After my recent Blog criticizing the Blu-ray transfer of <I>Blood Diamond</I> and speculating bit budget was to blame, Microsoft's HD DVD Evangelist (that's his job title, not an editorial comment!), Kevin Collins contacted me to point out some facts that contradict my theory of the bit budget for the HD DVD restricting the image quality of both the Blu-ray and (pending) HD DVD releases.
<B><I>In a special guest Blog, erstwhile Stereophile and UAV contributor Barry Willis remembers Randy Tomlinson, his friend of over 25 years...</I></B>
The 180-HQ vinyl version of of Rush's Snakes & Arrows arrived on my doorstep yesterday. Yee-hah! Can't wait to do a listening session. One error I noticed on the back cover (yes, I know we've got the front cover pictured here): The last track...
USA Today reports that PricewaterhouseCoopers is predicting that HDTV sets will be in 59% of homes in 2011, up from 12.7% at the close of 2006. As for DVRs, 39% of all homes will have 'em in 2011, up from 11.8% in 2006. Coolness. Me, I've got three...
I admit it; I am an unreserved fan of projectors. I've had one as my sole display since my 38-inch RCA CRT blew up four years ago. There is nothing like watching life-size (or larger than life-size) characters on a 110-inch screen. Now, that is engaging. I don't understand why everyone doesn't have a projector. Guests to my gloomy, cavelike abode could probably offer logical rationales. But come on: Look at the size of Adama's head!
Comcast has become the first cable operator to announce that all subscribers will have to pay a few bucks a month more for CableCARD-capable boxes, whether they opt for a new box or not.
I have more info to follow up with on the <I>Blood Diamond </I> Blu-ray Disc but that nonsense is going to have to wait in the wake of the passing of our friend and colleague Randy Tomlinson.
Today I bring very sad news. Randy Tomlinson, a valued contributor to Ultimate AV and, more importantly, a close personal friend of over 30 years, dating back to when we were both in the Air Force, was killed this past Saturday morning in the crash of a private plane in northern California.
