardless of where you are within the Xbox Live community. This party can also move as a group through different games in XBLA and their new Primetime feature, which has multiplayer-oriented party games like 1 vs. 100 and UNO. The update is expected to come in the fall.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,E3 2008,Xbox 360,avatar system,Wii,Dashboard,avatar community,PlayStation 3,PS3,gamertag,My Xbox channel,Rare,friend list,Live party,XBLA,Xbox Live Arcade,Primetime,video games,video game consoles

Westinghouse VK-40F580D Reviewed

2008-07-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Anybody who's owned a combination TV/VCR, or its multiheaded offspring, the TV/DVD player/VCR, knows that the VCR eventually breaks, and fixing it is not easy. Happily, the DVD part seems a lot more robust, which should reassure prospective buyers of the Westinghouse VK-40F580D, which is one of the few larger-screen flat-panel TVs with a built-in DVD player. In our testing, the player performed up to spec. The TV's picture quality was a pleasant surprise, with solid black levels, accurate color, and no major hiccups. Of course, the VK-40F580D will cost a bit more than a low-buck LCD and a drugstore DVD player, but the convenience of the built-in player should appeal to people, perhaps parents of DVD-addicted children, who want it all in one integrated package.

Design

The VK-40F580D isn't going to floor anybody with its styling, but it's probably smart enough to pass wife acceptance muster. The highlight is the little disc slot on the front panel below the screen, which is accompanied only by the discreet eject key. A bezel of standard glossy black frames the screen, and surrounding the silver disc slot is a swath of perforated matte black, behind which the speakers reside. The downside of the set is the cheap-looking black plastic stand, which doesn't swivel, although it does seem sturdy enough.

A slot-loading DVD player differentiates the Westinghouse VK-40F580D from the pack.

Including the stand, the VK-40F580D measures 38.9 inches wide by 28.6 inches tall by 9.5 inches deep. Like most flat panels you can mount it on the wall, but be aware that a protrusion on the rear, which is necessary to accommodate a spinning disc, brings the depth sans stand to a substantial six inches.

The same crowded Westinghouse remote control ships with the VK-40F580S, and we didn't find much to like. Cryptic symbols serve in place of words such as "menu" and "guide," there's no dedicated aspect ratio key, and the return key doesn't function as we expected; instead of backing one level out of the menu system, it changes channels. We did appreciate the direct-access keys to get to various input types, and the well-integrated DVD controls which include an eject button at the top of the clicker, but that's about it.

The nesting menu system is straightforward and easy to navigate.

The company did tinker with its menu system, and in general, it's an improvement. The submenu's layer atop one another as you move through them, selections were highly legible, most items seem intuitively placed, and we liked the text explanations of various menu items. In typical half-baked Westinghouse fashion, however, some of the explanations were absent, displaying filler information such as "Help text for Color Stretch" instead.

Features

The standout is the built-in DVD player. Insert a disc and it spins immediately, with the TV switching to DVD mode and playback starting without you having to press any buttons. It is a bit confusing that you have to remember to press the dedicated DVD "menu" key as opposed to the main TV menu key, but other than that, the player is very well integrated; the cursor keys, for example, default to controlling the DVD menus when you're in DVD mode. Technically, if you're keeping track, this is an upscaling DVD player since it scales the standard-definition discs to fit the high-definition screen.

Like most modern big-screen LCD's, the VK-40F580D has a native resolution of 1080p, which works out to 1920x1080 pixels. Of course, at this screen size you won't get much benefit from the extra pixels.

Custom color temperature controls went a long way toward making the color more accurate.

A nice range of picture controls is available, starting with four presets that cannot be adjusted and a fifth mode, called "custom," that's independent per input. There are three color temperature presets as well as another custom mode that lets you tweak white balance, although it doesn't have as many options as we'd like to see. More advanced controls are sparse, including just Dynamic Contrast and Color Stretch, and we left both turned-off for best quality.

Just three aspect ratio choices are available on this set, although we were pleased to see that the principal mode for wide-screen material, called "standard," showed the entire 1080 resolution image with no scaling or overscan.

Other features include the capability to reduce standby power consumption--although there's no energy saver mode for when the TV is turned on. Since the standby "energy saver" mode is actually default, which is a good thing, we used its numbers for our the Juice Box below, but in case you're wondering, disengaging that mode increases the standby consumption to a hefty 23.87 watts, compared with 4.7 in the default position, all for a marginally faster turn-in time. The set lacks picture-in-picture but, unlike most low-buck HDTV's, it does include the capability to view digital photos stored on USB thumbdrives.

The HDMI and PC inputs, along with a few audio connections, are on the right of the spine.

Connectivity, which the company distributes to either side of a sort of spine on the rear of the set, is fairly sparse compared with higher-end models, although we can forgive the company somewhat since you won't need to connect a DVD player. In an age when every TV seems to have three HDMI jacks, the VK-40F580D has just two. A lonely component-video input is also on tap, and there's a pair of AV inputs with composite-video--no S-Video input jacks are present on the VK-40F580D. An antenna input, a VGA-style analog PC input (1360x768-pixel maximum resolution), an analog audio output and an optical digital audio output round out the back-panel jack pack. No front- or side-panel connections are included.

The left side hosts the USB port, AV inputs, component-video, and the RF input.

Performance

Picture quality on the Westinghouse VK-40F580D is surprisingly solid for a low-priced LCD. We noted relatively deep black levels and accurate color after calibration, and even the built-in DVD player performed well.

Our standard calibration took advantage of the set's custom color temperature controls, but the results were less satisfactory than they would have been if the company included full controls. The VK-40F580D's Warm color temperature preset measured extremely green although, as the Geek Box indicates below, it did hew fairly close to the 6500K standard. We were able to remove the greenish tinge with those controls, but the grayscale was not as linear as we'd like, tending toward blue-green in bright areas hand reddish in dark. Still, it was better after calibration since green wasn't a problem. Check out our complete picture settings for the details.

The comparison for this test involved a few similarly-sized and priced models, including the Philips 42PFL5603D, the Toshiba REGZA 42RV530ULCD's, and the Vizio VP422 plasma. For our reference we also included the higher-priced Samsung LN52A650, and for our formal image quality tests we chose The Eyeon Blu-ray played via the PlayStation 3.

Black level: We were impressed by the depth of black the Westinghouse produced as we watched this extremely dark film. During the scene when Sydney stares out the window at night through the rain, for example, the darkest elements of the image, including the letterbox bars, the building wall in the foreground, and the wood of the window all appeared relatively deep. Only the Vizio plasma TV came close among our like-priced comparison sets, but its black were still lighter, and even the much higher-priced reference Samsung LCD was just a bit darker. As usual deep blacks helped differentiate details in shadows, so for instance the dark buildings themselves during the pull out showing the city, were relatively detailed.

Color accuracy: The Westinghouse also scores well for relatively accurate color post-calibration. The grayscale issues we noted above were still apparent, for example in the reddish tinge to black areas, but that was still preferable to the obvious bluish tinge seen on the Toshiba and the Philips, for example. Sydney's delicate facial tone as she lies in the hospital bed, or when she stares at the different person's reflection in the bathroom mirror, appeared natural enough, a testament to the solid grayscale in midbright areas. Primary colors were OK as well, although we did detect a hint of bluish in intense green areas, such as the evergreen tree spouting from the floor in an office and the plants in the park. Color decoding was spot-on, so we were able to get decent saturation, which was augmented as always by the better-than-expected black levels.

Video processing: As expected, the Westinghouse resolved every detail of 1080 resolution sources. It did fail to properly deinterlace 1080i film-based sources, according to our test patterns, but as usual, it was difficult to spot this failure in program material.

Uniformity: The screen of the VK-40F580D review sample we observed exhibited average uniformity across its surface. The right side of the screen, especially toward the edge, appeared brighter than the rest, a difference that was visible in flat fields such as the shots of nighttime cityscapes. The corners were relatively even; however, and no prominent bright spots were noticeable. Off-angle viewing was better than either the Philip or the Toshiba, which both became more discolored when seen from either side, although all three seemed to lighten black areas at the same rate as we moved off-angle.

Standard-definition: When subjected to our standard tests using an external DVD player, the set resoled every detail of the DVD format, and details in the stone bridge and the grass looked relatively sharp. When it came to removing jaggies from moving diagonal lines and a waving American flag, the Westinghouse fared about average compared with the other sets in our test. Its noise reduction feature performed very well, cleaning up nearly all of the noise in shots of sunsets and skies when we engaged the highest setting. We also appreciated 2:3 pull-down detection kicked in quickly and effectively.

PC: Past Westinghouse displays handled 1920x1080-pixel resolution sources via the VGA input, but the VK-40F580D does not. As the manual indicates, the maximum resolution we achieved was 1360x768, which looked OK, but was plagued by the characteristic softness of scaling in text and other areas. Via the HDMI jack, the display delivered every detail of 1920x1080 according to DisplayMate, performing as perfectly as we'd expect of any 1080p flat-panel, but going digital monopolizes one of the two HDMI ports, so we'd really like to see full resolution via the analog PC input.

DVD player performance We don't think many people will expect optimum picture quality out of a built-in DVD player, but the one in the Westinghouse did well according to our tests. It performed 2:3 pull-down processing well, cleaned up jaggies nicely in video material, and passed the full resolution of the DVD format.

Technorati Tags: Westinghouse VK-40F580D,TV,DVD,LCD,plasma,hdtv,Phillips,42PFL5603D,Toshiba,Regza,42RV530U,Vizio,VP422,Samsung,LN52A650,PlayStation 3,PS3,The Eye

Archos 605 WiFi Reviewed

2008-07-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

If you ever want to excite a gadget fiend, just walk up and whisper these words into their ear, "Touch screen...WiFi...high-resolution...Mac-compatible..." If remotely human, your friend should be salivating on himself just as we did when we read the specs for the Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player. The Archos 605 WiFi refines the screen resolution and usability of its previous effort, the 604 WiFi, and sets a new standard for affordable, exceptionally designed portable video players (PVP's).

Design

Only a few companies can compete with Archos when it comes to both product and interface design. The 605 WiFi is as elegantly conceived as anything we've seen from Apple or Sony. Measuring 4.75 inches wide, 3.25 inches tall, and just a hair more than a half-inch thick, the 605 strikes that front-pocket sweet spot; it's big enough to do video justice, yet small and thin enough to comfortably fit in your pants pocket. The recessed 4.3-inch TFT LCD screen is not only bright, colorful, and glare-resistant, but it displays at a resolution of 800x480, making it one of the highest-resolution PVP's on the market. We're also happy to see that the screen valiantly resists smudges despite its dual-duty as a touch screen.

While screen quality alone puts the Archos 605 ahead of the pack, small touches such as a built-in kickstand and an internal speaker really put this player over the top. Our only disappointments with the 605's design are the scratch-prone metal panel on the front, the lack of a universal USB connection, and the choice of white buttons that will surely pick up grime and discolor over time.

Nothing makes watching a movie more impractical than having to hold your PVP in your hand for more than an hour. The Archos 605 WiFi's hearty fold-out metal kickstand is a small but essential design touch.

Features

With most portable media players, what you see is what you get. But with any Archos product, the gear you buy is a base to which you can add additional features, for a price. Some accuse Archos of skimping on features to maintain an artificially attractive price, but you can also think of it as Archos allowing their customers to purchase only the features they want. Either way, the out-of-the-box 605 comes with most of the features people want in a PVP, and plug-ins--such as high-definition video playback, Internet radio, and others--cost only $20 a pop. Unfortunately, to truly take advantage of the 605's Wi-Fi, you need to spend an extra $30 for the Opera Web browser plug-in.

For your $30, thankfully, the Opera browser is Adobe Flash-enabled (unlike a certain iPhone) and works exceptionally well. Need to type in a password or a URL? The 605 WiFi's touch screen presents a responsive, iPhone-esque QWERTY keyboard. If you need one good reason for paying the extra $30 on the Opera Web browser, it's that any Flash-based video from sites such as YouTube, Dailymotion, and CNET is automatically detected by the 605 and presented in full screen.

Of all the accessories for the Archos 605 WiFi, the most expensive, and perhaps the most worthwhile, is the Archos DVR Station.

Even if you don't intend on giving Archos a single extra penny for plug-in features, you'll still love the player. The 605 WiFi comes with an MP3 player, a video player, a photo viewer, a PDF viewer, and the Content Portal feature, which uses the Wi-Fi connection to grab content directly from a handful of providers such as YouTube, Cinema Now, and BurnLounge. In particular, Cinema Now offers a great selection of mainstream movies that can be downloaded to your device for as little as 3.99. (It's worth mentioning/warning that Cinema Now also offers an exhaustive selection of adult-video content.)

Archos seems to have thought through almost all of the 605 WiFi's features. By default, the music player supports MP3, WMA (including DRM-protected files), and WAV files. You can purchase support for additional formats, such as AAC. During playback, the music player displays album artwork, allows for your music library to be sorted by ID3 tags, and gives you the ability to bookmark long files such as lectures and audiobooks.

The Archos 605 WiFi comes packaged with a case, a pair of styli, earbuds, and a proprietary USB cable.

The Archos 605 WiFi's video player is equally polished. It supports playback of MPEG-4, AVI, and WMV formats at up to 30 frames per second, covering most of the bases for common video files. You can buy optional plug-ins at $20 a pop for formats such as H.264 and MPEG-2/VOB files. Once you're actually playing video, you can bookmark, resize, and skip through your movie with ease.

If you're willing to shell out another $99, Archos offers a hardware accessory called the Archos DVR Stationthat unlocks the 605's ability to act as a sophisticated digital video recorder. By docking the 605 in the DVR Station and connecting it to your television, the 605 effectively becomes your home entertainment system. Instead of using the 605 WiFi's 4.3-inch screen, the DVR Station displays content on your television, allowing you to browse your music and movie collection, flip through photo albums, and even surf the Web from the comfort of your couch, using the included remote control.

Performance

First and foremost, the Archos 605 WiFi is a video player, and an unrivaled one at that. Portable video players such as the Cowon A2or the Creative Zen Vision W simply don't offer comparable video resolution, not to mention the capability to download movies wirelessly or act as a full-fledged DVR.

As a music player, the 605 weighs in at the bulkier side, but its sound quality equals that of most of our preferred MP3 players. Both the customizable five-band equalizer and independent Bass Boost controls err on the side of subtlety, but we think they offer just the right amount of sonic sculpting without mangling the sound into an overprocessed mush. (The same sound enhancement features apply to movie audio playback.) For those of you pulling media files from both a Mac and a PC, you'll be happy to know that the 605 WiFi can boot in multiple USB modes, both MSC and MTP, allowing it to work as both a drag-and-drop hard drive and a Windows Media Player device.

If we have a single complaint about the 605's performance, it's the battery life. Rated at 16 hours for music and 5 hours for video, Our lab tests came up a little short of Archos' expectations, with just 13.5 hours of audio playback and 4.7 hours of video. The results aren't bad considering all the power that gets sucked up by the 605's high-resolution 4.3-inch screen. Although similar products such as the Creative Zen Vision:W have better battery-life scores, they also work at a lower resolution than the 605 and don't have the power demands of a Wi-Fi antenna to deal with. If you're looking to extend playback time on the 605, you'll need to invest another $49 for an Archos external battery pack that plugs into the bottom docking port.

Final thoughts

The Archos 605 WiFi is one of the most impressive portable video players we've seen all year and its low price tag makes it very hard to resist. You may end up spending another $100 or more on extra features and accessories, but 605's ability to take the sting out of road trips and air travel should make the investment all worthwhile. While many of us are waiting to see what Apple conjures up for the holidays, its doubtful that anything in the iPod family will include the 605's drag-and-drop hard drive support, wireless music and video rental, or DVR functionality.

Technorati Tags: Archos 605 WiFi,WiFi,PVP,portable video player,Apple,Sony,Cowon A2,Creative,Zen Vision W

Xbox 360 price cut coming July 13

2008-07-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

After posting leaked photos of upcoming Best Buy, Kmart, and other circulars, the gaming blog now has a GameStop employee's cell-phone snapshots of shelf art and an internal memo announcing that the Xbox 360 Pro(aka the Premium) would drop to $299.99 on Sunday, July 13. Not coincidentally, E3 kicks off the next day with--you guessed it--Microsoft's press conference.

As Sony's PlayStation 3 has come on strong in recent months, sales of the Xbox 360 have been flat, so a price drop seemed likely. The success of Metal Gear Solid 4 continues to give the PS3 a boost, but chances are Sony, too, will have to trim the price of its console before the holiday buying season.

All that said, the big question remains whether Microsoft will announce any new configurations of the Xbox 360. Rumor has it, the company is just using the price drop to clear out inventory of the 20GB Premium before it brings out a new 60GB version. (Of course, if you're willing to take a chance on a refurbished Premium, you can do significantly better than $300). There's no word on whether the Xbox 360 Elite or the Arcade (no hard drive) will also get $50 snips or whether a flagship model with a built-in Blu-ray drive is really in the works.

Personally, I'd like to see Microsoft get rid of the useless Arcade and reduce the number of Xbox 360 choices down to two to avoid confusing consumers. Anybody else want to guess what Microsoft has up its sleeve next week and what Sony's next move will be?

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,Xbox 360,Xbox 360 Elite,Xbox 360 Arcade,Xbox 360 Premium,Xbox 360 Pro,PS3,PlayStation 3,Sony,Metal Gear Solid 4

Belkin FlyWire Wireless HDMI Box Beams 1080p Anywhere in Your House

2008-07-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

We first saw Belkin's slick-looking wireless HDMI kit at CES, when it was due in September for about $600. Now dubbed FlyWire (nice and catchy!), they've got two initial entries: FlyWire will shoot full 1080p goodness using the 5GHz band to anywhere in your house, walls be damned, for $999. Plus, it has an IR backchannel for controlling hidden AV devices. Or FlyWire R1 gets you in-room wireless for $699.99.

FlyWire is set for October, though those looking for the mildly cheaper in-room option will have to wait until early next year. Both of them are pricier than Monster's $600 wireless HDMI setup, which is also supposed to hit in October (though it cheats a bit by using UWB-over-Coax to nail whole-home streaming). Check out all the specs below to compare for yourself:

Technorati Tags: Belkin,FlyWire,HDMI Box,1080p

Can expensive surge protectors provide better audio and video quality?

2008-07-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

If you listen to the companies selling the equipment, there's no doubt about it. Monster promises, "a more natural sound, increased dynamic range, and the most vivid video images possible," and includes a highly suspect comparison to back up its claims. Similarly, Panamax claims, "improved picture and sound quality from AV component sources" from its $500 surge protector. (We did notice that Belkin--another major manufacturer of surge protectors--makes no claims of improved AV quality.)

So is the marketing hype true? As far as we can tell, no. In terms of video quality, we've never seen any difference from the Monster surge protector compared to other surge protectors, or even compared to plugging components directly into the wall--and we're constantly looking for even the slightest video artifacts. Maybe I just have good, "clean" power, but we haven't noticed any differences in our personal home theaters either.

