http://www.ps3news.com PS3 NEWS - PlayStation 3 News - PS3News - PS3News.com - PS3 Games - PS3 Hacks - PS3 Homebrew - PS3 Linux Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:58:04 CDT en http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/giz-explains-why-hd-video-downloads-arent-very-high-def/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/giz-explains-why-hd-video-downloads-arent-very-high-def/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:58:04 CDT Starlight HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/giz-explains-why-hd-video-downloads-arent-very-high-def/ introduced HD TV downloads to the iTunes store, meaning you can watch Peter be super emo on Heroes at a crispy 720p resolution. That's a higher resolution than DVD, and technically, yup, that's HD. There's a catch though. Like every other video download service touting HD videos, it's all actually lower quality than DVD.

It's all about bitrate: How much data is packed into a file, described as bits per second. Generally speaking, a higher bitrate translates into higher quality audio and video, though quality can also be affected by codec-the encoding and compression technique that was used to make and read the file-so bitrate is not an absolute mark of quality, but it's still a very good indicator.

You're probably most familiar with this bitrate business when it comes to ripping your CDs. When you shove a CD into your computer, your ripping program will ask what format you want and what bitrate you want. A song ripped at a higher bitrate will sound better, with more presence and detail, but it does take up more space.

The same principle applies with video, though it's actually a bigger deal, because it's easier to see quality differences in video than it is to hear differences in audio. The bits make a huge difference when you get into fast moving stuff like sports or action movies-to be frank, they'll look like splattered, smeared shit in highly compressed low-bitrate vids. This chart below, expertly crafted by George Ou at ZDNet provides a solid starting point for comparison, with average bitrates of most digital video available.

As you can see, regular DVD runs at about 6-8 megabits per second. High-def iTunes content, despite having a higher resolution, is half that, a mere 4Mbps. Vudu's current HD movies is also about 4Mbps, if you've got the pipes. Xbox Live Marketplace has the highest bitrate-and indeed, often gets props for its quality-at close to 6.8Mbps. On the other hand, standard-def movies on the Netflix Roku box max out at around 2.2Mbps-and are often delivered in lower qualities because of bandwidth constraints. iTunes standard def TV shows run around 1.5Mbps. Now, consider that Blu-ray is a mean 40Mbps and you see that the definition of "HD" is suddenly remarkably vague.

That's a pissload of numbers. What does that mean?

This comparison test we ran in February pretty much shows you what's wrong: No matter how awesome MPEG-4 compression-or whatever the codec of the month is-gets, it can't work miracles when it's missing bits. It's why Vudu, for instance, is testing out a new closer-to-real-HD service-that they've revealed to us has three times the bitrate of any other download service on the market, meaning it should be close to 20Mbps-that will take hours to deliver to your home. But even then, the notion that it would truly rival Blu-ray is totally laughable.

It's not just download services giving you this watered-down so-called "HD lite", either. Comcast was busted cramming three HD channels into the space of two, resulting in crappy looking HDTV, and the satellite guys adding a million HD channels a year aren't much better.

Now that you understand what makes or breaks an HD picture-the amount of data- it's probably no surprise to you that the major reason everyone is peddling subpar HD is bandwidth. HD content is pipe-bustingly huge-a standard-def Battlestar Galactica file on iTunes is 520MB and takes about 15 minutes to download via a strong cable connection. The 720p HD download is 1.4GB and takes 40 minutes or so for your hard drive to completely swallow. The Blu-ray version of the same ep might be 10 times that-like 14GB. Putting that in more context, a single TV episode would take up twice the space as the average dual-layer DVD movie.

Right now, we don't have the broadband infrastructure to support it, and who knows when we will? Hell, the people with the best chance of giving us that added bandwidth-the major ISPs like Comcast and AT&T-are doing just the opposite: Implementing usage caps that will mean less HD downloading. The sad thing is, they probably won't even use the added bandwidth to make their own HD TV channels look better.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/this-is-not-a-test-calibrate-your-hdtv/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/this-is-not-a-test-calibrate-your-hdtv/ Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:31:06 CDT Starlight HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/this-is-not-a-test-calibrate-your-hdtv/
Take the set home and the picture may look slightly different. Some colors are brighter than others, and the contrast between dark and light colors is heightened.

