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Audio Video News
Netflix Gets Tired of Bottom Feeding
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 17, 2011  | 
Netflix distributes a huge amount of video programming and a rapidly increasing percentage of it via streaming. But in the race for hot new titles, it tends to lag behind cable/satellite VOD and disc release. Now Netflix is looking to improve its game by licensing original content and streaming it ahead of competitors.

The first property Netflix is eyeing is House of Cards, a remake of a BBC thriller of the same name, this time starring Kevin Spacey and directed by David Fincher, who directed The Social Network. Netflix is bidding $100 million for two seasons of the series in the hope that it may do for Netflix what The Sopranos did for HBO and Mad Men did for AMC.

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Audio Video News
TV Energy Labels Make Their Debut
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 16, 2011  | 
The yellow energy efficiency label already decorating store displays of air conditioners and refrigerators will also be required for TVs and cable/satellite boxes starting this year.

The familiar EnergyGuide label includes model, estimated yearly cost compared to similar models, and estimated energy usage for the particular model on display.

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Audio Video News
"Source Code," "Super," "Win Win" at SXSW
Ken Richardson  |  Mar 15, 2011  | 

Why does Jake Gyllenhaal suddenly find himself on a commuter train headed to Chicago? And why is Michelle Monaghan so interested in him?

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Audio Video News
Japan Tragedy May Disrupt Manufacturing
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 15, 2011  | 
While human misery is the most horrifying outcome of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the natural disaster also has implications for the manufacturing of consumer electronics.

Japan makes finished CE products like TVs as well as components such as LCD panels and chips, which it supplies to manufacturers all over the world. The disruption may result in shortages and higher pricing for these products and parts.

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Audio Video News
Standard Sought for 3D Glasses
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 14, 2011  | 
There isn't a unified standard for 3D glasses. That's a problem for consumers and the Consumer Electronics Association is looking for a solution.

CEA has started the process of building a standard for 3D eyewear. Interested parties are invited to make their initial proposals by March 31, 2011.

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Audio Video News
Disney Gives Bambi 2nd Screen Treatment
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 11, 2011  | 
Disney's latest video release of Bambi will use Second Screen technology to simultaneously display the movie and derivative features on multiple platforms, including TV, computer, or iPad.

Download the Disney Second Screen app and you'll be able to sync a broadband-connected computer or iPad to the movie as it plays on your primary video display. Then you can "dive deeper into the film by engaging with fun interactive elements like animated flipbooks, galleries, photos, trivia, and more," says the press release.

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Audio Video News
Panasonic Debuts New Blu-ray Players That Open With a Wave
Thomas J. Norton  |  Mar 10, 2011  | 
Panasonic's name may evoke sound, but its reputation is built on video. Nevertheless, the company does produce audio products, though its U.S. offerings in that space differ from those of many Asian manufacturers. It has never been a major player here in AV receivers or stand-alone speaker systems, but instead puts most of its efforts into home theaters in a box (HTiBs), compact one-piece stereo systems, and related all-in-one packages. Panasonic's new 2011 introductions in these categories include a single sound bar (the fully-powered, $400 SC-HTB520, which includes a wireless subwoofer), four compact stereo systems, and three new Blu-ray HTiBs with 3D capability. Four new stand-alone Blu-ray players were also launched.
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Audio Video News
Sony Enhances iTunes Movie Downloads
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 10, 2011  | 
Though disc releases are festooned with special features, movies sold as downloads tend to be unadorned. However, Sony Pictures is beginning to add features to movies sold as downloads through iTunes.

You'll be able to search for actors and dialogue, choose clips to share on social networking sites, and find songs embedded in soundtracks. Not surprisingly, the latter will be linked for purchase in the iTunes music store.

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Audio Video News
Pioneer Announces 2011 Receivers, Apple AirPlay Support and More
Thomas J. Norton  |  Mar 09, 2011  | 
For its 2011 lineup of AV receivers, Pioneer has gone Apple in a big way. The four new models, introduced at a press event in San Francisco, range in price from $249 for the VSX-521 to $549 for the top-of-the-line VSX-1021.

To various degrees, depending on model, the receivers incorporate a high level of compatibility with iDevices from Apple, including iPhone and iPad, with no external dock required. All four feature at least 110 watts per channel (120W per in the VSX-1021, all measured at 1kHz and 8Ω) using traditional class-AB amplification. The two lower end models sport 110W x 5 and the top two are equipped to drive 7 channels. Among their features are compatibility with today's most widely used audio formats (including Dolby Pro Logic IIz's height-channel option), 3D pass-through via multiple HDMI 1.4 inputs, and Pioneer's proprietary MCACC room calibration. All of the new units are Bluetooth-ready (with the addition of an optional adapter).

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Audio Video News
Warner Movies to Hit Facebook
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 09, 2011  | 
Warner Bros. will distribute movies through Facebook, the studio revealed this week. The first movie to hit the social networking site will be The Dark Knight.

The move is experimental. It comes on the heels of another unorthodox movie-distribution move, in which the studio offered two movies as Apple Store apps for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

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Audio Video News
Panasonic 2011 Blu-ray Players
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 08, 2011  | 
Panasonic today held press briefings at its Panasonic Hollywood Labs facility near Universal City, CA, regarding its 2011 line of Blu-ray players, HTIBs (home-theater-in-a-box systems), self-contained iPod microsystems, and a soundbar. This being Ultimate AV, I'll focus on the Blu-ray players here.
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Audio Video News
iTunes Now Does Home Sharing
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 08, 2011  | 
Apple has a new trick, one all but overlooked in its recent announcement of the second-generation iPad. Devices running iOS 4.3 now do Home Sharing of iTunes 10.2 library content via wi-fi.

So if you have an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch running iOS 4.3, you can stream movies, music, and other stuff from your PC or Mac running iTunes 10.2. This does not include the streaming and transfer of movie rentals.

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Audio Video News
Apple Seeks to Offer Cloud Access
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 07, 2011  | 
Don't you hate it when you've paid for a download but can't enjoy it—because it's on a device that's either unauthorized, lost, or dead? Apple is proposing a solution to the music industry in the form of cloud-based content access.

The proposal under discussion would "give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music," says Bloomberg News, which broke the story. "A deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost."

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Audio Video News
Win the Polk F/X Wireless Surround
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 04, 2011  | 
Polk Audio is staging a contest that will put F/X Wireless Surround speakers into the hands of happy surround buffs. You can enter every day between now and March 31, 2011. No purchase is required.

The F/X Wireless Surround looks more like a squat subwoofer than a surround speaker. This unorthodox product is designed to be placed behind the main seating area, providing surround effects without intruding into the room.

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Audio Video News
Roku Embraces Amazon Prime Video
Mark Fleischmann  |  Mar 03, 2011  | 
Roku is adding another feather to its cap. Its set-top box will stream Amazon Prime Instant Video.

Amazon Prime Instant Video is itself fairly new. Its initial purpose was to give free two-day shipping. Now it also includes Instant Video streaming of 5000 movie and TV show titles.

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