Audio Video News

If you're a Comcast subscriber and an iPad user, make sure you download the XFINITY TV app. While not the streaming app widely hoped for, it's at least partially there. The killer feature is that it lets Comcast subscribers stream TV to their iPad from anywhere there's a WiFi signal. No 3G streaming yet. Before you get too excited, there's some limitations.

Criterion has proven time and time again that they can do incredible things regardless of media. Now, they're expanding their streaming efforts (some of their titles are already available on Netflix's intant option) with the help of Hulu's pay subscription service.

3net made its debut last night at 8 p.m. and will operate 24-7. New programs will air every night at 9 p.m.

Compliance with the ad-industry watchdog's recommendations is voluntary. However, most major advertisers belong to the National Advertising Review Council, and toe the line when its Review Board issues a ruling.

The 3DAA standard would focus not on channels but on objects within the soundfield, specifying their location and movement. The playback system -- whether stereo, 5.1, or 11.1 -- would then deploy the objects as well as possible within their inherent limitations.

It makes sense. While screens are getting bigger, the waning of the direct view and rear projection categories in favor of more energy efficient flat panels means you can get more picture size out of fewer watts. Moreover, today's LCDs and plasmas are more efficient than earlier generations.

To enroll in the Buy Back program, enroll your product purchase for a fee. Best Buy will then offer to buy it back for a percentage of the original price within six months. The longer you wait, the more the percentage goes down. Good deal? That's up to you. But if the product is something whose value would depreciate quickly, and you're inclined to update often, it may be worth considering.