For audio, it's largely the same experience. Unless you hear something obvious like a hum, hiss, or pop from your speakers, the increase in audio performance from a surge protector is going to range from about nothing to negligible. In fact, if you are hearing problems, your money might be better spent on an electrician to examine your home's electrical wiring rather than a surge protector. And if an electrician isn't feasible--say you're living in an apartment--you're probably better off with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

But before you go writing off surge protectors as overmarketed hype, don't forget about their main purpose--protecting your gear from electrical spikes. It makes much more sense to purchase a surge protector based on its clamping voltage (the lower the better) and maximum surge current (the higher the better), instead of suspicious performance claims. Also pay attention to how much insurance the company offers if your gear is damaged from an electrical surge. As long as it covers the value of your home theater, you should at least be able to replace your gear.

The bottom line is that when buying a surge protector, focus on its ability to protect your gear from getting fried, and pretty much ignore any claims about improved audio/video quality.

Technorati Tags: surge protectors,Monster,Panamax,Belkin

Sony Releases Firmware Update 2.41

2008-07-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody! While the reported cases were few and far between, last week's PlayStation 3 firmware update 2.40 rendered a select few consoles completely useless. Sony had removed the upgrade just a day after the highly anticipated patch was released and claimed it was "looking into it."

Well it seems a week was all that was needed as the very bug-free, nonbroken firmware Version 2.41 is currently available for download. All of the features we told you about appear to remain intact in addition to a newer platinum trophy icon.

We should note that if you were one of the unlucky few to get a bum PS3 as a result of the upgrade, we recommend you get in touch with Sony customer support right away. The problem doesn't appear to be fatal, meaning your console can most likely be revived--unlike those nasty red-ring-of-death errors the Xbox 360suffers from.

Technorati Tags: Firmware 2.41,PS3,PlayStation 3,Xbox 360,trophies,platinum trophy icon

Rumored Xbox 360 dashboard update to use motion control

2008-07-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

With Sony releasing version 2.40 of the PlayStation 3 firmware today, it's no surprise that talk about a new Xbox 360 dashboard update has surfaced.

Aside from the normal list of technical updates, this rumored dashboard update will supposedly incorporate an entire new graphical user interface as well. Right now, reports point toward a sort of 3D experience, deviating from the current "blade" system. There's also talk that this alternative GUI will take advantage of some sort of motion-control device yet-to-be-announced by Microsoft.

Kotaku describes the new interface as a nod to the control scheme in the film Minority Report--and now it seems that they were really on to something. They're reporting that the company responsible for the new dashboard design involves the man who actually helped create the motion-controlled effects in the 2002 film. Small world.

We'll get you the latest details on the rumored new Xbox 360 interface as they come. What would you like to see Microsoft add in their next update?

Technorati Tags: xbox 360,dashboard,3d,minority report,playstation 3,2.40,video games,microsoft,sony,blade

Microsoft Finally Addresses DRM Issues For Xbox Live Arcade

2008-07-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Recently, Microsoft finally addressed the DRM issues that have driven Xbox 360 owners (including myself) crazy! Supposedly, this only affected you if you bought a new console and not if you had to send your console in for repairs (Microsoft claimed to transfer you DRM to the console they send you back).

The issues is with your downloaded Xbox Live arcade games. Here's what happens if you are unaware of the problem. If you bought a new console to replace your existing console (like I did when I bought the Elite to replace my launch day console) then there was no way to transfer you Live Arcade game titles to the new console. You could however re-download them and still play them. The problem is you had to be signed in to whatever screen name you purchased it from and connected to the Internet in order to be able to play the game rather than being able to have anybody playing on your console have the ability to play it with their gamertag or even offline.

The fix is actually rather simple. Here are the steps:

Set up you media center connection between your PC and Xbox 360. If you haven't set this up yet here are the steps:

STEP 1

If you were previously using your Xbox 360 with a Windows XP Media Center Based PC, you will need to remove existing connection. Otherwise skip to step 2.

At the Windows XP Media Center PC

Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Media Center, and then click Media Center Extender Manager.
Select your Xbox 360 and click Properties.
Click Remove.
Click Yes to confirm removal.

At the Xbox 360

In the System section, select Computers.
Select Windows Media Center, and then press the A button.
Select Disconnect.
Press the B button repeatedly until you return to the System section.

STEP 2 Gather Setup Key from Xbox 360

Press the Start button on the remote or go to the Media section of the Xbox 360 dashboard.
Select Media Center.
Advance through the on-screen instructions to obtain the 8 digit Media Center Setup Key. Write this key down.

STEP 3 Add Extender

At the Windows Vista-based Media Center PC, launch Windows Media Center. Select Start, Windows Media Center.
Select Tasks, Add Extender.
When prompted, provide the 8 digit setup key you received at the Xbox 360.
Complete the Extender setup.

Now that you have your Media Center set-up, simply connect you PC to your Xbox 360 through the media center and go to:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/licensemigration/

Follow the directions and in seconds you're done!

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,Xbox 360,DRM,Xbox 360 Elite,Xbox Live,Xbox Live Arcade,video games,Media Center Extender

Sony Botches Firmware 2.4 Update on the PS3

2008-07-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Well, Sony has now released and un-released their much anticipated firmware 2.40 for the PlayStation 3. Many people, along with myself have been waiting (quite impatiently) for this update and hoping it adds at least some of the great functionality of Microsoft's Xbox blade and menu system. The problems is that update caused widespread problems with people PS3's, including bricking a bunch of systems!

I believe the problem will be solved quickly though, as this was a major update and there will be a pretty big backlash if the problems aren't addressed quickly.

I didn't get a chance to try to install the new firmware myself before it was pulled, but here is a re-cap of the features it will include:

An update to the XrossMediaBar to allow users to access menu items without having to log out of game play
In-game text message support
A new Google Search button
A new trophy system for gamers was also included (This is the feature I'm most excited about. There is just something I find addicting about Microsoft's achievement points, now the PS3 will finally have something similar to it).

Technorati Tags: Sony,PS3,PlayStation 3,Xbox 360,Microsoft,firmware 2.4,XrossMediaBar,trophy system

July 2008 Xbox 360 Release Schedule

2008-07-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

July 1^st

Gears of War (2-Disc Edition)

July 8^th

July 15^th

July 29^th

July 2008 PS3 Release Schedule

2008-07-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

July 8^th

Beijing Olympics 2008

Monster Madness: Grave Danger

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

July 15^th

NCAA Football 09

July 29^th

Soul Calibur IV

Soul Calibur IV Premium Edition

July 2008 Nintendo Wii Release Schedule

2008-06-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

July 1^st

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon

Purr Pals

July 8^th

WonderWorld Amusement Park

July 15^th

Ford Racing Off Road

NCAA Football 09

Rock Band Track Pack: Vol. 1

Space Chimps

We Love Golf!

July 22^th

Chess Crusade

Order Up!

SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1

July 28^th

MLB Power Pros 2008

July 29^th

Freddi Fish: Kelp Seed Mystery

Mario Super Sluggers

Puzzler Collection

Summer Athletics The Ultimate Challenge

July 31^st

Red Star

July 2008 Blu-Ray Release Schedule

2008-06-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

July 1^st

Batman: The Movie (1966)

Drillbit Taylor

Ganges

Gangs of New York

Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control

In the Line of Fire

Mad Men - Season One

Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns

Point Break

Sex and Death 101

Vantage Point

July 8^th

Batman Begins

Batman Begins (Limited Edition Gift Set)

Batman - Gotham Knight

Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre

Girls Gone Wild: Sex in Sin City

The Moody Blues: Lovely to See You - Live

The Ruins (Unrated Edition)

Sleepwalking

July 15^th

College Road Trip

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Step Up 2: The Streets

July 22^nd

Earth: The Biography

I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

The Perfect Storm

Urban Legend

July 29^th

Bears

Dark City

Human Body: Pushing the Limits

Mortuary

Salvage

Stargate - Continuum

Stargaze HD: Universal Beauty

The Big White

The Tiger Blade

Top Gun

Vengeance

Wolves

Denon AVR-1908 Review

2008-06-29T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Denon's range of AV receivers covers everything from entry-level to state-of-the-art models -- all of which are expertly designed and capable of consistently impressive sound performance.

The Denon AVR-1908is one of the company's most fully-featured budget models, although it is still comparably expensive at this level. For your money, you do get exceptional build quality, a full range of previously high-end features and Denon's trademark smooth sound quality -- but is it worth the extra expense?

Strengths

Denon is renowned for the tank-like construction of its components and the AVR-1908 continues the tradition with an extremely solid build. The contoured aluminum design could easily be mistaken for a receiver costing twice the price. It also has one of the more user-friendly remotes we've come across, with a sensible arrangement of spacious keys that make it easy to use even when the lights are dimmed.

The range of features compares favourably with the best receivers in this class including Onkyo TX-SR605 and Sony's STR-DA1200ES. There are seven channels with 85W of amplification, video upconversion to component quality and a comprehensive connectivity including the latest HDMI inputs with 1080i video switching (two out, one in). The HDMI 1.3a connections will also be able to support Deep Colour picture enhancements and HD audio formats carried on Blu-ray discs -- although there is no integrated high-definition surround decoding.

The on-screen menu system has been graphically enhanced and is simple to use, while there is also a decent automatic calibration set up supported by the latest Audyssey MultEQ system, which takes slightly longer than some rival systems but is enviably accurate.

In action, the receiver delivers a safe and controlled performance characterised by Denon's typically smooth nature. The sound always remains poised with plenty of precision. Excellent integration and accurate steering create an immersing experience that ultimately equates to easy listening. Scenes from the fairytale epic Stardust are beautifully realised with careful attention to detail and ambient surround effects.

Weaknesses

While the AVR-1908's sound performance is impressively composed and cohesive, it lacks the dynamic depth and drive that some rival models in this class can offer -- including the significantly less-expensive Cambridge - 540R, even if it can't compete for features.

This can leave energetic film sequences, such as the final skyscraper battle in King Kong, wanting more. The same can be said of stereo performance, which lacks that sense of rhythmical timing that separates the best receivers from the rest.

As with many receivers at this price level, there is no integrated decoding for the latest HD surround sound formats carried on some Blu-ray discs. But since Onkyo's TX-SR605 is the only budget model we've seen that offers this feature and there are very few compatible HD players to support it, it only matters if you want to wait for the promise of HD audio to arrive.

Conclusion

Denon's AVR-1908 is a very good AV receiver that has very few actual flaws. While you can find the Denon online for less than its RRP, you can certainly find other receivers cheaper still. It's just that you can get better performance and more features for your money nowadays.

Toshiba Regza 42RV530 Review

2008-06-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Eveybody!

Today we'll look at the Toshiba REGZA 42RV530U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV. It features DynaLight dynamic backlight control and offers significant improvement in black levels for deep images. DynaLight back-light control utilizes advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame, and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly. This precision creates seamless transitions with deep blacks for increased detail and depth analysis.PixelPure 4G takes advantage of both the internal 14-bit video processor and the 8-bit display panel to reach 4,096 levels of gradation, producing a smooth and natural picture. CineSpeed LCD panels have the 8 ms or faster response speed necessary for cleaner high-action home theater images. A wide viewing angle ensures that you'll have the best seat in the house. Gaming mode enhances the gaming experience by providing quick response times for fast-moving video games. Take full advantage of the large Hi Def image by connecting a PC through the high res pc compatible input.

Overall, this seems to be an excellent choice of HDTV's for the price. It has all the features you need, plus it's been rated highly by others who have purchased it.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Reviewed

2008-06-28T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Playstation3 Game KONAMI is the most technically stunning video game ever made. It's also a fine example of storytelling prowess within its medium, combining gameplay and narrative so slickly and beautifully that it's impossible to extricate one from the other. It's likely you will emerge awestruck from your first play-through, wishing the experience would continue yet nonetheless satisfied with its conclusion. It's difficult not to sound hyperbolic when discussing MGS4 because every part of its design seemingly fulfills its vision, without compromise. There is no halfway.

The story is both convoluted and compelling.

Fully realized, lengthy story sequences will come as no surprise to anyone who has played a Metal Gear game. You'll spend a good half of MGS4 watching cinematics, but it would be a grave misinterpretation to assume that great gameplay takes a backseat to the story. Rather, these two elements are tightly intertwined, and this tapestry is held together by an important technical thread: Cutscenes that are rendered fully in real time within the game engine. It's impressive enough that these scenes look as good as any prerendered cinematic you've ever watched. It's even more amazing when those same scenes transition without pause into gameplay, and the same hulking mech you watched lumber about in the cinematic is looming above you. The subtle animations, the lush environments, and the rich textures are the same in and out of story sequences, and the effect is so seamless it may take your breath away. You can skip past the scenes if you prefer, but doing so would soften the experience. The story sequences carry more weight because of the intense gameplay that precedes them--and the gameplay feels more compelling because the story gives you powerful reasons to care about your mission. The high point of this fusion occurs in an exciting and memorable split-screen sequence that simply must be experienced.

Talking about what, exactly, is going on in the plot in the midst of MGS4's grand sweeping gestures is to risk spoiling each little surprise as it emerges. Snake, suffering from the rapid onset of aging, now must cope with stiff joints in addition to the looming specter of Liquid Ocelot's newest plans. This is Snake's final hurrah; yet as the story reaches one height after another, the juxtaposition of huge set piece battles and formidable bosses with Snake's deteriorating body creates tension and gravity even beyond the series' usual pretensions. Some new plot strands emerge while others get tied up, and old friends (and enemies) refuse to be forgotten. You'll also bear witness to a few reunions--some bloody, some teary, and some legitimately shocking. Parts of it are overblown, to be sure. The musical score gets heavy-handed and the voice acting and writing are frequently dogmatic, so while there are plenty of subtle moments, subtlety isn't really MGS4's strong suit. But it doesn't need to be. After all, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and judging from a few silly attempts at humor that don't work, developer Kojima Productions was wise to err on the side of melodrama.

The gameplay proper is familiar to fans, but it's been cleaned up and expanded, holding as many twists and surprises as the story. For starters, both gunplay and close-quarters combat are more satisfying. Regarding melee, the controls have been streamlined, making it less cumbersome to grab an enemy soldier or perform a stealthy blade kill. Shooting mechanics are even more improved, so much so that shooting your way out of a pickle is just as enjoyable as sneaking around it. There are a huge number of weapons to play with; so many that you'll probably finish the campaign without using many of them. Yet, quality wasn't sacrificed for quantity: Every weapon feels just right, from your handy operator sidearm (best when upgraded with a silencer) and standard issue assault rifles to a powerful railgun. The standard over-the-shoulder view is fine for the most part, but you can gaze down the sights from a first-person perspective. Both views can be further improved with various enhancements, such as laser sights and scopes.

Not that you don't have all the tools for completely avoiding your enemies if you choose that route. Snake's got the basics covered: crawling, hugging walls, peeking around corners, and hanging from ledges, for example. Cover mechanics are tighter than ever, so you can crouch and take potshots from behind cover with ease. There are also a number of important gadgets that will make your life easier in this regard. The most obvious of these is your OctoCamo suit, which takes on the texture of your surroundings when you're prone or pressed against cover. Not only does this make it simpler to avoid watchful eyes, but it's also a cool visual effect. Eventually, you'll be able to camouflage Snake's head, and a few of the available camo options are bound to stir some fans' nostalgia. The Solid Eye is your other major tool, as it expands your compass into a sonic-sensitive radar and allows you to use night vision and a tactical first-person view. These are helpful gadgets indeed, even during boss fights, like a stirring encounter in a blinding blizzard.

Shooting is always a viable option if you don't want to sneak.

Other gadgets, such as portable hiding places (cardboard boxes and rusty barrels) and the Metal Gear Mk. II (a stealthed robot that you can command as a scouting device), are useful to anyone who prefers the sneaky approach. Not every gadget is a welcome addition, though. For example, the much-ballyhooed iPod is a neat touch, but to use it, you cannot have another gadget equipped, so you'll quickly forget the option even exists. But aside from these nitpicks, one of the things that makes the core gameplay so enjoyable is that you're rarely strapped into a single style of play. Shooting your way through requires more thought and care than you'd put into a standard action game, but you never feel as though the gun mechanics are stuffed uncomfortably into a stealth game. If you'd rather sneak, you never have the impression that stealth was shoehorned into a game that's meant to be played as a shooter. Sure, you're Solid Snake--you're not supposed to get caught. But if you're stuck in a jam, breaking stealth isn't a death sentence, and in fact, facing certain enemies head-on is often a heart-pounding, challenging experience. The few levels that do force you into one style, such as one in which you shadow your target through an Eastern European city, are still great, if not quite as impactful.

You'll need to keep an eye on Snake's stress levels and psyche. Though these aspects are more peripheral than health levels, they fit nicely within the plot. When Snake gets stressed (if he gets cold or encumbered, for example), his psyche gauge starts to deplete. The lower the gauge, the slower you will move and the less quickly you replenish health. Generally speaking, the psyche meter is rarely a factor, and should you notice Snake groaning a bit more, there are items like compresses you can use for a pick-me-up. Should the meter get too low, you won't be able to hold up your weapon or rush for cover. This doesn't happen often though, and while you'll need to keep a close eye on your health for obvious reasons, you won't need to pay too much heed to psyche.

Regardless of the tactics you use, the level design and enemy artificial intelligence work in tandem to create unparalleled gameplay. If you go stealth, hiding in that rusty barrel isn't a perfect solution. Your foe may look at it suspiciously, kick it a few times, and eventually blow your cover, so don't expect to be able to trick your way through as you might in other stealth games. In full-on firefights, enemy teams will flank you, use cover to their advantage, and throw grenades with precision to force you out of hiding. Most of your surroundings, inside and out, are littered with objects and cover opportunities, from a trek through a South American jungle to a nostalgic journey through a snowy island base. Each level is more-or-less linear, but within the confines of these areas, you still have remarkable room to explore the various gameplay options and test the limits of your foes. Some enemies are standard soldiers, though many others are wonderfully imaginative. The colossal mechanical Gekkos, for example, are unpredictable and keep you on your toes, while female operatives that pounce from wall to wall intensify an early escape scene.

There are ample cover opportunities.

Later in the game, a few set piece battles deepen the core gameplay even further, including a few peerless on-rails sequences. One of these, a motorcycle chase, is as close as any game has gotten to translating the excitement of similar moments in films to a game format. Another level, which features a gigantic automaton, showcases destructible environments where walkways collapse on top of each other and the screen fills with smoke. In all of these cases, the controls are excellent, with the exception of that same mech's third-person view a bit later on (the first-person view works infinitely better). The interpretation of Metal Gear Solid as an interactive film still applies, but in a way you may not have expected: These levels make you feel like the star of your own action movie.

Boss battles are stimulating, though they aren't all that difficult. Nevertheless, a few of them are tricky and require you to put some thought into your tactics because just riddling the boss with bullets isn't going to ensure victory. Early on, it's clear that you'll be encountering the four members of the Beauty and the Beast unit--female supersoldiers that are as psychologically complex as they are fun to battle. These battles are long and normally require you to fight other enemies in addition to your primary target. In one of them, you can use your night vision to track your target's footprints and use the wind direction to your advantage. In another, you'll dodge missiles from flying creatures while taking on the main boss.

