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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Under the Skin
David Vaughn  |  Nov 05, 2014
Picture
Sound
Extras
An alien being comes to Earth and assumes the form of a gorgeous and seductive young woman and proceeds to drive around Scotland in a cargo van trying to lure unsuspecting male victims back to her lair. Once there, she begins to strip onto an inky-black floor walking backwards into the room. Hypnotized by her beauty, the men strip as they slowly sink into a black pool of death so their bodies can be harvested for some unexplained nefarious purpose. As the film progresses, our alien vixen begins to change and wants to explore what being human is about and is introduced to an Earthly phenomenon known as karma.
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Audio Video News
RIP: Crestron Founder George Feldstein
SV Staff  |  Nov 05, 2014
George Feldstein, chairman and founder of home automation powerhouse Crestron, has died. He was 73.
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The Connected Life
Easy Does It: Home Automation For All
John Sciacca  |  Nov 05, 2014
The biggest annual event on a custom installer’s calendar is the CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) Expo, which took place September in Denver. This year’s Expo was brimming with new technology, namely the overwhelming rollout of Dolby Atmos, a new surround format that I discussed in my previous column, along with several other exciting introductions like a new laser-powered projector from Epson and several very cool new wireless music system such as Denon’s HEOS and DTS’s Play-Fi.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Sabotage
Anthony Chiarella  |  Nov 04, 2014
Picture
Sound
Extras
Legendary DEA agent John “Breacher” Wharton (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his task force infiltrate a drug cartel and confiscate $10 million, which immediately disappears. Caught between suspicious Feds and vengeful drug lords, members of Arnold’s team start turning up dead…but who’s killing them? Schwarzenegger excels as both hero and anti-hero in one of the most complex and demanding roles of his career. David Ayer’s directorial style—war correspondent realism with a Michael Mann vibe—is highly flattering to both stars and subject matter.
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3D Projector ReviewsProjector Reviews
Sony VPL-VW1100ES 3D SXRD 4K Projector
Kris Deering  |  Nov 04, 2014

2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $27,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Razor-sharp optics
Accurate DCI and Rec. 709 color
True 4K performance
Minus
Contrast could be further improved
Pricey

THE VERDICT
The VPL-VW1100ES is a flagship projector in every sense—from its second-to-none lens to its phenomenal accuracy.

Two and a half years have already passed since Tom Norton delivered the first review of Sony’s initial salvo into the 4K projector world, the VPL-VW1000ES. It earned top marks from Tom, who called it the best projector he’d ever seen. Now, three years later, Sony has a new flagship, the VPL-VW1100ES, which includes an upgrade to the latest HDMI 2.0 connection standard and some video-processing refinements. It retains the core components of the old model but takes advantage of the small market of consumer 4K content available today.

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Audio Video News
Sonos Announces Software Update
SV Staff  |  Nov 04, 2014
Sonos today announced that its latest software update (version 5.2) is now in public beta. The update is said to improve the sound quality of the Playbar with enhanced stereo imaging, EQ, and “volume balance.” Other highlights include...
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Signals
Connecting the Dots: From OLED to Quantum Dot (QD) TV Screens
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Nov 04, 2014
As you know, LG is pulling the plug on its plasma production. Over time, LG expects that OLED will become the dominant TV technology. But, that time isn't quite here yet, mainly because OLED isn't entirely affordable for everyone. But with plasma going, going, gone, what technology is best suited for lower-cost LG screens? Enter the dots.

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Audio Video News
Onkyo Releases Spotify Update and Control App
SV Staff  |  Nov 04, 2014
Onkyo today announced the availability of a Spotify Connect firmware update and a new iOS 8-compatible app, both free.
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Ask S&V
How Do I Adjust Movie Images to Fit My 16:9 Screen?
Al Griffin  |  Nov 03, 2014
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Samsung plasma TV and a Panasonic Blu-ray player. Almost none of the movies I watch are in the right aspect ratio to fill the screen. This is annoying—I never get to enjoy the movie as I should. The player has no settings that I know of to stretch the picture. Is there a device on the market that will format the picture to fill my TV’s 16:9 aspect ratio screen? —Gary Roberts / via e-mail

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Tech2
Oculus Rift: The Future of Home Entertainment
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Nov 02, 2014
The Oculus Rift is the first virtual reality headset that actually works. Every person I’ve met that’s tried it experienced something between impressed shock and mind-blown awe. Since I first tried an early prototype two years ago it has improved dramatically.

Loving both the idea and the, ahem, reality of it, I bought one… sort of. Called a Development Kit, you can get one now too if you want. It’s not the final product, but it works.

So here’s my experience with a Rift at home.

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