Now you need to calibrate the TV. Photographers and graphic artists have been doing color calibrations for years on their monitors in order to ensure that colors on screen accurately match what will appear in print or on a Web site. But now, with more consumers owning high-definition TVs - where every pixel pops off the screen - calibration becomes more important than with the old cathode-ray tube TV.

The easiest way to do it is to ask the electronics store to adjust it for you. It may also be one of the most expensive options. Geek Squad, the service arm of Best Buy, charges about $300 for the in-home service. But other people may find satisfactory results either with software included on some DVDs or by buying a special disc that takes the viewer through calibration steps.

The manufacturers tweak red, green and blue settings a bit to make the colors pop. They intensify blue, causing red and green to overcompensate in the image. Some people may like that look. But it creates an HDTV that is not only too bright, but won’t give an accurate color representation of the leopard leaping from tree to tree on the National Geographic HD channel. You can also improve the image quality on your HDTV by reducing the amount of light that creeps into the room. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spring for "room darkening" drapes, which are far more expensive than a Geek Squad visit.

Ultrasuede curtains, for instance, keep daylight out and are fairly inexpensive. Another trick that movie theaters use: Paint the walls a dark color, like burgundy, so less light is reflected. Putting the TV at eye level and at a distance of about three times the screen’s diagonal measurement can help you see a better picture.

The Geek Squad certainly puts on a show for its $300. Upon arriving at a customer’s home in Wilton, N.Y., Stephen Rhoades, a Best Buy technician who works out of the store in Crossgates Mall in Albany, N.Y., put on Shubee shoe covers - the company doesn’t want to risk marring floors or carpets - and begins by analyzing the customer, not the TV.

"What are your hopes for this service?" and "What do you think of the quality of your current picture?" he asks. Mr. Rhoades, whose title is elite service specialist, tries to calibrate their expectations before he adjusts the TV.

The technician then attaches an "eye," a small circular camera like gadget that measures minute display changes, to the screen. The device, called the ColorPro V Color Analyzer, measures the red, green and blue levels to see just how far off the HDTV’s color settings are from an ideal level. From there, the technician uses Geek Squad’s software on a notebook computer that is connected to the eye to adjust the levels.

The customer’s TV was well out of whack. Mr. Rhoades said the TV, a 46-inch Sony Bravia, was overcompensating with blue and was making green and red work harder to create the picture. The result was an HDTV that wasn’t reproducing an accurate image and was using up almost 50 percent more energy than usual.

Upon completion, the difference was noticeable. Instead of an extremely bright image, the display showed every worldly imperfection in precise detail.

The Geek Squad said that other calibration methods address only about one-fifth of the factors necessary for a good picture. But according to Gregg Loewen, president of Lion Audio Video Consultants, which does color calibrations, people may get by just fine with a do-it-yourself method.

"Calibrating a display and using instrumentation does visibly make an improvement and is better than a test disc," he said. "But I don’t think that instrumentation is five times better than a DVD disc. In fact, a test DVD, when used properly, provides the best bang for the buck."

To calibrate your HDTV on your own, you might look for the THX Optimizer, which is found in the setup menus of a number of DVDs, including "The Incredibles" and "Toy Story." THX Optimizer movies come with a pair of cardboard Optimizer glasses with blue lenses to help you adjust color and tint settings.

You can also buy the glasses from THX’s Web site (www.thx.com) for $2. THX-certified DVDs can be found at many retailers for about $20.

The Optimizer takes the viewer through a series of tests to set contrast and color. For example, eight white boxes that range from pure white to gray are used to set black and white levels. If you can see all eight boxes just fine, you’re in luck and can move on. If not, you should reduce your contrast settings until you can.

To configure color and tint, you don the THX Optimizer glasses and try to balance the brightness of individual letters displayed on screen. When the blue C-L-R of COLOR are the same brightness as the two white O’s, it’s calibrated. The same is done with cyan and magenta in the word TINT.