The gameplay and story would, perhaps, not be as effective if Metal Gear Solid 4 did not look and sound so impressive, but truth be told, it's an amazing piece of technology. From the gritty textures of concrete walls to the effective lighting and shadowing, there are few aspects you could reasonably fault. In the biggest battles, billows of smoke fill the screen and blood splatters against the camera--all while meticulously designed helicopters fly overhead and ad-hoc team members take potshots from behind grungy dilapidated vehicles. Yet in the midst of the visual drama, it's the little things that are likely to provoke awe. Small details, such as how Snake rubs his sore back when his stress levels get high or the authentic manner in which he ascends staircases, create as much atmosphere as cluttered underground tunnels and war-torn Middle Eastern cities. You will have to wait through some scattered install periods (just under 20 minutes worth, in total) and the occasional loading screen, and you may find some frame rate drops and low-res textures here and there, but these aren't issues in light of MGS4's impressive graphical accomplishments.

The sound design comes together nearly as well. The soundtrack on its own is rather pompous, but in context, it works just fine to create the appropriate mood for any given cutscene or battle. The voice acting follows suit but succeeds far better. Because the growling voice of David Hayter's Solid Snake is so good, the rare hamming from the mostly excellent supporting cast is easily forgotten. But the sound effects are unforgettable and excellent across the board. The Gekkos emit blood-curdling moos like gargantuan cows, explosions are outstandingly obnoxious, and everything from the clicks of the Solid Eye to the laughter and screams of the beastly bosses are top-notch.

Snake's final hurrah is a remarkable technical achievement.

On top of it all, Metal Gear Solid 4 offers some enjoyable online 16-player action to complement its superb single-player experience. Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch are represented, of course, and they play just fine, assuming you don't approach the online component as a standard shooter. The maps are beautifully rendered and packed with detail, and while not every mechanic is as wonderful in multiplayer as it is in single-player (hiding in your cardboard box won't usually get you far, for example), it's all good fun once you adjust to the pace. The multiplayer star, however, is sneaking mode, a Team Deathmatch variant in which one player plays as Snake and another supports him as the Metal Gear Mk II. Shooting others is amusing--but sneaking enthusiasts will enjoy the violent, stealthy game of hide and seek you play as Snake. Playing support is equally entertaining because as Mk. II, you can go invisible, creep up on other players, and zap them with your electronic tentacle. It's a blast. Other modes include base mission, in which teams compete to conquer bases; a capture and defend mode; and rescue mission, which is similar to the same mode in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. Unfortunately, the process of creating an online account is laborious, so expect to take a few minutes to enter a litany of information (a pain if you aren't using a keyboard). Thankfully, the variety of customization options and sheer numbers of players online mean that this process is quickly forgotten.

If the story-heavy presentation of previous Metal Gear games taxed your patience, Metal Gear Solid 4 won't change your mind. For anyone who appreciates games that rise above the simple act of pushing a few buttons and pulling a few triggers, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a stimulating ride that you won't soon forget. You'll want to see what happens next, yet when its long campaign draws to a close, you'll wish it would continue. That's not just because it's a well-told tale, but because that tale is woven through a thoroughly impressive game that tops its predecessors and is possibly the best game I've played to date.

Magellan Maestro 5310 Review

2008-06-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!

While most of us are happy with a GPS device that has a 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch (diagonal) screen, there are those who long for something slightly larger. So far, only a few portable GPS devices fill the bill. The ones that immediately come to mind are the Cobra NAV One 5000and the iWAY 600C, both of which feature a 5-inch screen, and the Garmin StreetPilot 7200with a gigantic 7-inch screen—almost too large for dashboard/windshield mounting. In general, however, the market for larger-screen GPSs has gone untapped—until now. One of the first out of the gate is the Magellan Maestro 5310.

The Maestro 5310 features a 5-inch screen, but that doesn't mean you're getting more information on it. With the same 480-by-272 resolution found on the 4000 series of Maestros, the information on the screen just appears larger, making it easier to view for those in the, ahem, "bifocal set," or for those with an RV. The device measures 3.6 by 5.6 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and weighs 10.2 ounces. That's almost 0.1 inch thicker than the 3000 and 4000 series Maestros, and significantly heavier, to boot. The additional weight is due in part to the larger 2,200-mAh lithium ion battery with a claimed battery life of up to 3 hours. It also includes a built-in real-time traffic receiver.

The 5310 parallels the previous top of the line Maestro 4250 in a number of ways. The user interface is virtually identical, except for the features not included. Like the 4250, the 5310 has 6 million POIs, three months of traffic service, text to speech, the AAA TourBook, and AAA roadside assistance. Navteq-based maps for the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico are included in the on-board internal 2GB of memory, just as in the 4250. Interestingly, Magellan switched GPS receivers from the SiRFstarIII found in the 4250 to a Centrality Atlas III processor. This is the first product I've seen based on this chip. The Maestro 5310 features a dual-core ARM 9 processor, supports USB 2.0, and has a 30-channel receiver. (Note: Centrality was acquired by SiRF in August 2007).

Surprisingly, however, the 5310 has fewer features than the 4250. Noticeably missing from the 5310 is the voice-command feature first introduced in the Maestro 4050, and included in both the Maestro 3250 and the 4250. Also not included is the Bluetooth phone interface.

The user interface on the 5310 is virtually identical to that of earlier Maestros I've reviewed. The main menu has two screens, each with three large icons. The first screen has icons for "Show Map," "Enter Address," and "Points of Interest." At the bottom of the screen, there's an icon that takes you directly to your Home location, as well as a tow truck icon that opens up the AAA Roadside Assistance screen. This screen shows your latitude/longitude, your exact location relative to the nearest streets, and AAA's Roadside Assistance and Membership enrollment phone numbers. As an option, you can enter your AAA membership number, so you don't have to fumble for your membership card should you need to call for assistance.

Like most GPS devicess, the 5310 gives you the option of 3D track up, as well as 2D north and 2D track up views. The map screen is uncluttered, showing just the information you'll probably want. At the bottom of the screen, without an active route, the current time and your speed is displayed. There are zoom in/zoom out icons, a volume control icon, a GPS signal-strength indicator. In the upper-left corner, there's a direction indicator, which, if you tap it, lets you quickly save your current location. The single-tap save of the current location is a feature I wish other GPS units had.

Entering an address for a new destination is very simple. You can enter the city, the ZIP code, choose a previously selected city, pick an address out of your address book, route to an intersection, or choose a previous destination. Once you've entered the information, you are presented with a Route Method screen that lets you select Fastest Time, Shortest Distance, Least Use of Freeways, or Most Use of Freeways. You can also choose to avoid toll roads. The 5310, like the other Maestros, does not have vehicle profiles such as car, truck, bike, or pedestrian. And route avoidances are limited to toll roads. You can't, for example, choose to avoid ferries, U-turns, or unpaved roads. Once your route has been calculated, you can choose to simulate the route at up to 2X real time (that is, it plays back the simulation twice as fast as real time. So if a trip takes 20 minutes, the simulation will take 10 minutes).

With an active route, the map view shows you the distance to your next turn and the name of the street for your next turn. On the lower-right corner of the screen, the data field toggles between remaining time, remaining distance, and estimated time of arrival. The turn-direction graphic in the lower left corner of the screen shows you the direction of your next turn. If you tap that icon, you get a turn-by-turn list view of your route—another nice one-tap feature.

I road-tested the 5310 not only on my standard test routes but also on a trip I recently took to Phoenix. For my standard tests, the routes generated matched virtually all other GPSs that use the Navteq mapping database. In Phoenix, it did get me to my destinations, but since I haven't tested too many devices there, I can't really say whether it found the best routes, or, for that matter, the routes the locals would take. I found I liked the larger screen—it really did make things easier to read—but I think a 5-inch screen is about the maximum size that you'd want to put on your windshield or dashboard. A device much larger might partially block your view.

In both testing situations, I noticed that the 5310 frequently recalculated my route—even if I was following the route and hadn't made any turns. It remains a mystery to me why, for example, it recalculated my route between exits on AZ route 51, only to present me with the same route. This is something that I haven't observed in other Magellan Maestro models.

One of the advantages of the 5310's larger case is its larger speaker, and the larger cavity in which the sound can resonate. The 5310, though it doesn't have auto volume control, has probably the loudest speaker of any device I've recently tested. Even at 80 percent, it was plenty loud—almost too loud—at highway speeds. And unfortunately, it lacks volume control.

As a member of the bifocal set myself, I suspect the Maestro 5310 is targeted at users like me. While I liked the larger screen, at $600 it doesn't represent a good value—especially since it's missing the voice control and Bluetooth phone found in the less expensive 4250. If I were in the market for a Magellan GPS device, I'd give up the larger screen size and opt for the 4250.

Samsung PN42A450 Detailed

2008-06-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

In the race to find that tiny inkling of a feature to differentiate one product from another, the lure of an easily recognizable term, like, oh, say, "3D," can overwhelm such petty concerns as actual real-world usefulness. Samsung introduced its first 3D-ready HDTVs last year in the form of a few DLP-based rear-projection models, like the HL-T5687S, but the company's 2008 PNA450P series are the first flat-screens to get 3D readiness. The series includes two models, the 42-inch PN42A450 and the 50-inch PN50A450P.

To get the extra dimension out of these models you'll need to purchase a 3D accessory kit that consists of, you guessed it, a pair of special glasses. If the kit needed for the DLP televisions is any indication, the plasma kit will cost $150 and consist of software that runs on a PC connected to the display. That's right; the only way to get the 3D effect on the DLP sets is to connect a PC that plays back the movie or game or whatever content you'd like to make 3D. Special drivers are available at $5 a pop for the few games supported, and no native 3D content is available as far as we know. That's where the questionable real-world usefulness comes into play.

The PNA450P plasmas include a few other notable features, such as new processing said to cut down on false contouring, reduce power consumption by 10 percent, and a new antiglare screen.

Battlefield: Bad Company Review

2008-06-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!

If you only played a demo of Battlefield Bad Company, you'd be forgiven for shrugging your shoulders and assuming that it's just like every other first-person shooter with a multiplayer focus. It certainly appears that way during the first couple of minutes, in which you jog around shooting uniformed infantry, duck for cover when the tanks roll in, and pray that there's some kind of missile launcher or RPG nearby. The destructible terrain is well-executed, but that doesn't initially seem totally new or innovative (Stranglehold had an absurd amount of environmental abuse). The multiplayer could be sweet, but offering only one mode of play seems ill-suited to a series that has always relied on the versatility of its multiplayer component.

Bad Company's real appeal lies in a confluence of innovations that may not be immediately apparent. Despite this being the freshman effort by seasoned PC developer DICE to build a single-player campaign with a genuine narrative, the plot and characters are surprisingly rich and, most importantly, decidedly different from those of the FPS games that it resembles. And as opposed to being strictly cosmetic, the ability to skeletonize structures has actual impact on gameplay that carries through to the multiplayer, enhancing the entire experience by offering unique tactical options. And that single Attack/Defend multiplayer mode is not the least bit restrictive due to the variation found in class composition and the wealth of extremely well-tuned maps.

The storyline of Bad Company is unlike the usual depressingly grim plots typically found in other games. B Company is where the expendable misfits of the U.S. Army go to die, not the traditional elite team of operatives that are our last, best hope for victory. The writing backs this up as your fellow squad mates are quirky and human, cracking stupid jokes alongside hilarious ones and demonstrating individual personalities which, while not wholly original, are at the very least novel. Sweetwater, for example, has a bit of a pessimistic streak that combines with his somewhat "tin foil hat" conspiratorial view of the military to provide just the right amount of nay-saying and knowledge. This plays well next to the bombastic and questionably sane Haggert whose sole reason for joining up with the armed forces seems to be based on an instinctual need to see things explode. Meanwhile, Redford serves as the leader just barely capable of keeping these weirdos on-task.

So it's all the more shocking to watch as this ragtag band proceeds through a war they hardly understand, depriving them of any real motive for doing a good job, yet still accomplishing objectives and decimating foes. The discovery that the enemies they face are avaricious yet incredibly effective mercenaries that foolishly cart around their spoils of war provides B Company with a reason to fight: to get rich off of stealing mercenary gold. This is hardly the stuff of legends, and yet it allows for a very real connection with the characters of Bad Company; anyone can appreciate their humble aims of simply getting out with their skins intact and with a little extra coin. The question that continually pops up as B Company shirks responsibilities in their pursuit of wealth is simply: Can you blame them? That this characterization is all skillfully conveyed through the writing suggests that DICE has been selling us short by not including such narratives in its previous games.

While the destructible environment isn't comprehensive enough to let you raze every building to the ground, it's by far the best such system yet seen. Most walls yield to explosives and the effect this has on tactical gameplay in both single and multiplayer games cannot be overstated. It opens up avenues for accomplishing objectives that throw linearity in the garbage and frees you to attack each problem however you'd like and from any vector you choose.

Pinned down behind inferior cover by a 50-cal machinegun? Try circling around, blowing a hole in a building behind the machinegun nest and clearing that jerk with a well-placed grenade. Having trouble with a pesky tank that has decimated all surrounding cover? Just sprint up the stairs of a nearby building and blow a hole in the roof to gain a clear vantage point on the tank from which you can launch an RPG.

For every challenge in Bad Company, there's at least ten different solutions that all involve blowing holes in things. The destructible environment has a meaningful and satisfying impact on gameplay, and it looks gorgeous while it's disintegrating. Explosions are packed with bass-heavy sound effects and throw chunks of shrapnel all over the place. You can easily make out individual cinder blocks sailing through the air as a blast tears a ragged scar through an enemy fortification. This kind of detail makes blowing holes in stuff not only useful, but also quite fun.

Of course, explosives are a two-way street in Bad Company and on the higher difficulty settings you'll notice your foes employ equally destructive tactics. You can never rely on one piece of cover indefinitely as it's liable to be forcibly removed from the battlefield at any moment. When an enemy inevitably decides to lob a grenade at our precious hiding place, the sound design that accompanies a nearby detonation perfectly captures the disorientation and staggering impact, cueing an instinctual reaction to hide behind anything as quickly as possible. It's almost enough to make you feel bad for the people that used to live in whatever European village you're currently reducing to smoldering cinders.

Multiplayer games are typically hated on if they don't pack in enough maps or modes to keep the competitive online experience from becoming stale, but thanks to the deformable nature of Bad Company's battlefields, it has nothing to worry about in that department. As we'd mentioned in our multiplayer hands-on, Bad Company's multiplayer may seem simple and single-minded at first, but quickly demonstrates a gang of tactical options that make the lonely Attack/Defend mode anything but.

This richness is derived from the ability to reshape the battlefield at will and the constraints and cooperation of the different classes. Not all classes are capable of punching holes in solid walls at range, so it takes a good deal of coordination to ensure that your cadre of compatriots can exploit the mutable landscape for maximum benefit. Cautious use of vehicles is of pivotal importance because they provide awesome destructive might (offset by incredible vulnerability to anti-armor attacks). As such, Bad Company promotes a large amount of communication and teams that can quickly and efficiently divine ripostes to enemy tactics are the most successful, and those successes are all the sweeter with the knowledge that it takes both precision and teamwork to accomplish them.

Battlefield: Bad Company may look like other FPSes on the market in terms of theme and graphics, but there are enough key gameplay differences to set it apart from the crowd. One could easily say that Bad Company expands the genre itself with its combination of great story, destructible environment and surprisingly deep single-mode multiplayer. Throw in DICE's promises of future (free) content and this is one game that just might meet your wildest desires for both blowing things up and online competition.

TomTom One XL Review

2008-06-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Today, we'll be looking at the TomTom ONE XL. On the one hand, it's great because the One XL continues to offer all the navigation basics with the same user-friendly interface and accurate directions. On the other hand, for the same price, you can get more for your money with GPS devices like the Mio C520, which adds text-to-speech functionality, or the MAGELLAN Maestro 4000 4.3" Automotive GPS Navigation. In short, the TomTom One XL is a perfectly fine system for drivers who want a basic system and for GPS newbies, but there are just better values out there.

Design

The XL in the TomTom One XL refers to the unit's touch screen. Though we wouldn't necessarily characterize the size of the display as extralarge, it is bigger than the one found on the original TomTom One, diagonally measuring 4.3 inches compared to 3.5 inches. The LCD shows off 64,000 colors at a 480x272 pixel resolution, so maps looked bright and text was sharp. We had no problems reading the screen in various conditions, including bright sunshine. You can adjust the backlighting, though you have to dig through several layers of the Preferences menu to do so. The TomTom One XL also gives you the option to switch between day and nighttime map colors and your choice of 10 different color schemes.

Despite the larger display, the device is still compact and lightweight (4.7 inches wide by 3.4 inches high by 1.2 inches deep; 7.4 ounces) and easily portable between cars. The TomTom One XL also keeps the simple design of its predecessor with just a lone power button on top of the unit, and an SD expansion slot, a mini USB port, and a power connector on the bottom. Finally, on the back you will find the system's speaker and a jack for attaching an optional external antenna for increased reception.

TomTom packages the One XL with a car charger, a USB cable, a vehicle mount (dash and windshield), a TomTom Home software CD, and reference material. The vehicle mount is quite simple and neat without many moving parts. It's easy to install and also securely holds the unit in place.

Features

Featurewise, the TomTom One XL is very similar to the TomTom One; however, maps of the United States and Canada and points of interest (POI) are now preloaded onto the device's hard drive rather than on an SD card. TomTom sells optional SD cards preloaded with other regional maps, such as Europe, which you can plug into the device's expansion slot. There are a number of options for picking your destination. You can enter a specific street address, an intersection, POI, or city center, or choose a location from your Favorites or Recent destination list. The One XL has the ability calculate routes by fastest time or shortest distance, with or without highways, toll roads, and so forth. There is also a bicycle and a pedestrian routing option. Other goodies include a detour function, automatic route recalculation, and multistop trips.

For those times you need to make additional stops, planned or spontaneous, the One XL offers a comprehensive POI that includes all the major categories, including gas stations, ATMs, lodging, and restaurants, to more specialized interests, such as beaches and concert halls. Sadly, unlike a lot of today's systems, you can't search for restaurants by cuisine type and unless you're browsing a map, there's no easy way to view the phone number or address associated with a business, as the One XL quickly calculates a route once you select a POI from the list.

Once the system has calculated directions, you can view them as a list of text-based turn-by-turn directions, see the highlighted route on an overview map, or get a running demo of the trip, among other things. Maps can be presented in 2D or 3D view. With the former, you can choose to have either north or the direction you're traveling always face the top of the screen. The main driving view will give your current position, the name of the next major road, the next instruction, and information about your trip, including remaining trip time and distance and estimated arrival time. In addition, you can zoom in and out of maps. Of course, all the visual cues are backed by the voice-guided directions. The One XL supports 36 languages with 55 different voices, but unfortunately, it does not offer text-to-speech functionality.

