Home Theater

When it comes to TVs, bigger is better. NHK, also known as the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation, unveiled its 85-inch LCD display, developed in conjunction with Sharp, last year. Today they’ve bested their previous technology with the introduction of a 145-inch Ultra High Definition plasma display, developed in conjunction with Panasonic. The ultra-high-definition display, or Super Hi-Vision TV as NHK refers to the format, rivals IMAX theaters… Read More

Recently, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings pointed a finger at Comcast for promoting its Xfinity on-demand services over competitors'. Comcast — and other ISPs — have been a thorn in streaming services' sides, one of the many complications we've come across attempting to disrupt the video content market. But there are undeniable tangles in controlling a service and promoting your product. At the same time, Comcast has the… Read More

Launched within an update on the Google Play store, the DirecTV application for Android smartphones and tablets has been upgraded to offer streaming video of movies and television shows from premium content providers. Similar to the DirecTV "Everywhere" iPad application currently in beta, DirecTV subscribers can access selected programming from Cinemax, Encore, HBO, the Sony Movie Channel and Starz assuming that these premium… Read More

Dolby Laboratories wants to scare the crap out of you. The famous sound system designer unveiled its latest surround sound technology on Monday, and its implications for entertainment, particularly horror, are hair-raising. Dolby Atmos will be implemented first in movie theaters but the goal is to eventually bring the technology into the home where it will find its place in video games. Described as Dolby’s “most significant innovation in… Read More

The life of a high-end audio equipment manufacturer has got to be tough. Constantly reinventing the wheel to appease the insatiable palates of hard-core audiophiles is no easy task. At some point, the well of creative engineering ideas may run dry and the audiophiles are going to be barking for more. Fortunately, that day has not yet come because the folks at Antelope Audio have just gone all atomic on audiophile's ears. Check out the… Read More

If you've ever wondered why you couldn't just sign into one account and be able to access all of your television subscriptions online, here's some good news: A new start-up has been created to answer that very need, describing itself as "a game changing new subscription-based TV platform." It's name? NimbleTV. Unlike Netflix or similar companies, NimbleTV isn't positioning itself as a replacement to… Read More

Thursday at Upfronts 2012, a two-week long event where media companies divulge their strategies to potential advertisers, Hulu announced four new Web-based programs to its original programming line-up. Original television content made for the Web is a new market, with several technology powerhouses at the helm including Hulu, Yahoo and YouTube. All three companies hope to capture the elusive mainstream audience, but we’re inclined to place our… Read More

Have you ever gotten on those 3D amusement parks rides where things seemingly pop out at you? At first you're like, "Whoa!" but then you realize it's only a visual and nothing actually makes you feel any of what's happening on screen. Occasionally a splash of water or bubbles are blown in the theater, but that's as far as those rides take you. Lame. The concept is similar in movie theaters, where action films… Read More

Continuing to develop original content similar to HBO's strategy, Netflix discussed plans for the upcoming season of Arrested Development at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday. Similar to the launch of season one of Lilyhammer, the entire, 10-episode season of Arrested Development will be available to watch the first day that the new season is available on Netflix. Netflix subscribers… Read More

Announced on the official Hulu blog earlier today, the company has surpassed more than two million Hulu Plus subscribers as of the end of March 2012. At approximately $8 a month for access to the premium level of service, Hulu collects nearly $200 million in subscription fees per year while continuing to serve advertisements to paying subscribers. In an interesting change called the "100% completion rate" rule, company officials… Read More

If you read our headphone reviews, then you already know we've grown weary of what passes for a high-quality headphone these days. At the risk of sounding really stuck up, we're going to put it all out there and proclaim that the land of headphones has become a much less respectable place. It used to be that $400 would get you some genuinely top-quality cans; now all it gets you is a celebrity signature on some really… Read More

You'd think that in the second decade of the 21st century, cords, wires, and antennas would be rendered obsolete. While we're still on our way to a completely wireless lifestyle, IKEA has come up with an immediate solution to our hatred for cables with the UPPLEVA entertainment system that can discreetly hide your wires so you can enjoy a sleek and clutter-free room. The UPPLEVA system contains a smart TV that has all the outlets,… Read More

It was recently revealed that the amount of 3D studio movies in production this year was lower than last year, with 47 released in 2011 against 33 planned for 2012, which probably isn't what anyone had in mind for the format hailed as the savior of cinema. A drop like this, along with sniffy reviews and poor performance for big budget 3D pictures such as Mars Needs Moms and John Carter, doesn’t just hurt the theaters, as fewer 3D films in… Read More