LATEST ADDITIONS

The Big Picture
Finally Feasible
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 25, 2009

Last week, Canadian cable operator Shaw Communications introduced a new Internet service called High-Speed Nitro in Saskatchewan, offering download speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps), the fastest residential Internet speed in North America. By contrast, Verizon FiOS claims download speeds as high as 50Mbps, but customers typically see speeds in the 10-to-20Mbps range due to various factors such as the distance from your home to a Verizon central office, configuration of your computer, and condition of the wiring inside your home.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Capote/In Cold Blood—Sony Pictures Classics (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Feb 25, 2009
Capote: Video: 4.25/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 3/5
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Beverly Hills Chihuahua—Walt Disney Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Feb 25, 2009
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Chloe a diamond-clad, bootie wearing Beverly Hills Chihuahua enjoys her luxurious life so much she hardly notices Papi, a tough looking Chihuahua who happens to be head-over-paws for the pampered pooch. But when Chloe gets lost in the rough streets of Mexico with only a street-wise German Shepherd to help her find her way home, Papi heads south of the border - joining forces with a motley crew: two humans, a sly rat and a nervous iguana - to rescue his true love.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Vanishing Point—20th Century Fox (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Feb 25, 2009
Video: 3.5/5
Audio: 3/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Barry Newman stars as Kowalski, the last American hero, who set out to prove that he can drive from Denver to San Francisco in just fifteen hours. Along the way, he meets an old prospector, a snake worshipper, a nude woman on a motorcycle, and a blind D.J. who "sees" danger ahead in this super-charged, action-packed adventure.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The French Connection—20th Century Fox (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Feb 25, 2009
Video: 3.5/5
Audio: 2.5/5
Extras: 4/5
Two narcotics detectives, "Popeye" Doyle and his partner Buddy Russo, start to close in on a vast international narcotics ring when the smugglers unexpectedly strike back. Following an attempt on his life by one of the smugglers, Doyle sets off a deadly pursuit that ultimately takes him far beyond mere New York City limits. Based on a true story, this action-filled thriller, with its renowned chase scene, won five Academy Award including Best Picture and Best Actor for Gene Hackman.
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Audio Video News
Sayonara, S-video
SV Staff  |  Feb 25, 2009
Let's face it: if you have a home theater, you're going to hook up the majority of your components via HDMI. It looks best, supports 1080p, and gives you all of the audio and video information you need in one handy little plug. If your gadget...
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Audio Video News
Video: Loewe Sound Commercial Better Than any Super Bowl Ad
SV Staff  |  Feb 25, 2009
I know, it's a little TBS Superstation of me to post one of "the world's funniest commercials!" But, as an A/V nerd, this one got me. While itd doesn't quite have the wow-factor of Sony's ultra-elaborate Bravia ads, it's wroth a chuckle. I won't...
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Audio Video News
NHT Is Going Quiet
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 25, 2009
NHT, a well-regarded speaker manufacturer, is taking a break for awhile. Though the company has had many owners, it is not bankrupt--just "going quiet" while it mulls over "a change in strategy," no doubt prompted by the rocky economy. We received the following email from co-founder and co-owner Chris Byrne, reproduced below in its entirety:
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Audio Video News
Oppo BDP-83 Early Adoption Program
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 24, 2009  |  First Published: Feb 25, 2009
Oppo is well known for making superb DVD players, and it looks like the company is about to do it again with the introduction of its first Blu-ray player, the BDP-83. Slated to be a truly universal player with the ability to play Blu-ray, DVD, CD, DVD-Audio, and SACD, the BDP-83 has been in beta testing for many months, and it's finally close to shipping.
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Shane Buettner Blog
The Future Of HDTV, Blu-ray and LCD
Shane Buettner  |  Feb 24, 2009  |  First Published: Feb 25, 2009
Is There a Future for High-End Displays? I’ve had a running joke for the last couple of years, that the flat panel TV has ruined the entire industry. It never fails to provoke a reaction. But, people say, there are only two kinds of people in the world- those who want to have a flat screen and those who already have them! The flat panel has become a price-driven commodity. Who needs big screen specialty retailers when your HDTV is just another box you throw in the cart next to the 36-roll pack of TP when you’re at Costco? It’s a funny bit. Then I see Pioneer build the best single-piece HDTVs the world has yet seen, and fail. Not a funny bit. Makes me wonder. Is there a future for high-end displays?
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