The One XL also supports TomTom's Plus services for real-time traffic updates, weather information, downloading celebrity navigation voices, and more. Just be aware that there is a subscription fee, and you will need a Bluetooth-enabled phone to connect to the service. You can read more about the Plus services and check for phone compatibility on TomTom's Web site.

Performance

We tested the TomTom One XL in San Francisco, and from a cold start, the unit took about two minutes to get a fix on our position under cloudy skies. Subsequent starts were much faster, and for the most part, the GPS receiver maintained a steady fix during our test drives, though it did lose reception once as we were driving through the city's financial district where tall buildings can block a clear view of the sky.

The One XL quickly calculated directions after we entered information. We took a quick look at the trip summary and list of text-based instructions and agreed with the recommended route. The system accurately tracked our position as we started on our drive, and we purposely got off track to test the route recalculation rate, which was quick. We found the whole process to be a lot smoother than competing systems, as the One XL never got confused when we took a succession of wrong turns and always got us back on track with efficient directions. That said, we wish the voice prompts were a little faster to tell us when to turn. Though we got ample warning of upcoming turns, the system didn't alert us until the very last second when it came time to making the actual maneuver. We also missed the text-to-speech functionality that we experienced with the Mio C520. The TomTom One XL's internal lithium-ion battery is rated for two hours of battery life, which is quite on the low side.

Magellan Maestro 3200 GPS Review

2008-06-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Since its release in 2006 the Maestro line has garnered some rave reviews, not least because of its intuitive interface which is accessible even by those unused to such devices.

The Magellan Maestro 3200 GPS Navigatorhas brought some great new features to the table. Within the 3200 lies the SirfStar III chipset which is capable of providing an ultra-fast satellite lock. The 3200 boasts an industry leading position acquisition time.

The SirfStar III chipset also allows the 3200 to be thinner than its predecessors. Indeed, measuring a mere .7 of an inch, the 3200 is the thinnest portable GPS device available. The power of the chipset also makes route recalculation when you miss a turn extremely fast.

The 3200 incorporates a 3.5-inch, anti-glare, touch screen, which presents the user with an intuitive list of options. The screen displays the position of the user and can offer the user a myriad of information such as distance to destination, the distance to the next turn and the estimated time of arrival.

Also incorporated into the 3200 is visual turn-by-turn guidance.

Built into the 3200 are maps of the 48 contiguous United States as well as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The innovative inclusion of 1.3 million points of interest also allows the user to easily find services or even tourist attractions when they are in an unfamiliar area. The Points of Interest are interactive, the user simply clicks on them to gain access to the desired information. Phone numbers for these services are also included in case, for example, you need to check ahead and find a hotel with rooms free.

Color and contrast are auto-adjusted at night to provide a seamless experience when driving.

The 3200 also features SD card compatibility so that the user can easily back-up their address book.

One can even listen to MP3 or WMA files through the 3200 via the integrated speaker or the headphone jack.

Whilst most of the time the 3200 will be powered by the supplied vehicle power adapter, the user also has the option of going cable free. The supplied rechargable battery allows a user to go cable free for up to 3 hours at a time.

The box contents are:

The Magellan Maestro 3200 GPS receiver device itself

An Adhesive disk for mounting the device on the dash

A basic cradle

A Vehicle power adapter (12-24 watts)

A Quick reference guide and CD

A handy Windshield mount

The price of the 3200 makes it a must have purchase for people who make frequent business trips and have to pay the rental company for a GPS system. Hertz, for example, charge at least $10 for their Neverlost system, which soon mounts up.

The 3200 is also ideal for people who make a lot of sales calls to customers homes. Simply input the customers address into the address book and be directed right to their door. It's a great time saver, and allows the user to put their time to better use during the course of a day. The aforementioned SD card slot also allows for easy back up of address books.

In conclusion, the 3200 is a thin, ultra-stylish, portable Auto GPS system which is crammed full of innovative, and above all useful, features. It is also cutting edge, having been released on the 31st of October 2007. The 3200 also offers features which other GPS devices don't have. The 3200 is undeniably a helpful little companion when out on the road.

Turn Your Xbox 360 into a Streaming Netflix Player

2008-06-25T08:00:00.006-05:00

Hi Everybody!

If you are a Netflix subscriber, and you've got an Xbox 360and a Windows Vista PC, you don't have to shell out $99 for Roku's Netflix Player box to get your Watch Instantly library on your TV screen—you already have everything you need. Using the free Windows Media Center plug-in, vmcNetflix, you can turn your Xbox 360 into a Netflix Watch Instantly box. Here's how.

With vmcNetflix, you can watch, browse, and queue movies to your Netflix Watch Instantly queue all from your Xbox 360 or Vista Media Center. A highlight of the list of growing features listed on the vmcNetflix site include:

Stream WatchNow movies directly to the Media Center player.

Download WatchNow movies to a "Watch Later" gallery.

Support for Vista Extenders on both x86 and x64 platforms.

Support for Netflix Instant Queue.

Support for Episode listings.

Search for movies by keyword.

Browse DVD and WatchNow movies by genres.

Sort Gallery by Title, Year, or Star Rating.

View your queue, history, and recommendations.

Add, remove, move movies in your queue.

Supports DVD/Movie Parental Controls

What You'll Need

Now that you've got an idea of the end product, let's take a look at the short list of things you'll need to turn your Xbox 360 into a Netflix player.

An Xbox 360

Windows Vista with Vista Media Center (it's included by default in Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1and Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1)

A Netflix subscription

The freeware vmcNetflix plug-in

Got all that? Then let's set it up.

Step 1: Set Up Your Xbox as a Media Center Extender

If you've already set up your Xbox 360 as a Media Center extender, you can skip this step. Unless you're already using your Windows PC as a Media Center powerhouse and have a tuner card installed on your Windows machine, chances are you haven't had much reason to set up your Xbox as an extender. With vmcNetflix, you've got a great reason.

Microsoft already provides detailed instructions for setting up your 360 as a Media Center extender, so here's the nutshell version. Start up your Xbox 360, head to the Media blade, and select Media Center. Since you haven't already set up an extender, your Xbox will walk you through the setup process between your Xbox and your PC. The Xbox will generate an eight-digit code to authenticate the connection between the two. Then you need to fire up Media Center on your PC, go to Tasks -> Add Extender, and fill in the blanks in the setup wizard with your eight-digit code when prompted.

Step 2: Install the vmcNetflix Plug-in

Now that your Xbox is set up as a bona fide Vista Media Center extender, you're ready to download and install the vmcNetflix plug-in. There's nothing to it, so just download the latest plug-in from the link and go through the installer.

Step 3: Set Up Watch Instantly on Your PC

Before you can stream Watch Instantly videos to your 360 extender, you need to make sure your PC is Watch Instantly-ready first. If you've already watched videos on this computer using Netflix's Watch Instantly feature, you can skip this step. If not, forge ahead.

Your PC needs to install a plug-in or two from Netflix to help deal with the DRM and such used to stream videos. Installing them is as simple as logging into your Netflix account using Internet Explorer, clicking the Watch Instantly tab, and then playing anything. You don't have to finish it, so just click Play on the first video you stumble across.

Netflix will prompt you to install their plug-in before the video starts, so just accept their prompts and install. When you're finished with the simple installation, you should be watching the video you just chose. Once you're there, you can stop the playback. Soon you'll be watching that through your Xbox, on your TV, from the comfort of your living room.

Step 4: Set Up vmcNetflix on Your Xbox 360

Now you need to run your Xbox 360 in Media Center extender mode. To do so, turn it on, head to your Xbox dashboard, and fire up Media Center from the list where you set it up originally. Your Xbox will find your computer and start up in Media Center mode.

Once there, scroll down to the Online Media section and then move left to select the program library. You should see an entry for vmcNetflix. Fire it up.

Since this is the first time you've run vmcNetflix on your extender, you'll need to set it up with your Netflix account. Doing so is as simple as providing the plug-in with your Netflix username and password. Do that, and you're ready to start watching movies.

Step 5: Enjoy!

That's all there is to it. You can now stream any Netflix Watch Instantly video directly to the TV in your living room using the Xbox 360 that's already there. No $99 out of your pocket, no extra piece of equipment to add to your entertainment center. vmcNetflix handles everything nearly perfectly, from separate episode listings for television shows to managing and accessing your Netflix Watch Instantly queue.

Westinghouse TX-42F430S Reviewed

2008-06-25T08:00:00.005-05:00

Hi Everybody!

As second kahuna in the no-name HDTV surfing contest after big-wave Vizio, Westinghouse always seems to have something to prove. The Westinghouse 42" 1080p LCD HDTV - TX-42F430S rides hard with an extralong board's worth of features, including four HDMI inputs, 1080p native resolution for a relative pittance, oodles of picture settings, and a great selection of power-affecting modes. Despite the strong effort, however, this surfer wipes out when it comes to looks, and while we liked a lot of its picture quality characteristics, its lighter black levels don't help it stand up. If you can look past those somewhat washed-out blacks, however, the Westinghouse TX-42F430S is among the best LCD bargains available. It's also available in a 47-inch version, the WTX-47F430S, with identical features and, we assume, similar performance.

Design

While some people may use the complementary "understated" to describe the appearance of the Westinghouse TX series HDTVs, we'll call their styling "lackluster" by modern flat-panel HDTV standards. The screen of the TX-42F430S is bordered by charcoal gray on all sides that lacks the luster (gloss) found on many newer sets, but it looks pretty drab in comparison. Brighter gray is used along the bottom of the set to differentiate the microperforated speaker grille, and the matching stand is--surprise!--gray as well. The color scheme might work in an industrial lab, but we think many HDTV shoppers want a bit more pizzazz in their living rooms. Once you pull away the advertising stickers, the only accent is a small, defeatable power indicator light and the admirably subtle Westinghouse W.

Westinghouse's remote is a basic model that nonetheless has direct-access keys for all of the input types, which we greatly admire. Although not backlit, all of the keys feel well placed and nicely differentiated by size. As usual with off-brand remotes, we found some head scratchers, namely the dedicated backlight key at the top of the wand where we'd prefer, if anything, a one-key toggle for the picture modes.

The set's menu layout leaves little to be desired, with the many options logically arranged into submenus. We especially like the inclusion of text explanations along the bottom, although, being inveterate nitpickers, we did detect some mistakes. The label for color temperature in the calibration menu reads "Switch 3D combfilter feature on or off" while the same label in the main video menu drops a "t" in saying "Adjust the picture to different color temperature."

The Westinghouse TX-42F430S' Quick Install Matrix should help novices get to know the HDTV's ins and outs.

One extra featured on some previous Westinghouse models is the Quick Install Matrix. Selecting this option in the setup menu calls up a page that looks ripped from the user manual--and looks great on the 1080p screen--with a quick setup guide, a graphical grid explaining the input types and which sources to connect to them, and even the customer service phone number. With all that good newbie info, we can forgive ol' "Westy" for using the Matrix to pimp its line of wall mounts and other products.

Features

The principal item on the spec sheet of the Westinghouse TX-42F430S is its native resolution of 1080p, which translates to 1,920x1,080 pixels on the screen. Those pixels allow the set to display every detail of 1080i and 1080p sources, while all other sources, from 720p HDTV to DVD, to standard-definition sources, to computers, are scaled to fit the native resolution.

We appreciated the Westinghouse's range of picture tweaks, starting with four nonadjustable picture modes and a fifth User mode.

In addition to the standard video-menu settings such as contrast and saturation (color), there's a User Calibration menu with some additional options. The most useful is the ability to fine-tune the three color temperature presets for red, green, and blue gain, which really let us hone in on the 6,500K standard (see the Performance section). We also liked that the calibration menu didn't time out after a brief period, as the main menu did. The calibration menu also lets you defeat deinterlacing and the 3D comb filter (although there's really no good reason to do so), as well as the Dynamic Contrast function, which we left off for critical viewing because it adjusts the picture on the fly.

The Calibration menu of the Westinghouse TX-42F430S offers features red, green, and blue color temperature adjustments.

Aspect ratio control is fairly standard, with the same three options available for both HD and standard-definition sources. Happily, the default Standard mode shows 1080 resolution sources with no scaling or overscan, so we recommend using it unless you see interference along the edge of the picture. If that happens, as it did with the DirecTV feed of CNN, for example, switching to the overscanned Fill mode removes it, although it also obscured some of the ticker.

The TX-42F430S includes more than the standard cast of power-related features. In addition to the usual sleep timer and defeatable front-panel LED, there's a mode that turns the set off automatically after one minute if it doesn't receive a signal; another that engages an "energy saver" mode; and a "power-on plug" mode that allows the TV to turn on automatically when it receives power to the cord. The energy saver mode is unusual because it doesn't affect energy consumed when the set is turned on--it controls only standby power consumption. When it's left in the default "off" position, the set consumes a lot of power (around 40 watts) when turned off because it's primed to provide a picture nearly instantly. We recommend you turn the saver on because, while the image takes around 20 seconds to appear, the set consumes only a nominal 0.7 watts in standby. Simply engaging the power-saving mode saves about $25 per year in energy costs.

One of the TX-42F430S's claims to fame is its prodigious input selection. After the 60-inch Vizio VM60P 60" Plasma HDTV , it's the only HDTV we've reviewed to have four HDMI inputs, one of which includes analog audio inputs to ease connection to DVI sources (although we tested another and it also worked perfectly with a DVI source). There's a VGA-style computer input along with a pair of component-video inputs. Lower-quality sources get just one composite and one S-Video input, which unfortunately share one set of analog audio inputs. There's also the standard RF input for cable or to connect an antenna to grab stations for the ATSC tuner, an optical digital audio output so the tuner can pass surround soundtracks, and an analog audio output.

The Westinghouse TX-42F430S mounts the analog inputs on one side of the rear column and the HDMI and PC inputs on the other.

Westinghouse takes care to advertise its vertically aligned, side-facing input arrangement, and while unusual, we did find it rather convenient. The column on the back of the set sprouts half of the inputs to either side, so cables don't stick straight out from the back of the panel, yet are easier to access than with the downward-facing input bay utilized by Vizio and some others. It's worth noting that the Westinghouse still lacks a set of inputs mounted on the side of the panel.

Performance

We liked a few important items about the picture quality of the Westinghouse TX-42F430S, including its commendably accurate color and solid video processing. These good points were countered by the set's inability to produce a very deep black, even compared to another budget LCD, and we also had complaints about its less-than-even uniformity and softer standard-definition picture.

As usual during our setup process, we dimmed the display for comfortable viewing in our darkened room, but in this case, we kept the backlight control at 40 percent to achieve a bright-enough picture (40ftl). Unfortunately this also brought up the level of black considerably, but that's the nature of the display. We tweaked the user menu's color temperature controls and were extremely pleased with the results, achieving excellent consistency up and down the grayscale, with only the upper end veering slightly into red. We really appreciated the fine color temperature controls because the default Warm mode, while somewhat close to the 6,500K standard, de-accentuated green significantly, making skin tones appear too ruddy. For our full user-menu settings, click here or check out the Tips & Tricks section above.

For our viewing tests, we compared the Westinghouse side-by-side with the VIZIO GV42LF, a competing budget 42-inch LCD, and the Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1, our reference plasma TV. We chose to watch the Flags of Our Fathers HD DVD, played on a Toshiba HD-XA2 at 1080i resolution.

It became obvious quite quickly that the Westinghouse could not produce as deep a level of black as the other two sets. The letterbox bars above and below the image were visibly lighter, and in dark scenes, such as the shot of the train passing in the night, the black and near-black areas appeared more washed out and less realistic. Shadow detail, such as the folds in Ryan Phillipe's formal black uniform, were a bit harder to discern than on the Vizio, and we thought the TX-42F430 became too bright too quickly in areas that called for a gradual rise from black to shadow. We also noticed that near-black areas were tinged a bit redder than they should have been, an exception to the TX-42F430S' otherwise linear grayscale performance. Finally, the set failed to maintain a consistent black level as other areas of the picture became brighter. In general, the Westinghouse didn't do a very good job of realistically reproducing darker scenes.

With brighter blacks, the saturation of colors suffers too, and for that reason the TX-42F430S didn't appear quite as rich and punchy in colorful scenes such as the Times Square celebration, where the red and blue of the American flags and the red of the chorus girls' dresses seemed a bit duller than on the Vizio. Color accuracy, on the other hand, was excellent, especially in skin tones such as the faces of people applauding in the crowd. The pale skin of the redheaded chorus girl on the far right looked realistically alabaster and not too flush. The Westinghouse's primary colors were close to the HD spec, resulting in accurate reds, greens, and blues, and color decoding was right on.

During setup we noticed that on test patterns, the Westinghouse "clipped" detail in very bright areas (technically, there was no brightness difference between 90 and 100 IRE), and this issue came up a couple of times in the film, as well. One of the teacups on the table in front of the boys at the banquet consisted of an indistinct white mass on the TX-42F430S, while the other displays showed the detail of its rounded side and slight shadow against the saucer. The brightest white of the tabletop looked similarly less detailed, and we expect this issue would be even more obvious in snow scenes or hockey games, for example. This clipping might not be a deal-breaker for most viewers, but almost all displays we've tested can resolve the full range from black to white, whereas the Westinghouse cannot.

The screen uniformity of the TX-42F430S was tolerable but not ideal for a 42-inch LCD. We detected brighter areas in the upper-right and lower-left corners that were clearly visible in dark shots and black letterbox bars. In brighter areas, we noticed that the edges of the screen were slightly brighter than the middle, but thankfully, this effect was quite difficult to detect in normal viewing material. The Westinghouse became a bit more washed out then the Vizio, for example, when seen from the sides or above and below. False contouring, on the other hand, was not a problem with this display.

We were also impressed that the TX-42F430S was able to pass both 1080i deinterlacing tests from our HQV test suite HD DVD disc; most displays we've tested fail the test for film-based sources. Despite passing the test pattern, however, we still saw hints of moire; in the seats of the stadium on HQV, and in the tell-tale RV grille from the end of Chapter 6 of the Ghost Rider Blu-ray disc, although both looked cleaner than on the Vizio. When we returned our player to 1080p output mode, those difficult areas looked much better, so we still recommend going 1080p when you can.

With standard-definition sources, according to our tests using the HQV disc on DVD, the Westinghouse TX-42F430S turned in a below-average performance. While it did pass every line of resolution from the DVD format, the details in the stone bridge and grass looked significantly softer than we'd like to see; the Vizio was noticeably sharper on this scene. We also would have appreciated some kind of noise-reduction control, as the disc's scenes of sky and sunset appeared rife with moving motes. We did appreciate that the set properly introduced 2:3 pull-down detection, but that's about the only good point in its standard-def performance.

We were duly impressed by the TX-42F430S's performance with PC sources at 1,920x1,080 resolution, as long as they went in via an HDMI input from our PC's DVI output. The set resolved every line according to DisplayMate, text looked good, and there was no overscan. Going in via analog RGB, however, was a bit more difficult. Our late-model EVGA e-GeForce 8600 GTS Graphics Card, although it was successful in identifying the Westinghouse, did not allow us to select a full-screen resolution higher than 1,280x1,024, which, as expected, looked pretty soft on the 1080p display.

Sony Bravia KDL-32L4000 Review

2008-06-25T08:00:00.004-05:00

Hi Everybody!