Although the THX Optimizer is a fine calibration tool, it adjusts the HDTV for ideal viewing only in the room with the TV; if you move the TV, you may need to recalibrate.

A number of companies sell similar calibration software on DVD, most of which you can find in an electronics store. Monster sells the HDTV Calibration Wizard for about $30. Digital Video Essentials’ High Definition costs about $35. The Avia II does more of the same for $40.

You could also try to do what the professionals do, though that entails investing in some equipment that will be used infrequently. Datacolor sells a $229 calibration device called the SpyderTV. The color-monitoring device connects to your screen with the help of suction cups and transmits information from your screen to your computer through a U.S.B. cable to tell you how to adjust the contrast, brightness and color levels.

A professional using this kind of tool can get an even better picture by tweaking a hidden service menu in the TV set that must be unlocked by a combination of codes or remote button presses. (It varies from one manufacturer to another)

The service menu gives the technician - or the TV owner if you can uncover the codes - greater control over settings, like individual red, green and blue changes. The codes are not secret. You can find them by typing the name of the manufacturer and the words "service menu" into a Google search. But be warned: fiddling with the service menu without a diagnostic tool like SpyderTV is risky.

It could make that leopard on the nature program change its spots.

The SpyderTV equipment used by some technicians, pic below!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/sony-bullish-on-blu-ray-dominance-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/sony-bullish-on-blu-ray-dominance-1/ Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:30:12 CDT Karuto HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/sony-bullish-on-blu-ray-dominance-1/
Ryoji Chubachi, President and electronics CEO at Sony, made the bold statement during a recent press conference in Taipei, according to a DigiTimes report.

Chubachi claimed that Sony already has 20 per cent of the market. But he aims to boost Sony’s share by 30 per cent through the introduction of more Blu-ray enabled products, such as HD TVs with integrated BD recorders.

The executive also said Sony will extend its focus from Blu-ray players and recorders and the PlayStation 3 out to unnamed IT devices - though the company already offers Vaio PCs with built-in BD drives.

Given the recent death of HD DVD, it’s no surprise that Sony’s predicting such a sharp upturn in consumer interest for Blu-ray. One analyst firm has already forecast that 29.4m homes around the world will own a BD player by the end of 2008, with the vast majority expected to be PS3s.

If Sony wants to beef up sales of standalone Blu-ray players then it still has some way to go. A recent study found that although 56 per cent of Brits, aged between 18 and 54, are aware of the HD format - only nine per cent have actually already bought a Blu-ray player.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Ultimate-guide-to-converting-HD-DVDBlu-ray-movies-to-watch-on-PS3/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Ultimate-guide-to-converting-HD-DVDBlu-ray-movies-to-watch-on-PS3/ Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:52:51 CST ps3videohelp HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Ultimate-guide-to-converting-HD-DVDBlu-ray-movies-to-watch-on-PS3/
Transformers HD-DVD is used in this example.

1051693]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Its-over-Paramount-gives-the-final-blow-to-HD-DVD-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Its-over-Paramount-gives-the-final-blow-to-HD-DVD-1/ Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:26:33 CST skitzo HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Its-over-Paramount-gives-the-final-blow-to-HD-DVD-1/
Paramount and DreamWorks Animation, which makes the Shrek films, came out in support of HD-DVD last summer, joining General Electric's Universal Studios as the main backers of the Toshiba format.

However, Paramount, which is owned by Viacom, is understood to have a clause in its contract with the HD-DVD camp that would allow it to switch sides in the event of Warner backing Blu-ray, according to people familiar with the situation.

Paramount is set to have a bumper 2008 with several likely blockbusters, including the latest instalment in the Indiana Jones franchise, slated for release.

Paramount joining the Blu-ray camp would leave HD-DVD likely to suffer the same fate as Sony's now obsolete Betamax video technology, which lost out to VHS in a similar format war in the 1980s.

Warner's decision last week to throw its weight behind Blu-ray saw it join Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as backers of the Sony format.

