Posts in Home AV
Seagate FreeAgent Theater: Media streaming from a Seagate hard drive
Ian Morris | Apr 07, 2009
(Credit: Seagate)
Media streamers are both marvelous and smashing. We're especially fanatical about the Popcorn Hour and HDX 1000 boxes we've reviewed over the last year. Not that we're ones to brag, but we're pretty sure our tireless evangelization has triggered other manufacturers to climb on to the media-streaming bandwagon. Seagate is the latest, with a product it's calling FreeAgent Theater.
If you recognize the name FreeAgent, that's because it's the moniker given to Seagate's range of petite portable hard drives. The FreeAgent Theater is a device that takes all the movies, music and photos you've jammed into these drives and plonks it on your TV screen. Quite a cunning idea, as long as you've already got a FreeAgent drive knocking about. We had a look at this odd-looking little beastie recently and it's certainly, er, unique. Firstly, although this device can bang out HD video up to 1080i, it does so via component-video. There's no HDMI output, which strikes us as a missed opportunity.
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McIntosh's new vintage 60th anniversary hi-fi systems
Philip Wong | Apr 06, 2009
(Credit: McIntosh)
Retro is still hot as high-end hi-fi maker McIntosh is producing limited-edition re-engineered versions of its 1961 M75 monoblock amplifier (think single channel) and 1962 C22 pre-amplifier for its 60th anniversary only. These will be bundled in sets of two M75 amplifiers and a single C22 pre-amplifier. Only 60 sets will be allocated for each country, though the company has not elaborated on this. However, the US will get 120 sets, at a staggering US$15,000, bundled with a special numbered version of its For The Love of Music book.
For the price, you'll get the retro vacuum tube-based M75s with updated electronics for improved reliability and a (deep breath) "triple-polished gold color titanium stainless steel" chassis. On the other hand, the C22 will be assembled using modern materials and manufacturing techniques. To give the pre-amplifier a retrofit, it's upgraded with an infrared remote control for enhanced ease of use, as well as an integrated digital circuit for input audio switching.
Click here to inquire about the contact details for your local McIntosh representative.
Via Engadget
Is 3D DOA?
John P. Falcone | Apr 06, 2009
There's an interesting article over at Slate titled "The problem with 3D." I'd encourage you to read the whole thing, but the subtitle pretty much sums it up: "It hurts your eyes. Always has, always will." Author Daniel Engbar argues that today's digital-assisted 3D technology isn't so far removed from earlier incarnations of the 1950s and 1980s, and that it's still effectively hacking your brain's depth perception triggers--and putting a lot of strain on your eyes in the process.
This matters, of course, because Hollywood is doubling down on 3D technology in a big way. In addition to new movies such as Monsters vs. Aliens and James Cameron's upcoming Avatar, studios are repurposing existing favorites for eventual 3D releases. And why not? With increasingly affordable giant-screen TVs in the home (and ever-shrinking theater-to-DVD release windows), the industry needs new and more elaborate gimmicks to get customers into the theater.
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Illuminated HDMI cables
Philip Wong | Apr 03, 2009
(Credit: www.donya.jp)
In the enthusiast world of PC modding, there're bright Christmas tree-like computers decorated with glowing neon lights and LED-embedded fans. Perhaps, this may have inspired the manufacturer of this unique HDMI cable to integrate ultra-bright LEDs to create a pseudo Philips Ambilight effect. If blue is not your favorite shade, these HDMI 1.3-certified cables are also available in red as well as white, in three different lengths. The prices regardless of the hues are 699 (US$7), 799 (US$8) and 999 yen (US$10) for 1m, 2m and 3m, respectively. Too bad there's no international shipping option.
Via Akihabara News
World's first region code-free Blu-ray player?
Philip Wong | Apr 02, 2009
(Credit: Momitsu)
If you're looking for a way to get around the region code in Blu-ray and DVD movie discs, Momitsu just have the solution for you. According to some online forums and retailers, its BD-899 Blu-ray player is region code-free out-of-the-box. If that's not good enough, the unit is also one of the rare gems in the market able to support VCD format in Asia.
For its primary function, it will handle all the latest Blu-ray technologies comfortably with its 1080p HDMI output, coupled with full high-resolution surround sound compatibility. Furthermore, the BD-Live advanced interactive feature is adequately covered via the built-in Ethernet and USB ports, the latter for memory expansion. Best of all, the BD-899 costs just US$349.95 online.
Disclaimer: Since the Momitsu BD-899 lacks the region coding function, it is likely the player may not be officially sanctioned by the Blu-ray Disc association.
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