The Sony Bravia L-Series KDL-32L4000is a 32-inch, liquid crystal display television. Compared to other liquid crystal display TVs on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $700.This unit is an LCD display, which is generally the best kind of flat-panel screen for viewing in brightly-lit rooms.

Pros:

With built-in HDTV compatibility, this unit can display images that are significantly sharper and more realistic than regular television, as long as the source is high definition.(It can easily render standard-resolution digital TV broadcasts and also depict the full resolution of widescreen DVD video.)The 3:2 pulldown feature of this unit reduces artifacts that can occur when motion pictures are transferred to a digital format such as DVD.

Cons:

Has only a rear connector location.

Suitability:

A liquid crystal display TV, suited for home entertainment as well as work place applications. Also, a wide aspect TV such as this one is ideal for DVD movies recorded in the popular 16:9 format, as well as high definition programming.

Value:

In view of its relatively inexpensive price, this TV has great features for the money. In terms of viewable size, liquid crystal display TVs with similar viewable size have an average cost of about $875.

Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS Review

2008-06-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi everybody!

Today, we'll look at the Garmin Nüvi 200 GPS Navigator. As the name implies, the Nuvi 200 series is designed to set a new mark for the entry level Nuvi series. Many have speculated that this new series will be a replacement for the StreetPilot "c" series. Here is what we think of the Nuvi 200, and where it fits into the bigger picture of auto GPS devices.

Physical

The Nuvi 200 is almost the exact same size as the Garmin Nüvi 350 GPS Navigator. It has virtually the same width and height, but is just a sliver thinner than the 300 models. It also comes in at virtually the same weight.

Like its siblings there is a power button across the top, but the operation of this power button has changed. Rather than a push style button it is a slider. You slide the button to the left and release to turn the power on or off. You can also move the slider to the right that locks input to the device, much like a hold button on an iPod.

The SD card slot has moved from the right side to the left side. The right side and bottom have no buttons or connectors. The only other item is the USB/power connector that has been moved from the right side to the back of the Nuvi 200. Since there is no MP3 player there is no headphone jack.

The only other physical difference is that Garmin has finally gotten rid of the "flip up" GPS antenna. As much as I didn't like the flip up design, being able to disable the GPS did have some advantages. The other Nuvi devices can only calculate routes starting at your current location unless you perform a weird workaround of disabling the GPS, setting a new location, and then calculating a route. Without a way to disable the GPS on the Nuvi 200 series, even that long workaround becomes impossible.

Mount

Another interesting change in the 200 series is the suction cup mount. The mount is still easy to assemble, easy to adjust thanks to the ball and socket joint, compact, and a nice simple design. What sets the other mount apart is that the power cord connects to the mount and then the mount feeds power to the Nuvi. That is gone in the 200 series and instead the power cord connects directly to the device. So now when you take the GPS off the mount you also need to disconnect the power cable and have a power cable dangling inside your car.

Screen

A 3.5″ touch screen display powers the Nuvi 200. This screen is BRIGHT! It is brighter than the screen on the 300 series and is visible from a wider viewing angle. The whites are extremely white and bright sunlight never made the Nuvi screen difficult to read. The screen is one area where the Nuvi 200 performs better than the 300 series. This is one of the best 3.5″ screens I've seen.

Under the hood the Nuvi has a very powerful chipset which had no trouble quickly acquiring a signal within my office, kept a strong signal, and never dropped out when near tall buildings.

A few of the menu items have been rearranged a little bit if you are used to other Nuvi designs, but not so much that they make an important difference in function. The "Where to?" menu has been changed to include a separate button for Points of Interest rather than cramming them all into the parent menu. This is a welcome change and makes it easier to access the buttons for intersections, cities, browsing the map, etc. And if you need to use the Nuvi 200 for emergency geocaching events it will navigate to a set of coordinates.

Navigating to an Address

Setting up Navigation to an address has changed very little. The buttons have a little bit of a more modern looking design and are more rounded than the squarish buttons on other Nuvis. When it asks for a state the Nuvi still can't figure out that when I type in "NY" I mean "New York". Instead it insists on me typing in "N E W _ Y" before it figures out where I want to go. Likewise the rest of the process is the same as it asks you next for the city, then house number, and finally the street name. After finding the address you click the 'Go' button and you are on your way.

Navigation to a POI

As mentioned earlier, there is now a dedicated menu button for POIs. The POIs are still not arranged in alphabetical order, but thankfully there are only fourteen primary categories to choose from. Many of the categories like 'Food' do include sub menus. In the case of food you can select from about 20 different categories of food to suit your tastes.

The display of search results has also changed on the Nuvi 200 series. The 300 series shows you five results on one screen, lists the name, and straight line distance from your location. The Nuvi 200 series only displays four results per page, but includes the street address (but not town) in smaller print below the title. Personally the town name might be more helpful than the street here, but the important note is that more detail is shown at the sacrifice of one fewer result per page. Clicking on one of the results will display the phone number as well as town of that particular POI, along with a Go button to route to that location or a save button to save it to your Favorites.

Navigating

While navigating the next turn information is displayed in text across the top of the display. I'd still like a nice big graphical arrow showing the next turn somewhere, but I've learned to live without it on the Nuvi devices. At the bottom left is a field showing you your estimated arrival time. At the bottom right you are shown the distance to the next turn. Clicking on this button will show you a text display of your next instruction, a zoomed in view of the intersection, a voice prompt will read the distance to turn and the direction of the next turn and the estimated time to that intersection. People seem to be split in their preference of wanting to see "distance to turn" or "time to turn" on the primary display, but you only have the option of seeing distance. There is also no way to see the amount of time you have left to your destination!. Kinda sad that this GPS won't tell you how long (in time) it will take to get there unless you do the math between the estimated arrival time and the current time.

Voice Quality

The speaker is plenty loud and I could clearly hear instructions at highway speeds with the radio on at normal levels and the windows cracked. It isn't quite as loud as the speaker on the Nuvi 300 series, but it performed just fine. There is no text-to-speech option on the Nuvi 200 series, but the voice prompting was timely and of very good quality.

Advanced Features

Like the rest of the Nuvi series, the point of this device is simplicity. As a result there are routing features you might want that are not included in the Nuvi 200 series. As mentioned above you cannot set your starting location when calculating routes so you can't plan ahead unless you are already at your starting location. There is a simple detour function but unlike the detour function on most other devices you cannot specify how far ahead you wan tot detour from the current route.

Likewise there is no ability to specify a group of destinations or multiple via points and build them into one route. You can specify one via point per route, but no more than one.

Conclusion

The Nuvi 200 series is a great simple device. It has an absolutely amazing screen, the voice prompts are easy to interpret, and the map is very easy to follow. If your navigation needs are simple and you just want to get a device that will remind you of turns and take you to new destinations, the Nuvi 200 would be a great choice.

It does have some limitations though. There is no advanced planning function, no multiple destination routing, and a detour function that is too simple to be utilized. But hey, you do get a calculator, currency converter, picture viewer, unit converter, and a world clock. It would be worth comparing the Nuvi 200 with the slightly older Nuvi 350.

Sony KDL-46W4100 Review

2008-06-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!

The 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46W4100LCD HDTV comes from the brilliant W4100 series, which builds on last years extremely impressive and well received W3000 series (which I own and love). The Sony Bravia KDL-46W4100 was only announced a few short months ago, but very quickly caught peoples attention. A very stylish bezel surround the Full HD 1080p LCD screen which offers the highest and best HD resolution, which will be particularly well received on a large set of this size.

I believe the Sony W4100 series, and the Sony KDL46W4100 to be best priced performance for money priced Sony HDTV available. The W4100 is a very high-end HDTV coming in just slightly below Sony's flag ship line, but offers a much better price and many of the key performance features usually only seen in the very top end models. A key feature of this is Sony's MotionFlow 120Hz high refresh rate technology, which was previously only available on their top model. This along with a high quality 1080p panel, high contrast ratio, 24p support make the Sony KDL-46W4100 a very well equipped HDTV, which deep black levels, accurate colors, and great connectivity. Cnet say, connections on the Sony KDL-46W4100 matches that of most high-end HDTVs available today. Around the back, we count three HDMI inputs and on the side number four. Two component-video jacks, a VGA-style PC input and others. the Sony exhibited solid black levels and very good dejudder video processing, along with impressive color accuracy.

Samsung Instinct Detailed

2008-06-23T08:00:00.004-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Don't let the prospect of an even-better iPhone get you down, Sprint subscribers. The Samsung Instinct will give you an iPhone clone all your own, and it'll likely be a pretty good one once the bugs are worked out. The Instinct is basically Samsung 's reinvention of the iPhone idea: a slick-looking, touch-driven, multimedia handheld that brings a lot of non-phone features to the front, without being a full-fledged smartphone. (Yes, I realize the iPhone is now a bona fide smartphone.) And, you know what? It's not bad, mostly because of its excellent touch screen, which is accurate and instinctive, and a far cry from the frustrating experience you get with the Samsung Glyde. Maybe this slightly boxy phone doesn't have all the sex appeal of Apple's phone, but it's pretty snazzy in its own right, and has enough pluses to satisfy those who can't part with their Sprint Simply Everything plan.

The 2.17 by 4.57 by .49-inch, 4.5-ounce phone is a little squarer around the edges when compared with the iPhone, and it's a bit lighter, but still satisfyingly solid feeling. The 3.1-inch, 240 by 432-pixel display is slightly smaller and less-sharp than the iPhone's 3.5-inch, 480 by 320-pixel screen. Nonetheless, it's clear and bright, but tends to get washed out in direct sunlight.

Let's start with the phone part, after all, it is a phone. And hooray – it's a better one than the iPhone. The Instinct's reception is just so-so, but it gets earpiece and speakerphone volume and sound quality right, delivering voices that sound deep and loud. The mic is more of a mixed bag; on the other end of calls, I sounded even more nasal than usual, and calls made from the speakerphone echoed a bit.

The Instinct comes bundled with a stereo headset, but uses Samsung's proprietary headset jack, not a standard 2.5mm or 3.5mm one. The handset paired automatically with our Plantronics Pulsar 590 Bluetooth Stereo Headset and delivered good voice quality over Bluetooth. But I couldn't trigger voice dialing over Bluetooth–to activate the generally solid VoiceSignal voice dialing, you need to press a button on the side of the phone.

The Instinct got almost four and a half hours of talk time, a pretty decent amount considering its large, bright screen. The phone also comes with a spare battery and USB charging cable, which is unusual, and a direct shot at the iPhone, which has a non-removable battery.

The Instinct features visual voicemail, where you choose messages to listen to, in any order you'd like, from a list on the voicemail screen, just like on the iPhone. For syncing, iTunes is replaced by two programs, Sprint Desktop Sync for contacts and Media Manager for media files. There's no way to sync calendars or notes, and no Mac support.

To navigate the Instinct, you use tapping and swiping motions that should be familiar to anyone who's seen an iPhone commercial. (There's no pinching, though–this isn't a multi-touch screen.) To scroll through lists, you drag the screen–fortunately, you don't have to hunt down a scroll bar. To enter text, you use an iPhone-esque virtual keyboard, but it doesn't correct your spelling like the iPhone's does, but the phone does vibrate slightly each time you press a key so you know you've made contact.

Like with the iPhone and devices like the LG Vu, the phone is only the beginning with the Instinct. This phone has a lot of features. And the customizable Favorites screen is the way to pop the things you actually use onto one screen. It's a less elegant solution than the iPhone's rearrangeable menu icons, but still lets you move the icons for the items you use most into one place.

The Main menu offers e-mail, threaded text and picture messaging (but no instant messaging), voicemail, GPS navigation, and some other miscellaneous applications. The e-mail app is easy to set up, and adds Outlook Web Access to the typical list of Webmail and POP/IMAP options. This is very cool, since it lets many people get corporate e-mail into the Instinct's e-mail app without the help of an IT department. Mail can be 'pushed' if you'd like, with mail alerts interrupting whatever else you're doing. The mail client shows text-only messages and strips HTML messages down to basic text. You can attach files to send, but you can't read attachments you receive. The GPS navigation client is Sprint's typical Telenav service, which delivers loud, clear voice prompts and will even reroute you around traffic jams.

On the Instinct's second panel, "Fun," you'll find media applications and games. To put media on the phone, either pop it onto a MicroSD card (our 8GB card worked fine, and the phone comes with a 2GB card) or hook your phone up to a Windows XP or Vista PC using the included USB cable and run the Media Manager app, which scours your hard drive for media files and transcodes them into Instinct-friendly formats. This isn't really necessary for music files--unprotected AAC, MP3, WMA files and those bought from the Sprint Music Store are supported–but it's very useful for video, which ends up on the device as 320 by 240-pixel or 320 by 416-pixel MP4 files running at 30 frames per second. Both music and video sound good over wired or Bluetooth headsets, and video downloaded from my PC looked delightfully sharp, whether it started out as a M4V, AVI or WMV file. The Instinct can also run a wide variety of Java games downloadable from Sprint, which you can store in the phone's 32MB of onboard memory.

Two icons are devoted to Sprint's dozens of channels of streaming radio and video. There's a lot of content there, but the network wasn't working properly while I was testing. Sprint chalked it up to "network enhancements and testing." Also, the streaming channels don't work over Bluetooth headsets, and that's not a bug.

The 2-megapixel camera takes surprisingly sharp photos, with no low-light blur. But shots taken outdoors showed blown out bright areas and underexposed shadows. That said, it still beats the iPhone's camera hands- down. And like with Apple's camera, the Instinct's isn't heavy on options. All you get is the option to switch between saving images to the memory card or to internal memory. The video camera mode takes decent 320 by 240 videos at between 10 and 14 frames per second.

The Instinct's "Web" panel has icons for the browser, Microsoft Live Voice Search, and Handmark weather, news, sports and movie-time apps. If you've seen other Sprint phones with On Demand, the Handmark apps will look familiar; they're basically fast, easy-to-use Internet information widgets.

During testing, I had trouble with the Web browser because Sprint's network was choking thanks to the aforementioned enhancements and testing, but it was obvious that browsing isn't up to iPhone standards. The Instinct features the Teleca Obigo browser, a mediocre product that I've seen on several other LG and Samsung phones. It's supposed to run incredibly fast on Sprint's EVDO Rev A network, which has gotten speeds above a megabit in my previous testing with other devices. But some sites defaulted to their mobile versions and others had various formatting problems. The browser is certainly a step above those found on typical feature phones, but it certainly doesn't feel like a true desktop-quality browser.

My Instinct itself was also a bit buggy. Beyond the network problems, the handset's reception indicator fluctuated wildly and meaninglessly–zero bars! Four! Three! One! Zero! Four! Sometimes within the space of a few seconds, and independently of whether I could actually connect calls. The weather app crashed the phone once. And both the Media Manager software and the Mobile Sync software crashed a couple of times on my Vista PC. All of these issues could, and must, be fixed with software updates. There are a full two weeks before the Instinct launches, so it's likely that Sprint will work them out.

The Samsung Instinct is taking a run straight at the iPhone, but it's not quite an iPhone. It offers some features the iPhone doesn't, and it makes better phone calls than the original iPhone, but it doesn't quite match the iPhone's stellar design or near-perfect ease-of-use. Sprint users who want to focus on PIM and e-mail should go with the Palm Centroor BlackBerry Curve. If excellent voice quality is what you're after, pick up the Sanyo Pro 200 or Motorola RAZR2 V9m. But if you want a fun, high-end media phone, the Instinct stands alone; prettily and proudly.

Xbox 360 and PS3 graphics go head to head

2008-06-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's a debate that spawned well before the next-generation of gaming even began. Fast-forward to present day, and you'll find that jury still seems to be out on which console provides the better graphical experience.

While console fanboys would have you believing otherwise, the truth is that there really is no dramatic difference in the majority of multiplatform games on either the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3.

That said, CNET sister site Gamespot has re-examined the controversy in their third look at comparing the graphics on both consoles. Quite possibly the most in-depth comparison to date, Gamespot used games such as Grand Theft Auto IV, The Orange Box, and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 in their testing.

Now that you have all the evidence laid out neatly in front of you, what do you think?

Onkyo TX-SR606 Review

2008-06-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!

I performed my review on the silver-chassis version and, once my infatuation with its looks wore off, I set about connecting all of my components to the well-designed rear panel. More than enough inputs awaited me: five composite video and four S-video with shared analog stereo, in addition to two component video inputs, assignable to any of the two digital optical and two digital coaxial audio inputs. What really got my juices flowing were the four HDMI inputs, up from the 605's two. HDMI-switching receivers such as these use what's known as an HDMI repeater, which essentially regenerates the audio/video signal sent by the component over the original HDMI connection before passing it out again over another cable, to the HDTV.

The ONKYO TX-SR606 passes a full 1080p signal (1080 lines, progressive scan, the best that HD currently has to offer) and is HDMI 1.3a-compliant. The higher bandwidth of 1.3a means that it accepts the raw digital bitstreams of the high-resolution Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats, in addition to supporting up to 48-bit color depth (the current standard is 24-bit) and potentially higher frame rates. So right away we know that the TX-SR606 is a good investment today, and one that will provide headroom for the future of consumer electronics as the quality continues to improve. Onkyo has also added Remote Interactive over HDMI (RIHD), their own proprietary spin on the more common Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), to better allow the operation of multiple connected HDMI devices from different manufacturers with a single remote.

Pumping out a solid 90 watts for each of its seven channels (left, right and center front, left and right side surround plus left and right rear surround), the TX-SR606 accepts spade, banana, and bare wire speaker wire terminations. A sub pre-out also passes the dedicated low-frequency directly to a powered subwoofer. In a keen bit of rear-panel economy, the back surround speaker terminals can be repurposed to bi-amplify the left and right mains, if you have fancier front loudspeakers and no rears. Additional push-terminal speaker hookups are provided for a powered stereo Zone 2, for remote listening in a different room, even from an alternate source, should you want a movie in the home theater and music up in the kitchen at the same time, if that's your pleasure.

AM and FM antennas are in the box, and the receiver provides a total of 40 station presets. The TX-SR606 is also Sirius-ready, meaning that if you are a subscriber with your own SiriusConnect Home tuner and antenna, you can plug into the eight-pin jack and enjoy satellite radio through your home theater, quickly and easily. As this is also the MP3 age, Onkyo has added a Music Optimizer circuit, a generally successful effort to restore some of the sound quality and visceral impact lost when songs are compressed down to small digital files. To this end, Onkyo is also selling the optional DS-A2X Remote Interactive iPod Dock ($109).

Testing and Use

I was able to perform all basic setup and tests using just the simple blue LED readout on the face of the unit and the clean, ergonomic remote control. The same information can also be displayed bigger and brighter on the screen of a connected TV. Also here is Audyssey 2EQ, a smart room calibrator that automatically determines the number, size, and crossover settings of the connected speakers, to work best with the subwoofer (if you're using one) and factor in room size and listening position. If you can plug in a cable--the jack is on the front panel, people!--and move the small microphone thrice to different spots on your couch, and press a single button as many times, you can do this. It's pretty empowering to custom-configure your own home theater in less than the ten minutes estimated in the manual. Audyssey 2EQ also plays well with the newly added Audyssey Dynamic EQ algorithm, which provides real-time loudness correction to compensate for a variety of sonic anomalies in your home theater. When it's engaged, you'll probably never know what you're missing, and that's a good thing, as it results in truer, more natural sound.