The Warner move gives Blu-ray about 70 per cent of Hollywood's output, although the format's grip on film content will increase further when Paramount comes aboard.

It is unclear whether DreamWorks Animation has the same get-out clause in its contract with the HD-DVD camp. However, Paramount and DreamWorks have a close relationship, with Paramount distributing DreamWorks Animation films.

The two companies also signed their HD-DVD contracts at the same time.

Meanwhile, Universal has declined to comment on its next- generation DVD plans following the Warner move.

Sir Howard Stringer, chief executive of Sony, yesterday held out an olive branch to its rival in the next-generation DVD format wars following Warner's decision to back Blu-ray.

Sir Howard said the company would be "open to dialogue" with the rival high-definition HD-DVD camp to "grow the market". The move came as new figures showed that Blu-ray had opened up a decisive lead over the rival home entertainment format.

Sir Howard said: "We are not going to push people around. We'll talk to anyone . . . we have a lot of work to do to grow the market. We'll be systematic and open to dialogue at all times."

He added that Sony still had "a lot of work" to do to get Blu-ray "widely accepted" among American consumers.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Down-a-notch-Emeril-axed/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Down-a-notch-Emeril-axed/ Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:15:19 CST PS3 News HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Down-a-notch-Emeril-axed/
The celebrity chef's "Emeril Live," which has been on the air for 10 years, will cease production Dec. 11, Food Network publicist Carrie Welch told The Associated Press.

"However, Emeril is under contract with Food Network," Welch said Tuesday. "We love him, we support him and look forward to a long partnership with him."

Welch wouldn't comment on Lagasse's contract.

Asked why the show was canceled, she told the AP: "The only reason would be that it hit a ton of television milestones and, you know, all good things come to an end."

The Food Network will continue producing Lagasse's "The Essence of Emeril," and he will take part in "specials and other development opportunities in the future," Welch said.

The network will also air reruns of "Emeril Live."

"I am deeply appreciative to all the unbelievable staff - many who have been with the show since the beginning - and all the loyal viewers, and the many talented guests who have appeared on the show through the years," Lagasse, 48, said in a statement provided by Welch.

"I look forward to continuing my association with the Food Network with `The Essence of Emeril,' and I have lots of new ideas cooking," he said.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Discovery-Channel-to-Air-5-Hour-Videogame-Documentary/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Discovery-Channel-to-Air-5-Hour-Videogame-Documentary/ Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:20:58 CST Starlight HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Discovery-Channel-to-Air-5-Hour-Videogame-Documentary/
I should disclose that I wrote the treatment for this show and served as a producer on it alongside World of Wonder (the company behind Inside Deep Throat).

As opposed to a standard "History Of" documentary, the series takes a look at how the social and political climate shaped games and game designers in the 70s through present day. The first episode will premiere on Wednesday, November 21 at 8 PM (ET/PT) with new episodes to follow every Wednesday night through December 19th. If you want more details on each episode, you can read the press release after the jump.

Discovery Channel Examines the History and Impact of Videogames in New Special RISE OF THE VIDEOGAME
Put down the joystick in favor of the remote control and join Discovery Channel for a pixel-by-pixel exploration of the history of videogames in the new, five-part special RISE OF THE VIDEOGAME premiering Wednesday, November 21 at 8 PM (ET/PT).

RISE OF THE VIDEOGAME captures the (r)evolution of videogames from the early 1970s and the days when Atari ruled through today, examining how the videogame industry has changed and how videogame entertainment is created, produced, marketed and distributed.

Level One
U.S. Premiere
Wednesday, November 21 at 8 PM (ET/PT)

The videogame started not with a bang but with a ping. Unlike other forms of entertainment, videogames turn the viewer into a player who actively shapes the outcome of their experience. At first video games and the creators were as misunderstood by the public as rock & roll in its infancy. But those closest to the videogame business persevered and never lost sight of the ability videogames had to become a dominant form of entertainment.

