Audio Video News

I realize that, for movie fans, the presentation of the Oscars is the most anticipated awards show of the year. But I've always preferred the Grammys, primarily because it includes so much live music. This year's 52nd annual extravaganza will be no different, airing on CBS a week or so earlier than usual—Sunday, January 31, 2010, starting live at 8:00 PM ET and rebroadcast at 8:00 PM in each time zone across the country.

The originator of the MP3 audio file format is backing a new version that would embed extra features into the file.

When Oppo introduced the BDP-83 universal Blu-ray player for $500 (<A href="http://www.ultimateavmag.com/hddiscplayers/oppo_bdp-83_universal_disc_pl... <I>UAV</I>'s review here</A>), it set the price/performance standard&#151;in fact, many consider it to be the benchmark against which all other Blu-ray players should be judged. After upgrading the BDP-83's analog-audio outputs late last year, resulting in the BDP-83SE for $900 (<A href="http://blog.ultimateavmag.com/ultimate-gear/audiophile_oppo/">profiled here</A>), the company today adds a third model to its lineup, the BDP-80, which will carry a retail price tag of only $289.

Up to now admission to most TV-on-internet websites has been free. But one of the category's major sites, Hulu, may soon start charging for online viewing of some shows.

Rafe Needleman of c|net has a problem with 3D. He's a self-described "flat viewer" and thus can't see 3D effects even if they work fine for most other people. And he's not alone. Four to ten percent of the population has the same problem, "depending on which expert you ask."

Sony and Disney are first out of the gate with 3D-compatible movies on Blu-ray.

Remember when we reported on DirecTV's 3D channel around the turn of the year? Well, it has company. Discovery, Sony, and IMAX have announced that they too will launch a 3D venture, as will ESPN.