Stereo music CD's via the TX-SR606 were as clean and lifelike as I've ever heard within my walls, but of course the most revealing performance tests would be done with Blu-ray's Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks. Touted as "lossless," these formats can be bit-for-bit identical to the original master recordings created by the studios. The receiver automatically detects whichever sound format we choose on a disc and decodes accordingly.

So much of what I was hearing was what I was not hearing: After more than a decade of DVD watching, my principle complaints remain frequently muffled dialogue and the occasional distortion of high frequencies. Across a slew of demo discs, these problems not only disappeared, but I experienced a revelation akin to my first discrete Dolby Digital 5.1 review: I thought I knew what a great cinematic surround environment was supposed to sound like, but now the effortless reproduction of all channels and their blend into a seamless whole, combined with the abundance of organic detail, brought me closer to the movies than ever before.

Of course it also supports the best that DVD has to offer, including Dolby Digital EX 5.1 and DTS-ES 6.1. While a variety of after-the-fact processing modes is provided (Orchestra, Unplugged, Studio-Mix, etc.), each represents another step away from the creators' original intent, and so they should be used with discretion. The 90 available watts per channel are more than enough to fill a medium-to-large home theater without introducing distortion.

We live in a world of multiple, disparate video sources, and one of the most attractive features of the TX-SR606 is its ability not only to switch between its different inputs and use a single output to the TV (my display ran out of inputs years ago) but what it does with all of those signals. The onboard Faroudja Directional Correlational Deinterlacing (DCDi) chip turns standard 480i video content into smoother, more pleasing 480p. Popping in an old Faroudja/Sage DCDi demonstration disc, I found the effect is most pronounced on "jaggies," those stair-step edges on difficult-to-reproduce diagonal lines, and it can be a real boon here to all of your standard-quality source material, particularly if your DVD player does not offer its own progressive scan output.

New for this model is 1080i upscaling on all analog signals, even measly 480i composite. It's not quite the blessing that is sounds like, as it cannot magically turn your standard-def video into perfectly believable HD. It can pull heretofore unseen detail from movies and TV, but it can also introduce new artifacting, a digital haze that some viewers might find unpleasant. This is a feature you will want to experiment with, to see firsthand if the good outweighs the bad, but kudos to Onkyo for including the option.

Conclusion

So you have your HDTV, your Blu-ray player, and a bunch of speakers: Everything you need to complete the home theater experience is right here. Well-featured, reasonably priced, and high-performance, the Onkyo TX-SR606 AV receiver is a sound investment.

Pros:

• Full support for the latest high-def audio formats

• Ample power, including a powered second zone

• Generous inputs, including four HDMI

Cons:

• 1080i video upscaling is good, could look better

• No backlight on the remote

Specs

Watts Per Channel:

90 W/channel

Sound Supported:

Dolby Digital Plus,

Dolby TrueHD,

DTS-HD Master Audio

Advanced Features: 1080p Passthrough (HDMI),

Calibration Microphone Included,

Crossover Adjustment,

HD Radio Ready,

Multi-Room/Multi-Source Capability,

Sirius Satellite Radio Ready

Supported Channels: 7.1 Channels

Input: A/V (Composite),

Audio - Digital Coaxial,

Audio - Digital Optical,

Audio - Line In (RCA),

Audio - Multichannel RCA (Decoded),

Component Video,

HDMI,

Radio Antenna (RF Coaxial),

S-Video

Devices Supported: 7

Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.08 %

Energy Star Compliant: Yes

Sound Processing:

Audio DAC: 24 Bit

Supported Audio Channels: 7.1 Channels

Sound Supported: Dolby Digital Plus,

Dolby TrueHD,

DTS-HD Master Audio

Amplification:

Peak Total Power Output: 735 W

THD at Rated RMS Power (Unbridged): 0.08 %

Watts Per Channel (Main): 90 W/channel

Connectivity:

Output: A/V (RCA Composite),

Audio - Line Out (1/4"),

Component Video,

HDMI,

S-Video,

Variable/Fixed Audio

Number of RCA Stereo Outputs: 2

Number of Video Outputs: 1

Number of HDMI Outputs: 1

Number of HDMI Inputs: 4

Number of Component Video Inputs: 2

Number of RCA Stereo Inputs: 7

Number of Digital Optical Inputs: 2

Number of Digital Coaxial Inputs: 2

Number of Video Inputs: 5

Input: A/V (Composite),

Audio - Digital Coaxial,

Audio - Digital Optical,

Audio - Line In (RCA),

Audio - Multichannel RCA (Decoded),

Component Video,

HDMI,

Radio Antenna (RF Coaxial),

S-Video

Other Features:

Energy Star Compliant: Yes

Remote Control: Universal Remote

AM/FM Tuner Presets: 40

General Features: 1080p Passthrough (HDMI),

Calibration Microphone Included,

Crossover Adjustment,

HD Radio Ready,

Multi-Room/Multi-Source Capability,

Sirius Satellite Radio Ready

Dimensions

Weight: 24.9 lbs

Depth: 14.75 in

Width: 17.13 in

Height: 6.87 in

Warranty Information:

2 Year Limited Warranty

Blu-ray DVD format may not dominate for years

2008-06-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

Noemi Velazquez, a 44-year-old warehouse worker, can explain why. She took one look at the $399 price tag of a Blu-ray player at a Best Buy store in Glendale, Calif., and kept going.

"I have to admit, Blu-ray is great," she said. "(But) I'm going to wait until they go to half-price."

Analysts, movie studios and the Blu-ray Disc Association, a manufacturing group, all say Blu-ray discs will eventually dominate video sales. The question is when.

Consumers are balking at the $300-plus cost of most Blu-ray players especially because only limited movie titles are available in the format.

"People aren't going to pay three times as much for a platform that's only half-baked," said Steve Wilson, a consumer electronics analyst with ABI Research.

Many also are waiting to see how cable, satellite and online video services play out. But, above all, consumers seem satisfied with standard-definition DVDs and players — even consumers who upgrade to high-definition TVs that can tap into Blu-ray's sharper picture and clearer sound.

Velazquez said that because she was still paying off a $1,000 high-definition TV she bought in October, she was happy for now to keep watching pay-TV movies and standard-definition DVDs on it.

Sony Corp.-backed Blu-ray was crowned the next-generation video technology in February after Toshiba Corp., creator of the competing HD DVD format, abruptly said it would drop the fight. The move came after Warner Bros. decided to join most other studios by going solely with Blu-ray and video rental chains followed suit.

Manufacturers are planning a souped-up lineup of titles and special features on Blu-ray discs to boost sales this summer and during the coming Christmas season in the hope that Blu-ray can turn around the sagging home video market. And retailers are creating new displays to explain Blu-ray's benefits.

U.S. consumer spending on home video rentals and purchases in all formats, including DVD, HD DVD, Blu-ray and VHS, fell 3 percent to $24.1 billion last year. The figure was expected to drop another 2 percent this year to $23.6 billion, despite a sixfold increase in Blu-ray disc spending to $1.3 billion, according to Adams Media Research.

The Blu-ray increase is not enough to offset an expected 6 percent drop in overall spending on DVDs.

Adams says it could take two more years for Blu-ray sales to put the home video market back on a growth path.

"The group that bought $2,000, 40-inch TVs are the ones that will lead the charge," said Tom Adams, founder of the research firm. "Everyone else will come along when the price comes down."

To jump-start the changeover, studios are beginning to release movies in Blu-ray with enhanced bonus features like picture-in-picture director commentary. The new bells and whistles are meant to entice consumers to plop down as much as $10 extra for a Blu-ray disc compared with a standard DVD.

Blu-ray machine prices are starting to drop. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. began stocking a $298 Magnavox model in mid-May, said spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien. That's cheaper than most alternatives but a hefty price hike from a typical $50 DVD player.

The format also faces sales challenges that DVDs did not when they took over from VHS in the late 1990s. It doesn't save any space compared with DVD, and there's no need to replace a DVD collection once you buy a Blu-ray player because it will play your old discs.

There also is a proliferation of direct-to-home offerings appearing on cable, satellite and the Internet that threaten to stop Blu-ray growth in its tracks. Blu-ray backers say, however, consumers prefer physical copies of movies over virtual ones, especially when some online rental services impose a time limit.

And Blu-ray's adoption curve is similar to — maybe even faster than — that of DVDs, backers say. Blu-ray players, now available for three years, cost $100 less than DVD players did at a comparable point in their life cycle, said Dorinda Marticorena, a senior vice president at Warner Home Video, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

"DVD was exactly the same thing. Players were expensive and there were not many titles. Lo and behold, the awareness went up and demand went up," said Andy Parsons, chairman of the association's U.S. promotion committee. "It'll happen in good time."

Blu-ray still has a long, uphill climb. Last year, more than 101 million U.S. households could play DVDs, compared with 3.7 million that could play Blu-ray discs, including those with Playstation 3 consoles, according to Adams.

But that's double the 1.6 million DVD devices that were in U.S. households in 1998, the comparable second year they were available. By the end of 2008, 14.4 million U.S. households are expected to be Blu-ray compatible, compared with the 9.4 U.S. million households that could play DVDs in year three.

Manufacturers and studios are preparing new offerings to take advantage of a feature known as BD Live, which allows access to enhanced Blu-ray bonus features over the Internet. It's available now on Sony's PlayStation 3 game consoles.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. added a BD Live clip-sharing function on its horror flick "Saw IV" and plans to have "Rambo" director Sylvester Stallone conduct an interactive exchange with viewers about his director's cut.

"It makes these discs almost alive," said Lions Gate President Steve Beeks.

The Walt Disney Co. is set to rerelease the 1959 animated feature "Sleeping Beauty" in October in Blu-ray with chat, trivia and video-messaging functions, just as its rerelease of "Snow White" on DVD in 2000 introduced a then-revolutionary animated menu.

"'Snow White' made the mass market wake up to the potential of DVD and helped demystify the technology," said Bob Chapek, president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Worldwide. "'Sleeping Beauty' on Blu-ray a decade later represents much the same thing."

Panasonic Introduces World's First 6X Write-once Blu-ray Disc Media

2008-06-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known, announced that it has developed the world's first Write-Once Blu-ray Discs(BD-R) with 6X writing speed*. The new discs will be available in Japan with both 25GB and 50GB capacities in July.

Panasonic, which introduced the world's first dual-layer 1X BD-RE Blu-ray Disc in 2004**, 2X BD-R/RE Discs in 2006, and 4X BD-R Disc in 2007, is now launching the world's first 6X BD-R to meet consumer demand to write and read large amounts of data at a higher speed. The new 6X discs have a maximum data transfer speed of 216Mbps, which is 20% faster than that of 16X DVD-R discs. This transfer speed, along with the discs' high capacity, allows consumers to use these discs for a variety of applications such as storing High Definition video or backing up PC data.

The new discs have a wide power margin at any writing speeds from 1X to 6X. This enables high-quality recording, even if the drive's laser power fluctuates, resulting in greater overall drive compatibility.

Panasonic's adoption of newly-developed disc technology produces extremely level and well-balanced discs with highly precise signal grooves. This improves servo characteristics and enables the laser beam to focus to the right position even when the disc is rotating with 6X high speed, thus providing optimum reading and writing performance.

Blu-ray disc drives compatible with 6X write-once Blu-ray discs are planned to be commercialized in Japan by the end of September 2008.

We Ski Review (Wii)

2008-06-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

If you've come here hoping for confirmation that snowboards are featured in Namco Bandai's latest Wii offering you're out of luck, because they're not. If you're here looking for an entertaining and accessible skiing game, however, then you've come to the right place. We Ski affords you unlimited access to the large Happy Ski Resort from the get-go, and while the game's unusual controls definitely take some getting used to, the various events and challenges that litter the resort's slopes are well worth the effort.

Before hitting the slopes you need to choose a character for yourself. There are well over 200 wannabe skiers on the game's roster, or you can use a Mii if you prefer. It's unfortunate that you can't equip hats or goggles if you opt to ski as a Mii, but the same is also true of some of the premade characters, and you're unlikely to miss the option until late in the game when you unlock "special" outfits that incorporate headgear. Next, you should pay a visit to the ski school, which, despite taking an unnecessarily long time to play through, does an excellent job of familiarizing you with the controls necessary to snow plow, slalom, and stop without the aid of a tree. Advanced lessons teach you how to perform air tricks, but these can be learned just as easily from characters that you encounter on the Happy Ski Resort slopes later on.

Other skiers are an ever-present hazard.

Regardless of whether or not you're playing with a Wii Balance Board (which can only be used to turn left and right--you can't control your speed the way you can in Wii Fit's skiing exercises), you'll need both a Wii Remote and a Nunchuk to play We Ski. For the most part you can think of these as the handles on your ski poles; you move them up and down to dig your poles into the ground and skate along flat areas, you rotate them to tuck the poles under your skier's arms and adopt a crouching position, and when you're not using the aforementioned Wii Fit peripheral, you angle them to the left or the right to turn. Buttons are needed to snow plow and to navigate moguls, and using the control stick is the easiest way to stop, but save for those few functions and some of the more advanced air tricks, you can get from the top of Lion Peak down to the bottom of Rabbit Road using nothing but hand gestures. It's a great setup once you get the hang of it, and it's unfortunate that the Balance Board functionality is so rudimentary.

With one perilous exception, all of the resort's 14 courses are classified as either beginner, intermediate, advanced, or as being designed solely for air tricks. Every course brings something different to the table, whether it's narrow winding corners, an especially icy surface, or scattered trees. What all of the courses have in common is that you're never the only person skiing on them. Other skiers not only make great obstacles but, when you see them standing around with yellow icons floating above their heads, they also have challenges for you. There are over 150 challenges in total, including trivia questions, food delivery runs, rescue missions, and more conventional elements like races, slaloms, and mogul tournaments. It'll be a while before any of these are genuinely challenging, but that's largely because the learning curve is so good that you're rarely asked to do anything that previous challenges haven't prepared you for. It's also because, trivia questions aside, We Ski is a mostly easy game. In fact, scouring the mountain in search of characters that have tasks for you will often take longer than it does to complete them.

Fortunately, time spent exploring the slopes is rarely wasted. Your performance is graded every time you complete a course, you can get your photo taken and added to your Wii's bulletin board any time you encounter a photographer, and animal lovers will give you cryptic clues as to where you can find the resort's elusive wildlife. Incidentally, the availability of these extras varies depending on whether you're skiing at night or during the day, but the only other differences between day and night are visual--occasionally making the latter a little more difficult.

Skiing with friends can make aimlessly navigating the slopes a little more interesting, and if you happen upon any challenges you can progress through the game exactly as you would playing solo. We Ski supports up to four players in split-screen mode, though even when there are only two of you playing the frame rate can go downhill fast if the slopes get busy. Some of the challenges are more difficult to complete when your view is restricted in split-screen mode and there are other players to bump into, while others are made much easier by the presence of additional players who can work alongside you to achieve a common goal. If your friends prefer competing in traditional events to exploring the resort, any races, slaloms, and mogul competitions that you've unlocked can be replayed at any time via the main menu. They're fun for a while, but they get repetitive more quickly than the other challenges that you find on the mountain because they're short, there aren't many of them, and only the slaloms offer any significant variety.

Photo opportunities like this one don't present themselves very often.

While challenges are scattered all over the resort, most of them can be found close to the ski lifts where groups of skiers congregate. These locations are generally the only place that you get to hear anything other than the occasional "swoosh" noises of your skis and the irritating gibberish that serves as character speech, since the lift stations are equipped with speakers. Occasional announcements about missing children and badly parked vehicles are a nice touch, but it's the soundtrack that will make you smile if you're a fan of previous Namco Bandai offerings, since it's composed of theme tunes from the likes of Pac-Man and Katamari Damacy.

We Ski isn't a game that will satiate your need for high-speed thrills, over-the-top stunts, and fierce competition. Rather, it's a relatively sedate game in which you can have fun exploring, taking part in friendly contests, running errands for other skiers, and posing for photos. If that's something that appeals to you, then the Happy Ski Resort is definitely somewhere you should plan on visiting.

Cox cable TV rates to go up next month

2008-06-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybody!

The price of cable TV through Cox Communications will increase $2 or $5 for some customers beginning July 15.

A letter sent to customers lists rising operating and programming costs as the reasons for the increase.

Limited-basic cable, which is the entry-level product, will increase $2 to $21.95 per month and expanded cable will increase $5 to $47.95, said Michael Dunne, a spokesman for Cox Communications in Southern Arizona. The change affects 39 percent of customers statewide.

Fuel — up 30 percent from a year ago in Pima County — is "an amazing line item for anybody's budget," Dunne said, and that's especially so for a company with a fleet of vehicle for home service calls.

Additionally, TV networks are increasing the rates they charge Cox to air their programs, he said.

Comcast, another local cable provider, has not raised its rates this year. Limited basic cable costs $16.99 per month and standard cable costs $53.99 per month.

"Like any business, the price of gas has affected us, but we've been working with our technicians and employees on ways they can reduce gas expenditures," said Kelle Maslyn, a Comcast spokeswoman.

Cable prices "continue to outpace the general level of inflation," according to a Federal Communications Commission report about competition in the industry.

The Cox letter to customers says, "In the past two years the inflation rate for our industry has increased approximately three times the rate of inflation for consumer goods. Cox will minimize the impact to our customers by absorbing the majority of these rising costs."

Echochrome Review (PS3)

2008-06-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Echochrome is a puzzle game available through the PlayStation Network where you toy with reality and attempt to navigate optical illusions that are reminiscent of the works of M. C. Escher. Your only influence on the environment takes place by manipulating the camera with the analog stick, which alters the layout of the level according to the current perspective. Regardless of whether you opt for the PlayStation 3 or the PSP version--each of which feature an exclusive set of 56 levels--there is nothing quite like echochrome, and its unique gameplay is well worth the experience.

Echochrome is made significantly more challenging by the fact that it's played against the clock.

The goal in each of echochrome's stages is to guide your mannequin through the environment, collecting four echoes scattered throughout the stage. If two distinct pathways appear to be touching when you rotate the camera angle, then they are, in fact, touching. If your mannequin falls through a hole, it will land on whatever appears beneath it. With three minutes to complete each level, echochrome's challenge lies not only in deducing the correct path for the mannequin to follow, but also in thinking and executing quickly. The mannequin never stops moving unless you press the triangle button to pause the action and think, but even then, the clock doesn't stop. To compensate for the fact that the camera angle doesn't turn as quickly as you'd like on some occasions, pressing the square button quickly aligns any adjacent paths so that pixel-perfect accuracy is not a necessity for success. Although the challenge can occasionally become frustrating, the short time requirements make echochrome ideal for quick play sessions.

