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Audio Video News
FCC Green-Lights Comcast-NBCU Merger
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 19, 2011
After long deliberations, the Federal Communications Commission has given the green light to the merger between Comcast, the nation's larger cable operator, and NBC-Universal, which owns a major movie studio and a variety of TV networks including NBC and a slew of cable channels.

On the heels of the FCC announcement, the Justice Department announced its own approval of the merger.

However, the approval didn't come without plenty of conditions. And one commissioner, Michael J. Copps (left of chair Julius Genachowski in picture), gave a piece of his mind to the others who voted for approval.

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3D Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Despicable Me (Blu-ray 3D)
David Vaughn  |  Jan 19, 2011
Looking to gain the title of "World's Greatest Villain," Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) adopts three orphans in order to steal a shrinking machine from his nemesis, Vector (Jason Segel). What he didn't count on was the three girls changing his outlook on the world and he'll stop at nothing to protect them.

The marketing campaign for this film stunk and I had no desire to see it in the theaters (and neither did my kids) but was willing to give it a try on Blu-ray. Surprisingly there's a touching story behind the fantastic animation as the villain becomes the hero and discovers he does have a heart buried beneath his evil exterior.

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Test Report: NHT Absolute 5.1T Speaker System
Brent Butterworth  |  Jan 19, 2011

As I stood chatting with the pilot of a B-1B Lancer supersonic bomber at Edwards Air Force Base recently, I realized that audio geeks have something in common with military aviators. "This air- plane is older than I am," the pilot mused. I thought to myself, "So are some of the speaker designs I review." Like the military, audiophiles don't reflexively throw stuff out if it still works. See?

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Gone But Not Forgotten
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 18, 2011
And so the sun has set on another CES—as it did over these train tracks as I wended my way home—but that doesn't mean our coverage is over. Stay tuned for more videos we shot at the show, which will continue to be posted over the course of this week.

What will we see and hear at next year's confab? More 3D video and audio, more tablets and apps, and more than a few surprises, I'm sure. Meanwhile, UAV will continue to bring you the ultimate in all things audio and video. Here's to a great 2011!

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CES 2011 Audio Wrap-Up
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 18, 2011
Interestingly, 3D was the watchword in audio as well as video at CES this year. Many people apply the term "3D" to 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, but I think this is a mistake. In such systems, the speakers are located mostly in a 2D plane—yes, the surround speakers are often elevated, but they are also typically very diffuse, so the sense of height is limited, especially since auditory directionality is less sensitive behind us than it is in front. Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz add front-height channels, which does more to enhance the 3D soundfield.
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Audio Video News
CES 2011 Attendance Up
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 18, 2011
While the final tally isn't yet in, the Consumer Electronics Association reports that attendance at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show was up over the previous year.

The estimate for 2011 is 140,000, a healthy increase over 2010 (126,641), and that in turn beat 2009 (113,085). At present the all-time biggest CES was 2008, with 141,150 people.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Machete—20th Century Fox (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 17, 2011
Video: 4/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 3/5
Set up, double-crossed and left for dead, Machete is an ass-kicking ex-Federale who lays waste to anything that gets in his path. As he takes on hitmen, vigilantes and a ruthless drug cartel, bullets fly, blades clash and the body count rises. Any way you slice it, vengeance has a new name - "Machete".
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3D Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D—Screen Gems
Kris Deering  |  Jan 17, 2011
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 3.5/5
In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice, continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead - and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap.
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3D Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Step Up 3D—Touchstone Pictures
Kris Deering  |  Jan 17, 2011
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 4.5/5
When a tight-knit group of New York City street dancers are pitted against the best hip hop dancers in the world, it's a high stakes dance battle that'll change their lives forever.
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CES 2011 Video Wrap-Up
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 17, 2011
Photo by Thomas J. Norton

Of the video trends I followed at CES this year, the most obvious were more evolutionary than revolutionary—more 3D models and more online apps in what are being called Smart TVs by more than one manufacturer. These apps are also available in Blu-ray players and tablets, providing various ways to access an ever-wider range of online content as well as media files stored on networked devices within the home.

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