Audio Video News

When Oppo introduced the BDP-83 universal Blu-ray player for $500 (<A href="http://www.ultimateavmag.com/hddiscplayers/oppo_bdp-83_universal_disc_pl... <I>UAV</I>'s review here</A>), it set the price/performance standard&#151;in fact, many consider it to be the benchmark against which all other Blu-ray players should be judged. After upgrading the BDP-83's analog-audio outputs late last year, resulting in the BDP-83SE for $900 (<A href="http://blog.ultimateavmag.com/ultimate-gear/audiophile_oppo/">profiled here</A>), the company today adds a third model to its lineup, the BDP-80, which will carry a retail price tag of only $289.

Up to now admission to most TV-on-internet websites has been free. But one of the category's major sites, Hulu, may soon start charging for online viewing of some shows.

Rafe Needleman of c|net has a problem with 3D. He's a self-described "flat viewer" and thus can't see 3D effects even if they work fine for most other people. And he's not alone. Four to ten percent of the population has the same problem, "depending on which expert you ask."

Sony and Disney are first out of the gate with 3D-compatible movies on Blu-ray.

Remember when we reported on DirecTV's 3D channel around the turn of the year? Well, it has company. Discovery, Sony, and IMAX have announced that they too will launch a 3D venture, as will ESPN.

This week the consumer electronics industry will converge in Las Vegas for the annual International Consumer Electronics Show. That includes us--check out our blog!