Mark Fleischmann

Sort By: Post Date | Title | Publish Date
Audio Video News
DLNA to Stream from Cable STBs
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 26, 2011
Over the years DLNA has emerged as a useful standard enabling a/v products to pull content from router-connected computers, among other uses. Now some new interoperability guidelines will enable it to do the same from cable, satellite, or telco TV set top boxes.

The new standard was developed in conjunction with CableLabs, the research arm of the cable, satellite, and telco TV industries, and uses DTCP-IP link-protected streaming. It effectively means you can stream pay-TV signals throughout the home without having to pay for extra set top boxes, though you will need at least one box using the new technology.

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
Is 3D Gear Abused in Your Local Theater?
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 25, 2011
We couldn't quite believe this when we read it. But apparently it's true: Movie theaters are leaving 3D equipment in place when showing 2D films. The result, says The Boston Globe, is an image with a fraction of the proper brightness.

Reports the paper: "A walk through the AMC Loews Boston Common on Tremont Street one evening in mid-April illustrates the problem: gloomy, underlit images on eight of the multiplex's 19 screens...."

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
Vizio Products to Get Vudu Button
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 24, 2011
In the mood for Vudu's 1080p video stream with Dolby Digital Plus surround? Vizio is going to make it easy for you by building a dedicated Vudu button into 2011 TVs, Blu-ray players, and set-top boxes.

Vudu says other manufacturers will offer the button too though their names weren't disclosed at presstime.

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
TiVo Subscribers Say Ouch
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 23, 2011
TiVo is unquestionably the industry's deluxe DVR, but that status has always come at a price: Users pay for both hardware and the monthly program guide subscription. Now the latter is rising in price.

TiVo's monthly fee of $12.95 is going up to $19.99. And the cost of lifetime service, previously $399, is now $499. The new prices became effective last week, on May 19, 2011.

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
Sharp to Flaunt Super Hi-Vision HDTV
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 20, 2011
Hankering for an HDTV with 16 times the total resolution of 1080p, currently the consumer TV industry's gold standard? Sharp offers for your consideration the Super Hi-Vision set, currently in prototype.

Resolution of the 85-inch panel is 7680 by 4320 pixels, definitely an increase over the 1920 by 1080 pixels available in today's best sets at the consumer retail level. That's 103 pixels per inch, versus the 36 pixels per inch of a 60-inch 1080p set, or 33 megapixels, versus the 2 megapixels of current HDTV.

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
Netflix: I'm the King of the World
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 19, 2011
It's official: Netflix is now king of the internet, eclipsing all other forms of net traffic, bringing an abrupt end to the nation's use of other video streaming operations, web browsing, email, and naughty bits.

Oh all right, that's an exaggeration. But not by much. a recent study by Sandvine, a network analytics firm, reveals that Netflix is indeed the biggest bandwidth consumer on the net.

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
Audio Heavyweight Holman to Join Apple
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 18, 2011
Another day, another Apple rumor. Surround audiophiles may find today's rumor especially juicy: R. Tomlinson Holman, who was instrumental in developing THX, may be about to take a job with Apple.

If this is true, it suggests Apple may be planning a major audio-related move, one in which the help of a certified home theater audio heavyweight would be indispensable.

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
Netflix Snags Miramax
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 17, 2011
For the first time, Miramax movies will become available on a digital subscription service. And the name of that service? Netflix, of course.

Miramax and Netflix have signed a multi-year agreement to stream hundreds of movies including Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Bad Santa, Scream, Spy Kids, The Piano, and Kill Bill. Look for them starting in June 2011.

Continue Reading >
Audio Video News
Will iPad 3 Go 3D?
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 16, 2011
Unnamed sources cited by a little-known publication assert that Apple's iPad 3 will be 3D capable. It would be totally irresponsible to pass on this kind of unsubstantiated rumor.

Mea culpa.

Continue Reading >
Bookshelf Speaker Reviews
Polk Blackstone TL250 Speaker System
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 16, 2011

Performance
Value
Build Quality
Price: $1,019 At A Glance: Time Lens time-aligns tweeter and woofer • Acoustic Lens controls tweeter response • Wireless sub eliminates interconnect cable

Through a Lens, Blackly

Compact satellite/subwoofer sets were once surround’s entry-level configuration, a smart option for those who wanted to go beyond two-channel in a small room. More recently, they’ve ended up in the middle ranks of the home theater hierarchy—below monitor-class and floorstanding speakers but above the relatively new soundbar category and built-in HDTV speakers.

Continue Reading >

Pages

X