One of echochrome's distinguishing features is its striking, minimalist visual style. Although simple black-and-white graphics certainly don't compare with most modern games that push the limits of their hardware, echochrome's perfunctory visuals are unique. They are also appropriate in a game that relies on your perception of distance and a constantly changing perspective. The game's music is similarly subdued, and sound effects are limited to the mannequin's footsteps along with a calm female voice that tells you when to begin each stage. The voice also lets out a conciliatory "uh oh" when the mannequin falls through a hole. It is this distinctive presentation that gives echochrome its charm.

The level editor increases replay value and stimulates creativity.

The robust level creator extends echochrome's longevity beyond the included levels. In Canvas mode, you have access to the same tools used by the developer to create new levels or modify existing ones. Both the PSP and PS3 versions provide excellent tools to edit and share your creations. However, only the PS3 version lets you upload your levels to the PlayStation Network to share with friends, as well as developers, who may choose to include your stages in future free updates. Setting your preferences to download new stages as they become available automatically incorporates them into Freeform mode. You can also share your PSP levels with friends via a local ad hoc network, but the home-console options are clearly superior.

Echochrome is a unique experience that's easy to recommend. The PS3 game is superior by virtue of its additional online features and sharper visuals, but no matter which version you choose, you won't be disappointed.

TomTom GO 930 GPS

2008-06-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

When it comes to in-car GPS, TomTom has always been of the philosophy that its products should be about navigation first. The company doesn't spend much time fussing over extras like multimedia, but rather focuses energy on navigation tools that will help the driver. The TomTom GO 930 GPS Navigator is a good example of this as it brings some new functions, such as advanced lane guidance, address entry via voice, and smarter route planning based on historical traffic data. Though there are some kinks that need to be worked out, they're all welcome and useful additions. Plus, the portable navigation system offers text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, and most importantly, accurate directions. If you're in the market for a high-end, feature-packed GPS, the TomTom GO 930 is a solid choice. The TomTom GO 930 is available now for $499.95.

Design The TomTom GO 930 stands out from previous TomTom GPS models as it ditches the standard silver casing for an all-black chassis. The look is sleek and sophisticated, and we imagine it'll look nice inside any car. The device is also compact at 3.3 inches tall by 4.7 inches wide by 1 inch thick and 7.7 ounces, so you shouldn't have any problems transporting this between vehicles. In addition, the back has a soft-touch finish that provides a more rubbery texture for a better grip.

On the front, you'll find a spacious 4.3-inch WQVGA display with a 480x272-pixel resolution and 64,000-color output. Maps looked clear and bright, and the screen was readable in various lighting conditions. You can adjust the brightness and map colors under the Preferences menu. The GO 930 also features new icons and a technology called Alfa Blending that claims to deliver smoother graphics. While the icons and graphics were clear and easy to read, we didn't really notice a huge difference from the GO 930 and previous TomTom models.

The software and interface is easy to use. That said, there are some areas, such as the Change Preferences menu, where you can go through several layers of submenus before you get to the option you want. The onscreen keyboard is spacious, and you can switch between ABC and QWERTY format. There's even an option for left-handed users, which is nice.

On the bottom, there's an audio-out port, a RDS-TMC jack (for traffic), a mini USB/power connector port, an SD card expansion slot, and a reset button. The power button is located on top, while the speaker and external antenna jack are on the back.

The TomTom GO 930 comes packaged with a car charger, a Bluetooth remote control, a desktop cradle, a vehicle mount (windshield only), and reference material. We're disappointed that TomTom doesn't include a dashboard disc for California and Minnesota drivers, since it's prohibited in these states to have anything attached to the windshield. We threw caution to the wind, however, and tried out the included mount. It's easy to install and held the unit securely in place. As we noted in the TomTom GO 720 GPS Navigator review, we do wish there was an extra locking mechanism for the suction cup.

Features As the flagship model, the TomTom GO 930 is jam-packed with features, including a handful of new functionalities. First, the system has 4GB of internal flash memory and comes preloaded with TeleAtlas maps of North America and Central and Western Europe and 5 million points of interest (POI). As with the latest TomTom PNDs, the GO 930 also has the Map Share feature, giving you the most up-to-date maps. This is possible since Map Share allows you to make adjustments to your maps (such as noting blocked roads, updating POI, adding new streets, and so on) and then share the information with other drivers. You can make the changes right on your system, save them, and then upload and share them with other users via the TomTom Home desktop companion. You can also download changes made by other TomTom users or you can opt to only download data verified by TomTom experts.

To plan a trip, you can enter your destination by address, city center, zip code, or intersection via the onscreen keyboard or with your voice. Yes, the GO 930 supports voice commands and unlike the MagellMagellan Maestro 4250 an Maestro 4250, you can enter an address by dictating it to the device.

Route calculations are also slightly different. As usual, you can instruct the device to calculate directions based on a number of criteria, including quickest or shortest route, with or without toll roads, or by a certain time. There are also pedestrian and bicycle planning modes. However, new to the GO 930 is TomTom IQ Routes, which provides more "intelligent" routing based on the historical average speeds of a road during the weekday and weekends. In other words, it gives you a more accurate idea of driving and arrival time, and it also gives you the opportunity to find an alternate route. The system also supports multidestination trips and automatic route recalculation. Traffic isn't included out of the box; you can get this with the TomTom GO 930T or you can purchase an RDS-TMC traffic Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver receiver for $129.95.

You can view maps in 2D or 3D mode. A status bar at the bottom of the screen displays useful information, such as the next instruction, remaining distance, and estimated time of arrival. There are also two icons in the upper-right and upper-left corners that let you zoom in and out of maps. The TomTom GO 930 also has advanced lane guidance functions, more specifically lane separation and 3D renderings of complex junctions. Lane separation displays onscreen the number of lanes and which lane you should be in for your upcoming turn, among other things. And for particularly complicated intersections, you'll get a 3D image of what the area looks like as well as sign post information to give you a better idea of what's ahead.

In addition to the new visual aids, you continue to get standard text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, including text-to-speech functionality. The GO 930 supports 24 languages for generic spoken directions. You can download more voices from TomTom Plus services.

The TomTom GO 930 has integrated Bluetooth, so you can pair it with a compatible Bluetooth cell phone and make hands-free calls. Even better, you can wirelessly transfer your phone's address book to the GPS, which we don't find often with other systems. For incoming calls, you can either use the touch screen to accept or reject calls or turn on Auto-Answer in the Phone preferences menu to have the device automatically pick up after a certain time. The TomTom GO 930 also has the "Help Me" function with the "Where am I?" option that gives you the name of the street you are on and the nearest intersections, and can find the nearest police station, hospital, or car service center, based on your current location. From there, you can also dial out directly to any of those services as well as other POI.

Last but not least, the GO 930 has multimedia capabilities with a music player that plays MP3 and Audible audiobooks, and an image viewer with JPEG and BMP file format support. You can stream music wirelessly over your car stereo via the built-in FM transmitter. There's also an optional kit ($29.95) that will let you connect and operate your iPod through the GO 930.

Performance We tested the TomTom GO 930 in San Francisco, and from a cold start, it only took the system about two minutes to get a fix on our location under clear skies, while subsequent starts only took a few seconds. The unit did a good job of tracking our location and kept a steady fix as we drove throughout the city. As one would expect, the GO 930 did lose the signal when we drove under the Broadway Tunnel and into a parking garage, but it was able to reestablish a connection almost instantaneously.

We planned a couple of trips using the TomTom GO 930. First, we plotted our standard trip from the Marina district to CNET's downtown headquarters. We used the voice commands to enter addresses, and we found the system to be hit or miss, with about a 50 percent accuracy rate. The GO 930 seemed to have the most trouble understanding numbers, whereas it was pretty good with city and street names. In all, we think it's easier, faster, and obviously more accurate to input addresses the old-fashioned way.

Once we entered all the information, the GO 930 was able to return with directions quickly. The system calculated a route based on the fastest IQ route for a weekday. We browsed the list of text-based instructions and found the itinerary to be accurate and an efficient route for that time of day. The voice-guided directions were loud and clear, and the text-to-speech pronunciation was decent. However, there were a couple of occasions, where the GO 930 was a bit slow to instruct us about a turn. We'd just be going through an intersection when the unit would instruct us to take a left or a right turn. Fortunately, the system was quick with route recalculations.

To check out the complex juncture and lane assistance tools, we also planned a trip from the city to San Francisco International Airport, which would take us on U.S. Highway 101. As we approached the turnoff for the airport, the GO 930 presented us with a visual cue along the bottom of the screen that showed the number of lanes on the highway, which lane we should be in, and the direction we would be turning. As we got closer to the exit, the screen switched to the intersection view, which showed a close-up 3D view of the roadway along with our specific exit sign. The view was rather generic, but it serves its main purpose. That said, the lane assistance function only seems to be available for major freeways and not surface streets.

Finally, we were able to pair the TomTom GO 930 with the Blackberry 8320 Curve Titaniumfor Verizon Wireless. It took several attempts to connect the two, but once the connection was established, we were able to make and receive calls.

Philips 42PFL5603D Reviewed

2008-06-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

At the Consumer Electronics Show this year we selected the Philips 42PFL5603D/27 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTVas the best product overall because it addressed one big issue with today's flat-panel HDTVs: power consumption. Now that we've tested the "Eco TV," we can confirm that it does indeed use less power than any flat TV to ever grace our labs. The bad news is that despite appealing to our desire to save the planet, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, or simply save a few bucks on the ol' electric bill, the 42PFL5603D does not appeal to our desire to watch a high-quality home theater image. If your priorities lie less with black-level performance and more with saving black gold, however, the Eco TV's miserly power consumption more than offsets its mediocre picture quality.

Design There's a lot to like about the external appearance of the Eco TV. Its black frame is the same thickness all around and bordered by a rounded strip of see-through plastic. Otherwise the look is quite minimal, with few logos, LEDs, or other unsightly extras. The matching black stand swivels, and the downward-firing speakers are hidden under the cabinet. Including stand, the set measures about 41.2 by 28 by 10.3 inches WHD, and weighs 60 pounds, while removing the stand shrinks it to 41.2 by 25.4 by 3.5 inches and 49 pounds.

Philips has always produced funky, if not exactly ergonomically friendly remotes, but the sad little clicker included with this TV represents a new low. Its few buttons aren't well differentiated at all, and the cursor control makes an annoying click when depressed. We're still not fans of the company's menu system, with its less-intuitive navigation and large sections that obscure the screen during adjustment.

Features The Philips 42PFL5603D's greatest claim to fame is its energy-saving prowess. With its Power Saver mode engaged, which utilizes all of the set's energy-saving functions including a variable backlight, a brightness limiter, and a room-lighting sensor, it draws about as much power as a standard incandescent light bulb. Even in its default picture setting it's more efficient than just about any other 42-inch TV, and in fact uses less energy than even smaller sets we've tested. Check out the Juice Box below for the numbers.

The key to the 42PFL5603's ability to sip power lies in its "Active Control" mode, which causes the TV to vary the intensity of its backlight on the fly according to picture content. Darker scenes cause the backlight to turn down and brighter scenes ratchet up its intensity. As you can imagine, this fluctuation in backlight brightness can become bothersome; the Performance section has the dirty details.

Like many 2008 flat-panel TVs the Philips has a native resolution of 1080p, the highest currently available. Of course, it's always worth mentioning that at this screen size, it's difficult to appreciate the extra detail afforded by those extra pixels.

Philips' "Digital Natural Motion" is a de-judder processing mode that smoothes motion, much like those available in 120Hz LCDs (the 42PFL5603D is a standard 60Hz display). Active Control also has a light sensor that can detect ambient room lighting and adjust the picture accordingly. There's also a Dynamic Contrast control that again adjusts the picture on the fly--for best picture quality, we left all of these controls turned off. We also tried out the Settings Assistant, which is designed to quickly optimize the picture, but the results weren't nearly as satisfying as a true calibration.

Speaking of picture adjustments, we were quite disappointed to discover that Philips didn't include independent input memories on the 42PFL5603D. All four of the HDMI inputs share the same "Personal" picture memory slot, and the two component video inputs share a different one as well. None of the other picture presets aside from Personal can be adjusted, and to top it off, you can't adjust color temperature beyond the three presets. We were also peeved by the lack of a dedicated backlight control, something found on most other LCDs regardless of price. In short, people who like tweaking the picture or having different picture settings for different components will want to choose another HDTV. We did appreciate the ability to choose from among four aspect ratios with HD sources, one of which introduced zero overscan with 1080 resolution signals.

The input selection on the 42PFL5603D is quite generous, starting with three HDMI inputs on the back panel and a fourth on the side. There are also two component video inputs, an AV input with composite and S-Video, a coaxial digital audio output, and an analog audio input associated with one of the HDMI ports (so you can connect legacy DVI devices and still get audio). There's no analog VGA-style computer input, however. In addition to that fourth HDMI port, the side panel offers a second AV input with composite and S-Video, a USB port to display digital photos and play MP3 music files via the TV, and a headphone jack.

Performance The Philips 42PFL5603D didn't do much to impress us under critical viewing conditions. Its black-level performance was relatively poor, its color, especially in dark areas, was less-accurate, and its energy-saving mode made too many picture quality compromises.

Prior to our standard calibration we tried Settings Assistant, which is designed to set picture parameters by stepping you through a series of image pairs, and afterward the image was (as we expected) pretty poor. Black levels were too high along with light output, and color temperature was a ridiculously blue 12,000K on average. Adjusting the "personal" preset in our usual manner yielded much better results, although we would have really appreciated detailed color temperature controls to reign in the once again overly-blue tinge. Our picture setting tip has all the details.

For our comparison and image quality tests we lined the Philips up next to a few other HDTVs, including the Panasonic TH-42PX80U and the Insignia NS-PSP42, both 42-inch plasma TVs, and the Westinghouse VK-40F580D, a 40-inch LCD. This time we checked out the Jumper Blu-ray starring Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker!) on the Playstation 3.

Black level: Compared with two displays in our comparison, the Philips 42PFL5603D couldn't muster a convincing shade of black. The Westinghouse LCD delivered noticeably deeper blacks, and the Panasonic plasma, as expected, was much deeper still--only the lowly Insignia looked more washed-out, and not by much. The Philips' lighter black levels took the punch out of dark scenes, such as when older David returns to his house in the evening and surprises his father, and lighter scenes alike. Details in shadows, such as the folds in his dark jacket, also looked murkier and less distinct than on the other displays.

As we mentioned above, Active Control brightens and dims the backlight according to picture content, and we found its effects quite distracting (and no, dimming the backlight didn't improve black-level performance much). For example, when younger David enters the hotel room during the credit sequence and flips on the light, the letterbox bars above and below the screen suddenly and distractingly became quite a bit brighter, and brightened further and more distractingly when the camera follows him into the room toward the lamp. We noticed these quick changes in black level in many places throughout the film and in other program material, to the point where we decided to deactivate Active Control altogether. As you can see by comparing our Juice Box results for Default and Power Saver (which both engage Active Control) and Calibrated (which leave it turned off), the Active Control definitely increases efficiency, and some viewers may want to leave it on for that reason, but for best picture quality it should be disabled.

Color accuracy: While we appreciated the relative accuracy of the Philips' Warm color temperature preset, we still wished for the ability to improve it further, especially since it tended toward red in especially in mid-dark areas. The set's color decoding was solid, but because of the reddish color temperature, we still had to back down color a bit to let skin tones look their best. Colors looked less saturated than on most of the other displays, as well, owing to our reduced color control and, as always, lighter black levels.

Primary colors were the high point in this performance category; the set came quite close to the HD standard, as evinced by colors like the spot-on grass and trees in the jungle when Roland (Mace Windu!) knifes another jumper. The low point was the extremely blue tinge to dark and black areas, which is characteristic of many LCDs but as bad as any we've seen with the Philips.

Video processing: The Philips had no problem resolving every pixel of 1080i and 1080p test patterns, and unlike many sets it correctly de-interlaced 1080i material from both film and video sources. The image looked as sharp as expected, albeit a bit artificial for our taste in some scenes thanks to an inability to completely remove edge enhancement. The actors' faces against flat-field backgrounds, for example, had a slightly too-hard look compared with displays without enhanced edges. As usual, it was difficult to see any difference in detail between the 1080p Philips and the 1,024x768 Panasonic.

We also checked out the Philips' Digital Natural Motion (DNM) processing and, as with all de-judder circuits we've seen, we preferred to leave it turned off. It introduced that tell-tale steadying effect, where during camera movement especially the image seemed to be "on rails" and look less like film and more like video. In addition we saw quite a few artifacts, such as the distorted halo that appeared around the young Jumper as the camera circled him during his experiments in Central Park. We also noticed occasional tearing in moving objects and weird effects where judder would appear and then suddenly smooth out again as the mode "locked in." In its favor, however, the Philips didn't evince the "triple puck effect" we've seen on some de-judder modes, such as the LG 47LG60, where a quick-moving hockey puck or ball becomes elongated and doubles or triples as it moves.

A test disc designed specifically to demonstrate moving picture resolution revealed that the 42PFL5603D's DNM mode didn't do anything to address motion blur. Unlike the 120Hz Samsung LN52A650, a 120Hz LCD we had on hand to compare, the Philips didn't reduce blurring in shots of cars passing by a stationary camera or in shots scanning over a printed page. It looked as blurry in these shots as the standard Westinghouse, although to be fair we didn't notice any blurring in Jumper or other program material.

Uniformity: The screen of the 42PFL5603D stayed relatively even across its surface, with only one slightly brighter area in the top-left corner that was only visible in the darkest scenes. Unfortunately its picture became a good deal more washed-out and discolored (reddish) when we moved off-angle, which was most noticeable during darker scenes and about equal to the Westinghouse.

Bright lighting: Like most matte-screen LCDs, the Philips did a great job attenuating ambient light when we opened the shades and let light shine directly on the screen, equaling the Westinghouse in this regard and outclassing the other displays in our comparison.

Standard-definition: The Eco TV didn't perform very well in our SD tests, although it did resolve every detail of the DVD format, and details in the stone bridge and the grass looked relatively sharp. It was below average at removing jaggies from moving diagonal lines and a waving American flag. When we engaged noise reduction, we really couldn't see much difference at all in noisy shots of skies and sunsets; the Philips cleaned up less noise than any of the displays in our comparison. We did appreciate that 2:3 pull-down detection kicked in quickly, however.

PC: Connected via an HDMI input, the 42PFL5603D performed very well as a big PC monitor. It has a special "PC" mode that the manual recommends using for PC sources, but we preferred the look of text and other onscreen objects in the standard "TV" mode, which was the only one of the two to completely resolve every detail of a 1,920x1,080 signal. In TV mode we still saw some edge enhancement around some text, however, so PC performance wasn't perfect.

Majority of Americans still clueless about Blu-ray

2008-06-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

A new report released Tuesday says that less than half of high-definition television owners in the U.S. know what Blu-ray Disc is.

While that's an improvement over a year ago, it still means that more than half of that group--the target audience for high-definition video vendors--still has no idea what Blu-ray is.