Level Two
U.S. Premiere
Wednesday, November 28 at 8 PM (ET/PT)

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, instead of controlling spaceships and tennis rackets, videogame technology allowed players to command recognizable characters with real faces and back stories. This paralleled the importance of the hero's journey that was popular in movies of the time like "Rocky" and "Star Wars," as well as mirrored the rise of individualism and conservative meritocracy, where one man can make a difference. Game creators were liberated to create more complex videogames with heroic journeys, and Japanese creators like Shigeru Miyamoto rose to prominence with star characters Super Mario, Luigi and Zelda.

Level Three
U.S. Premiere
Wednesday, December 5 at 8 PM (ET/PT)

It was a foreign concept to early game designers but with games like "Return to Castle Wolfenstein" and "DOOM", video games grew from their primitive 2-D roots into richly detailed 3-D worlds. These groundbreaking 3-D games led the industry down new paths both thrilling and troubling. Critics questioned if these games were getting too real, too violent and too addictive. For the first time game designers had to grapple with tough questions.

Level Four
U.S. Premiere
Wednesday, December 12 at 8 PM (ET/PT)

Since the invention of the computer man has feared "the machine" and its ability to think. But a computer's unique computational power has also led to the development of seminal games that are unpredictable, intelligent and malleable. "God games" like SimCity and Civilization simulate entire worlds and let players experiment with cause and effect. Other designers have used artificial intelligence to create lifelike characters and worlds that shape themselves to each player. And some games are so technologically advanced that they have become tools for learning, or better yet, creative expression.

Level Five
U.S. Premiere
Wednesday, December 19 at 8 PM (ET/PT)

Can a computer game make you cry? With the introduction of PlayStation 2's "emotion engine" in 1999 game developers had the technology to enable deep, moving stories that tugged at gamers' heartstrings. The rise of online virtual world games added another emotional dimension, letting players make real connections (including marriages) through a virtual game and helping them escape a world rife with violence and terror.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Sonys-Ultrathin-11inch-oled-TV-coming-in-December/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Sonys-Ultrathin-11inch-oled-TV-coming-in-December/ Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:50:09 CDT Karoi HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Sonys-Ultrathin-11inch-oled-TV-coming-in-December/
Well here is the answer, well I think this is the answer to that question.

IT IS A 11 INCH OLED SCREEN! More pictures HERE.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Sopranos-wins-best-drama-Emmy/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Sopranos-wins-best-drama-Emmy/ Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:34:41 CDT PS3 News HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Sopranos-wins-best-drama-Emmy/
The mob saga's victory was nearly unprecedented, with only one other drama series, 1977's "Upstairs, Downstairs," having claimed the top trophy after leaving the air.

"In essence, this is a story about a gangster," said "The Sopranos" creator David Chase. "And gangsters are out there taking their kids to college, and taking their kids to school, and putting food on their table.

"And, hell, let's face it, if the world and this nation was run by gangsters" -- Chase paused and shrugged, as everyone laughed -- "maybe it is."]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Toshiba-Gen2-HD-DVD-Firmware-v2-5-1080p24hz-support/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Toshiba-Gen2-HD-DVD-Firmware-v2-5-1080p24hz-support/ Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:22:13 CDT CJPC HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Toshiba-Gen2-HD-DVD-Firmware-v2-5-1080p24hz-support/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/TV-so-easy-Cavemen-can-do-it-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/TV-so-easy-Cavemen-can-do-it-1/ Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:40:19 CDT PS3 News HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/TV-so-easy-Cavemen-can-do-it-1/
A clip is available at the link above... anyone think this show will last more than a few episodes, let alone a season? :D]]> http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Beam-me-up----to-HD-DVD-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Beam-me-up----to-HD-DVD-1/ Sat, 25 Aug 2007 01:14:52 CDT CJPC HDTV/TV http://www.ps3news.com/HDTV_TV/Beam-me-up----to-HD-DVD-1/
STAR TREK: The Original Series is a 10-disc collection presented in the original aspect ratio (1.33:1) screen. The standard definition presentation includes Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, LAS Mono and French Mono as well as English, LAS and French subtitles. The HD DVD presentation features English Dolby True HD and LAS Mono with English and LAS subtitles. The DVD is not rated in the U.S. and rated G in Canada.]]>