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Audio Video News
Toshiba Firmware Updates HD DVD Players For Web-Based Interactivity; 24p To Follow
 |  Jul 08, 2007

Expanding its already formidable lead in next-gen interactivity, Toshiba within the last month or so has released firmware updates for its HD DVD players that enable web-based interactivity features that are now starting to appear on HD DVDs. The first two titles on the market with web-enabled features are Warner's <I>Blood Diamond</I> and Bandai Visual's <I>Freedom</I> volume 1. Warner's intimate character drama <I>300</I>, set for release later this month, will also feature web-based interactivity.

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Fred Manteghian Blog
A Combo Blog
Fred Manteghian  |  Jul 08, 2007

A month ago, I wrote about how the HD side of the <i>Stroker Ace</i> combo disc didn't play in my brand new Toshiba XA2. Shane asked if I'd bothered to upgrade firmware levels, which, of course, I hadn't. When I did, supposedly to release 1.6, I still had a problem with the disc. I put in <i>Children of Men</i>, another combo, and that wouldn't play on the HD side either. A week ago, I ran the firmware update request again. It took a few minutes (as opposed to about 20 minutes the first time) and then, well, I forget what it did then, but my Toshiba still thinks it's at release level 1.6.

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Accessory Reviews
PureLink HD-150 1:5 HDMI Distribution Amplifier, HS-42A 4:2 HDMI Selector, HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Extension Cable
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 08, 2007

HDMI connections, combined with a pristine source and a great display, can produce beautiful images, perhaps the best ever available to consumers. But the format has not been trouble free. Even if we ignore consideration of which version of HDMI we're dealing with, and the length limitations of the connections, more than a few videophiles have had problems getting HDMI some combinations of source, display, and switcher to work together.

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Other Source Component Reviews
Xbox 360 Elite and HD DVD Add-On Drive
David Vaughn  |  Jul 08, 2007

The past year and change has been an interesting time for home theater enthusiasts, with the introduction of two competing high-definition movie formats, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The scenario is very reminiscent to the 1980's when VHS and Betamax had their own slugfest for the wallets of consumers, but in this new "war" the battleground has evolved.

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Other Tech
Your Guide to High-End Accessories
 |  Jul 07, 2007

Furniture Why banish your components to a dark, stuffy closet? Furniture makers have a variety of stands and cabinets that will make your gear easy to get to and great to look at.

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Audio Video News
P.S. on BJ: SACD and DD
SV Staff  |  Jul 06, 2007
It's the day before Live Earth (actually, it's only 6 hours away from when the global concert starts in Sydney, Australia), so for all of you Bon Jovi fans who will be heading out to see the band at the Giants Stadium finale, here's something I...
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Audio Video News
Verizon Dodges FCC CableCARD Rules
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jul 06, 2007
Starting on July 1, all non-broadcast television providers are required under federal law to support the CableCARD standard and storebought cable boxes--with very few exceptions. One of those exceptions is Verizon.
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Music Reviews
CD Review: The White Stripes
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 05, 2007
Icky Thump Third Man/Warner Bros.
Music ••••½Sound ••••
Jack and Meg White continue to gather no moss.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
DVD Review: Apocalypto
Marc Horowitz  |  Jul 05, 2007
New Line
Movie •••½Picture •••½Sound •••½Extras •••
Yes, Apocalypto is i
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NuVision 52LEDLP 52-inch 1080p DLP HDTV
Rob Sabin  |  Jul 05, 2007

As the prices of flat-panels keep dropping, the key to survival for rear-projection HDTVs has been their value at screen sizes bigger than 50 inches. So I found it a little strange, not long ago, to be reviewing this 52-inch DLP set at $4,399 - easily $2,000 more than other like-sized 1080p models. Could the NuVision 52LEDLP 52-inch 1080p DLP HDTV possibly be worth it?

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