(Credit: Samsung)

According to The NPD Group, a market research company that tracks consumer awareness, while 45 percent of HDTV owners surveyed said they were "familiar" with the format, only 9 percent said they planned on buying a Blu-ray player in the next six months. That's only slightly higher than the general population, 6 percent of which said they planned a similar purchase.

HDTV owners familiar with Blu-ray stood at 35 percent as of June 2007. So what's more odd is that that group's awareness of the format has creeped up only 10 percent in the past year, in spite of the most intense battles between Blu-ray and now-defunct HD DVD taking place at the end of 2007, and early 2008.

The report suggests that Blu-ray is still facing the same problem of a year ago: prices are still too high compared with less expensive upscaling DVD players that are "good enough" for most consumers.

Cabasse Artis Baltic Evolution Speaker System and Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH A/V Receiver

2008-06-15T11:04:00.000-05:00

Let's face it: The French have a better shape.

To Americans accustomed to seeing other Americans waddling through shopping malls—and let me be the first to admit I've been doing a fair amount of waddling myself lately—the streets of Paris come as a pleasant shock. How do people who feast on duck liver and red wine stay so lean and sexy? Perhaps that eternal mystery springs from the same source as Cabasse's fashionably thin Artis Baltic Evolution tower loudspeaker. Like one of Frank Lloyd Wright's amazing cantilevered houses, it seems to defy gravity, the sphere holding its coaxial driver array floating on a skinny diagonal slash of solid wood. I suspect that the people who designed the speaker sat down to an excellent dinner afterward.

With a rated sensitivity of 90 decibels, the Baltic Evolution is fairly home theater friendly. It can even run off a receiver, so long as it's a better-than-average one. For this Spotlight System review, it mated with the Pioneer VSX-94TXH Home Audio Receiver, a features-laden dynamo from the company's step-up Elite line.

Round and Round
Cabasse hails from Brest, a town in Brittany, the Celtic region in the northwestern tip of France. The company was founded in 1950 by Georges Cabasse, whose lineage reaches back five generations to violin makers of the 18th century.

The Cabasse speaker you're most likely to have seen a picture of in a blog is Le Sphère, a cyclops-like device whose name suggests its shape. Our subject for today, the Baltic Evolution, is part of the Artis line, along with the differently shaped but equally striking Karissima, with its bulkier but handsome folded-wood enclosure. For something similar but smaller-scaled, check out the iO2 line. Then there's the Eole, reviewed here in December 2007, that incorporates small spheres in a compact sat/sub set; the Xi and Ki, which offer tubular accompaniment to flat-panel displays; the Altura, more conventional in shape, although still rounded at the sides and back; and the MT3 and MT4, conventional boxy speakers with a value orientation.

All of the spherical models use a coaxial driver array in a fiberglass housing reinforced by bits of MDF (medium-density fiberboard). While it's not strictly relevant here, Le Sphère's housing is more elaborate, adding a layer of a damping material that was originally designed for Airbus planes, flying helicopters, and European rockets. The Baltic Evolution adds a veneered MDF stand and a base with a beautiful painted finish.

Although I've reviewed coaxial speakers before, this marked the first time I've had a three-way coaxial design. The TC23 triaxial unit consists of three drivers made of various high-tech plastics. These include a 1-inch polyether dome tweeter, surrounded by a 5-inch P2C convex ring midrange, itself surrounded by an 8-inch Duocell convex ring woofer.

Polyether is a type of polymer. P2C is polypropylene charged with calcium carbonates. Cabasse manufactures Duocell using their own process. It's a form of Rohacell, a rigid, lightweight, low-density foam used to make plane and boat hulls. Cabasse's computer-driven proprietary process produces a diaphragm that doesn't delaminate because it's not a sandwich and has "unrivaled rigidity/damping/weight ratios." That's some awesome plastic.

Placing the smaller drivers within the larger ones enables all of them to fire at your ears from roughly the same position. This minimizes phase problems, simplifies crossover design, and allows the speaker to exhibit more even off-axis response. The downside in less finely tuned coaxial speakers can be a sonic character reminiscent of a cupped-hands effect. Cabasse seems to have shrewdly minimized this. The tweeter is located within a waveguide, within the midrange, within the woofer. You're free to remove the grilles and see for yourself. Without the grilles, the speakers have a crisper treble (and look very cool). I felt that there was plenty of information coming through even with the grilles on and, therefore, left them in place.

The spherical enclosure is mounted atop the thin end of a 48-inch-tall solid wood-veneered MDF pillar sitting on a round, multilayered MDF base with a 16-inch footprint. Transparent plastic-nut binding posts rise out of the back of the base, pleasing design elements in and of themselves. Be sure to fill them with some kind of suitably attractive speaker-cable jewelry. The included fat steel spikes have a dark chromed finish and look great. It's a shame they have to hide beneath the base, although they do serve an important function there—stabilizing an otherwise top-heavy speaker. Three color schemes are available. All of them contrast the color of the pillar with that of the spheres and base. The review samples came in pearl fiberglass with a black pillar and a base with pearl-paint finish.

For surrounds, I used the Baltic Evolution Murale, which comes with a wall bracket, and the Baltic Evolution Centrale, which stands on a circular base. Otherwise, they use a three-way driver array identical to that of the floorstanding model. The photo shows you what both options look like.

Both come hardwired with 16 feet of 12-gauge speaker cable terminated in soldered tips. This posed an installation problem in my room, where the surrounds need 25 feet of cable to reach the rack. I used heavy single banana plugs to clamp the soldered tips onto the bare tips of 12-gauge extension cables and wrapped the whole thing in duct tape. I also used banana plugs at the receiver end.

Cabasse eliminated the speaker terminals for aesthetic reasons; in the wall-mount version, the cable goes through the bracket straight into the wall. The supplied cable (while of decent quality) is intended for temporary testing by a custom installer. When making the final installation, he or she would replace the cable with something more appropriate.

Hailing from the Altura line, the Largo sub under review has a 12-inch Duocell-coned front-facing driver with ports firing downward into the gap between the enclosure and its base. The extremely attractive, tinted-cherry-veneer enclosure—called santos, after the original (but endangered) santos mahogany—is rounded at the sides and back. Its minimal depth produces a fairly modest footprint; big it is, ugly or ungainly it is not.

Pragmatic Second in Command
Pioneer's VSX-94TXH is second from the top in the brand's higher-end Elite line and sells for $1,200. There's quite a gap between this and the top-line SC-09TX that sells for $7,000. I guess Pioneer wants the Elite line to remain competitive at relatively real-world price points while still providing high per-

formance and the most desirable features. The manufacturer also maintains a separate budget line with models ranging from $199 to $499. The VSX-94TXH is THX Select2 certified, meaning that it can achieve reference-level volumes (which to me is earsplitting) when connected to THX Select–certified speakers in a room of 2,000 cubic feet or less.

There are a few new (to me) refinements in MCACC. That's the Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System, Pioneer's auto-setup engine. (A macaque is a charming breed of monkey.) As usual, newbies can simply hook up the supplied mike to the front panel, let the program run, and start having fun. But there's also an Expert mode that allows six different selectable setups for different listening positions or preferences. For instance, you might not want to play movies and games from exactly the same seat or with the same settings. MCACC can measure from three points and analyze them for standing waves, compensating as needed. If you wish to go further, as always, you can tweak the settings manually.

One Elite feature you won't find in Pioneer's less expensive receiver line—or even in junior Elite models—is the Home Media Gallery. It can pull music out of Windows PCs via a wired router, conjure up Internet radio stations, and (this was a new one for me) play audio files from a USB drive. More on that later.

No present-day receiver is complete without an iPod dock—in this case, the IDK-80, a $99 accessory. The receiver came with a note saying the cable that connects the dock had been "delayed in transit" (call customer service to get it). This model is also XM and Sirius satellite radio ready when you add the appropriate antennas.

While Pioneer has seemingly thought of almost everything, the back panel could use a second HDMI output. The target buyer for such a sophisticated receiver might well want to feed two HDMI-compatible video displays. Also, the plain monochrome menu graphics are crude compared with what manufacturers like Sony and Denon are doing. And although the remote (with its small LCD window) is reasonably functional, the navigation keys are a bit small. A second-from-top model really should come with a more substantial remote.

In addition to the Pioneer receiver, associated gear included a Pioneer BDP-HD1 Blu-ray player, whose familiar amber display and decorative horizontal blue LED harmonized with the receiver in a common spirit of Pioneerishness. My trusty Integra DPS-10.5 served DVD and SACD duty.

Premonitions and Flying Cars
The Blu-ray release of Premonition took a ridiculous length of time to load, but the results were worth it. Sandra Bullock plays a woman haunted by premonitions of shocking events, her loss of control signified by a seamlessly hallucinatory melding of orchestration and effects. This beautifully executed surround material could be both unnerving and moving. I was glad I didn't have to hear it through a less well-focused set of speakers—the triaxial array proved its worth. In a movie full of quiet moments, the Baltics also exhibited superb low-level resolution, the soundfield holding together even at almost subliminal volume levels. The high-quality soundtrack (in this case, uncompressed PCM) surely helped.

Meet the Robinsons, in Dolby Digital 5.1, gave the subwoofer plenty of opportunities to deliver loud midbass effects—enough, in fact, to make me turn it down. Most of them were connected with flying cars and surreal fight scenes involving a T-Rex. Here, the receiver's power reserves were essential to keep the aggressive effects from collapsing raised voices and other small denizens of the busy soundfield. Vocal clarity was so good, I could visualize the flesh-and-blood actors standing on the dubbing stage. The real treat was the musical soundtrack, featuring several achingly lovely songs by Rufus Wainwright.

There wasn't much surround goodness in the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack of A Mighty Heart, a dramatization of the terrorist murder of journalist Daniel Pearl. Vocals were recorded in a flat, claustrophobic void that eerily complemented the tragic story. Occasional musical elements sweetened the mix—a little warm acoustic guitar here, a pulsing bass line there—and the speakers and sub made the most of them.

Fresh Fruit Is Good for You
Eat a Peach is one of the artifacts of my youth—sort of. I never bought the double-LP set by the Allman Brothers Band because songs like "Melissa" and "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" were all over the freeform FM radio stations of 1972. Yet the SACD surround mix is like an old friend, aside from the underuse of the center channel. Pretty much any playback system would convey the essential warmth of tubed guitar amps, Hammond organ, and Georgia-inflected voices. What the Baltics and Pioneer did especially well was sharpen the leading edge of Duane Allman's and Dicky Betts' electric guitar lines and focus the soundfield without letting go of the warm, tubey vibe.

PentaTone's SACD release of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf includes a second work, Wolf Tracks, and narration by an all-star cast including Sophia Loren, Bill Clinton, and Mikhail Gorbachev. Loren's honeyed voice had a touch of nasality or spurious warmth—this was as close as the system ever came to an objectionable coloration. Still, the string sound of the Russian National Orchestra was plangent and woody. The reeds, too, were full of resonant character, most noticeably those representing the cat (clarinet) and the grandfather (bassoon). Overall, the presentation was detailed and focused without seeming forced or unnatural.

Thelonious Monk's Straight, No Chaser, again on SACD, displayed the bandleader's piano in an entirely natural way. Charlie Rouse's tenor sax emerged warm, but not ponderous, and the weight of the rhythm section was right.

Natty Dread by Bob Marley & the Wailers (on a mere CD) put the system to the reggae rhythm-section test. Would the midbass aggressiveness of Meet the Robinsons be repeated? No, the bass was a deep, true tone. The thump of the kick drum was fat and solid but not bloated or sloppy. The Altura Largo sub is musically trustworthy.

Home Media Gallery
Not all receiver makers are hip to what can be accomplished with a connection to a broadband router. Pioneer moves up a notch in my estimation with the Home Media Gallery. Setup couldn't have been easier. I ran my trusty super-long Cat-5 cable from my router and selected HMG as an input source without further ado—except for an upgrade from Windows Media Player 10 to version 11, required for the PC link.

Starting with Internet radio, I navigated by location (the other options were genre, podcasts by location, podcasts by genre, new stations, and most popular stations). I selected Africa, then Mali. The next set of choices were: all stations, news/talk, and variety. I picked all stations and got a choice of three stations. In no time at all, I was enjoying sprightly West African pop music.

Pioneer's front-panel USB connection proved to be an inspired plus. First, I bumped a few MP3 album folders to a thumb drive. The USB drive appeared in the Gallery menu, and I was able to select and play tracks. But I wondered, if a thumb drive is good, wouldn't it be even better to plug in one of the external hard drives on which my entire music library is backed up? Yup.

Either way, when it came to displaying titles, there was a character limit, 21 in the folder menu and 24 on the playback screen. Another limitation on the access of a large music library—either from my PC's main hard drive or the external one connected directly to the Pioneer—was navigation speed. It took about a second per line to step down through the album folders. When the list was lengthy, those seconds added up. Breaking a giant run-on folder list into smaller subfolders would help. The receiver can also register up to 20 playing or highlighted items in a favorites menu, but the function works only with the PC drive or Internet radio, not with the USB drive.

Cheers
Cabasse, where have you been all my life? The Artis Baltic Evolution delivered a whole range of authentic musical experiences. It also supported movies in the most critical areas—dialogue intelligibility, soundfield precision, and bounteous low-frequency effects.

And finally, it sidestepped the whole question of "How do you make speakers disappear?" If they're attractive enough, there's no need to make them disappear. And although I didn't have a chance to try them in a far off-axis listening environment, the triaxial driver array just might ameliorate some of the acoustic problems of such a setting. Bravo, Cabasse.

Pioneer, meanwhile, upholds the high standards of their Elite line with the VSX-94TXH. It had no problem providing the speakers with the reserves of power necessary to make them sing and produce a commanding soundfield. Time and again, it combined with the speakers to produce a rainbow of midrange and other tone colors, revealing good and bad recordings for what they were. THX certification, auto-setup refinements, and the Home Media Gallery all contribute value points to an impressive package, especially the USB connection. This essentially means you can bump your entire music library to a cheap external hard drive and make it another component in your home theater system. Bravo, Pioneer.

At A Glance: Cabasse Artis Baltic Evolution Speaker System

Speaker: Artis Baltic Evolution
Type: Three-way, floorstanding
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, polyether dome
Midrange (size in inches, type): 5, P2C convex ring
Low Midrange (size in inches, type): 8, Duocell convex ring
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 8
Recommended Amp Power (watts): Up to 220 continuous, 1,540 peak
Available Finishes (standard, pillar/speaker): Wild Cherry/Black Pearl, Santos/Black Pearl, Wenge/Pearl
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 48.5 x 13 x 17
Weight (pounds): 42
Price: $8,000/each

Speaker: Artis Baltic Evolution centrale/murale
Type: Three-way, pedestal
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, polyether dome
Midrange (size in inches, type): 5, P2C convex ring
Low Midrange (size in inches, type): 8, Duocell convex ring
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 8
Recommended Amp Power (watts): Up to 220 continuous, 1,540 peak
Available Finishes, Centrale: Black Pearl, Pearl
Available Finishes, Murale: Black Pearl, Pearl, Paintable White
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 11 x 11 x 11
Weight (pounds): 15.5
Price: $5,422/each

Subwoofer: Altura Largo
Connections: Speaker- and line- level, stereo
Enclosure Type: Vented
Woofer (size in inches, type): 12, duocell cone Power Rating (watts): 750 peak, 250 RMS
Crossover Bypass: No
Available Finishes: Wild Cherry, Santos Wood Veneers
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 20.1 x 13.8 x 21.7
Weight (pounds): 64
Price: $3,000

HT Labs Measures: Cabasse Artis Baltic Evolution Speaker System

L/R Sensitivity: 89 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center/Surround Sensitivity: 89 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the Artis Baltic Evolution L/R (purple trace), Altura Largo subwoofer (blue trace), and Artis Baltic Evolution Centrale center/surround (green trace). All passive loudspeakers were measured with grilles at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input and scaled for display purposes.

The Artis Baltic Evolution's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.10/–3.68 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 84 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 73 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.02 ohms at 230 Hz and a phase angle of –63.17 degrees at 136 Hz.

The Artis Baltic Evolution Centrale's listening-window response measures +2.54/–4.24 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.64/–4.11 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 79 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 69 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.12 ohms at 235 Hz and a phase angle of –62.80 degrees at 139 Hz.

The Altura Largo's close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 45 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 34 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 147 Hz with the Crossover Frequency control set to maximum.—MJP

Connections
Inputs:
Video: HDMI (4), component video (3), S-video (6), composite video (7)
Audio: oaxial digital (2), optical digital (5), 7.1-channel analog (1), stereo analog (7), phono (1), iPod (1), XM (1), AM (1), FM (1)
Outputs:
Video: HDMI (1), component video (1), S-video (2), composite video (2)
Audio: Optical digital (2), stereo analog (3), 7.1-channel preamp (1)
Additional: RS-232 (1), 12-volt trigger (2), IR jack (2 in, 1 out), Ethernet

Features
Processing Modes: Dolby: TrueHD, DD+, DD 5.1, EX, Pro Logic IIx DTS: DTS-HD, DTS 5.1, ES, 96/24, Neo:6 Other: THX, Neural, 14 DSP modes
THX Certification: Yes, Select2
Audio D/A Converter: 24-bit/192-kilohertz
Number of Amp Channels: 7
Power Rating (watts per channel): 130, into 8 ohms
Frequency Response: +0/–3 dB from 5 Hz to 100 kHz
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 7.38 x 16.56 x 18.06
Weight (pounds): 41.1
Price: $1,6000

HT Labs Measures: Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH A/V Receiver

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 153.2 watts
1% distortion at 172.3 watts

All channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 120.0 watts
1% distortion at 148.9 watts

Analog frequency response in Stream Direct mode:
–0.23 dB at 10 Hz; –0.07 dB at 20 Hz
–0.20 dB at 20 kHz; –1.15 dB at 50 kHz

Analog frequency response with stereo signal processing:
–0.91 dB at 10 Hz; –0.25 dB at 20 Hz
–0.23 dB at 20 kHz; –1.81 dB at 50 kHz

This graph shows that the VSX-94TXH's left channel, from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 164.3 watts and 1 percent distortion at 190.5 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 287.6 watts and 1 percent distortion at 333.8 watts.

Response from the multichannel input to the speaker output measures –0.23 decibels at 10 hertz, –0.07 dB at 20 Hz, –0.20 dB at 20 kilohertz, and –1.16 dB at 50 kHz. THD+N from the CD input to the speaker output was less than 0.009 percent at 1 kHz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –88.14 dB left to right and –91.33 dB right to left. The signal-to-noise ratio with 2.83 volts driving an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with "A" weighting was –100.01 dBrA.

From the Dolby Digital input to the loudspeaker output, the left channel measures –0.07 dB at 20 Hz and –0.29 dB at 20 kHz. The center channel measures –0.06 dB at 20 Hz and –0.25 dB at 20 kHz, and the left surround channel measures –0.06 dB at 20 Hz and –0.26 dB at 20 kHz. From the Dolby Digital input to the line-level output, the LFE channel is +0.01 dB at 20 Hz when referenced to the level at 40 Hz and reaches the upper 3-dB down point at 117 Hz and the upper 6-dB down point at 120 Hz.—MJP