Highly Defined

First off, thanks and much love to those who filled in while I was gone. And wow, while I was gone, apparently HD-DVD did the same. After a lackluster CES, the only other thing they could do was announce that Spielberg films like E.T. would be “coming soon” to the format. However, Senor Spielburgo put the kaibash on that pretty quick, and those responsible for the gaffe (namely the HD-DVD Promotions Group) issued a quick apology. For what it’s worth, now that Blu-Ray has caught up and passed HD-DVD in the numb…
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In a week filled with minimal news, there was one major announcement that is sure to make HD DVD fans happy. Yes, Universal has finally announced some of their exclusive HD DVD title line-up. Although none of the big blockbuster titles we know Universal has sitting around on a shelf were announced, more than a few big name titles were announced that will be sure to put a smile on your face. With upwards of 100 titles to be released throughout 2007 we can expect great things from Universal this year.

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This may take a little while.

So did we enjoy our thoughts and impressions of what CES 2007 held and brought? Well, let’s take a look at things that didn’t relate to Apple, shall we? First off, it appears the new color to speak of is purple. You’ve got word of the Warner Total Hi-Def disc, which is a dual format disc. The packaging is even a compromise too, with the HD DVD red on one side, and the Blu-ray blue on the other. It costs slightly more than a HD/SD combo, but does certainly provide for some inter…
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What kind of oil is used on stripper poles again?

OK, this round of activity should be pretty bland, as all the rage and anticipation is saved for the coming days, as CES has just started (or about to start) as you’re reading this. Lots of announcements are forthcoming, with the speculation apparently that Blu-Ray will be the king of new news, with many new releases and perhaps the revelation of a second-generation Samsung player. The HD-DVD camp is a mystery at this point, but we’ll have a roundup and spec…
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Give a brutha some slack, OK?

So in between a busy daytime job that included being in the office for 19 hours of a 24 hour day and the holiday week, things have been a little busy at the casa de Keefer. Besides, everyone’s bracing themselves for the CES show next week and the fun stuff to come from it, right? So let’s take a look at those next-gen discs that have made this particular reviewer stand up and smile. Oh, and as far as the lack of Blu love here, if someone wants to spring for a player for me, fee…
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Listen to my tale, will you?

OK, so I’m in an interview last week for a job, really more to get involved in the interview process again, and giving the right answers to the questions, and I’m asked about my hobbies. So I politely tell the guy that I write online as a reviewer, and so the question is asked, “So, what about this Blu-Ray?” Too friggin’ funny, so I discuss the format war. So I guess I’ve got an offer coming to me, but I don’t know if I wanna drive that far.

Anyway, the big news seems …
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Caution: reading any of this entry may cause you to break down, cry and accuse me of “unappropriate” things.

Well, a week back into the fold (save for a business trip) doesn’t report much new news to speak of. In fact, the most notable news (aside from still poring over the Superman discs) is that the Blu-Ray release of Speed seems to be coming up with some glitches on playback, specifically that it won’t play on the Samsung player. Thankfully, Fox is providing replacement discs (hey, sounds familiar…
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What, you were expecting something profound from a short week?

Seriously? Well, for whatever it’s worth, the big news this week is the release of Superman to HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. The Bryan Singer film Superman Returns (which looks like a beaut on HD-DVD), along with the Richard Donner-helmed Superman and Superman II (both of which are also beauts to boot).

In other day and date HD and Blu releases, The Ant Bully hits store shelves this week, and Windtalkers comes …
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Normally, I’d tell you about the PS3 or something, now that it’s out, but if I need to have a bulletproof vest on when I buy a gaming console, something’s friggin wrong in my country.

Snacking on ginger snaps at work while I try to figure out how to kill these next three days, I can’t really tell you anything about the PS3 that you don’t already know. From what I understand, the Blu-Ray capabilities are the best of any of the three machines out there, even if some of the games can’t be played at 1080i or 10…
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Miss me?

Well, as the fourth quarter and Xmas get closer and closer, and people start to wait in queue for a Wii and a PS3, things get ramped up for a good week of next-gen DVD releases also. Paramount will be releasing Black Rain on 1/23, and Failure to Launch will come on 2/7. They will be coming to both formats, with presumably identical extras. On the Blu-Ray exclusive side, All the King’s Men will be a day and date release on 12/19, and Kung Fu Hustle a week before that. Son…
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Did everyone get my Daylight Savings Time cards?

Well, nothing too much on the horizon, presumably because it’s getting close to Christmas, so what else can really be announced, right? Samsung did manage to release some details on their now-available firmware upgrade, some of the patches include DTS and HDMI compatibility and playback problems now being resolved, along with (not official) improved loading and playback times.

In other news related to disc releases, following up on the Oliver Stone …
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(In my best John Lennon sound-alike voice)I’m so tired…

Forgive the drowsiness, I’ll do what I can with what I have. The big news is that Sony has apparently postponed their Blu-Ray player yet again, from late October (this week I believe) to early December. Perhaps this was done to strike on both flanks with the PS3 furor, perhaps they’re still trying to get the bugs out of the machine. At this point, it’s anybody’s guess. In other hardware related news, Samsung has released a firmware upgrade (their first…
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Happy belated Columbus and Thanksgiving Days!

Well, while early HD-DVD adopters were poring over the Batman Begins release, assuming one could be found somewhere in North America, the business of trying to win the hearts and minds of the next-generation home video buyer continued in earnest, with various types of news coming out over the last week.

As far as disc news goes, HBO, which was originally set to release The Sopranos 6th Season on 11/7, has now postponed the release indefin…
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So how about this, Blu-Ray plans to region-code their discs. While it’s probably a formality that the HD-DVD camp does this sometime, it makes buying the Fox releases in Europe and Japan all the sweeter for the time being. This is while Warner revises forecast for BD and HD-DVD spending, saying that people won’t spend as much for the remainder of the year, mainly because of equipment delays (Sony, I’m looking at you on that one…).

If you’re lucky enough to live where the Target employees aren’t the brightes…
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I may have some more free time to do this now…

Maybe the studios shot their holiday wads when it came to big name releases last week, because the most notable news on the next-gen front was that not only will the PS3 maybe have a Blu-Ray demo disc to show off the magic of the format for those 31 or 32 of you that will be able to find and buy one when it comes out. To counter this, Microsoft will apparently include King Kong when folks buy their HD-DVD add-on when that comes out in November. Stay tun…
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Wow, something special makes the top 100 in Amazon sales…

Well if you read comic books and own a next-generation DVD player, this was definitely your week to primp and preen. Batman Begins is coming out on 10/10 to HD-DVD, along with Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Both films will include the Warner In-Movie Experience (and Batman’s will apparently include participation by star Christian Bale if you look at your Warner inserts right). Begins will get a TrueHD track that …
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If you take $17,000 from your company and you leave without any form of punishment or prosecution, can your resignation really cite “personal differences?”

You know where your Cedia is? It’s one of the other big electronics shows that helps announce and introduce new technologies. One of the more remembered announcements was Toshiba’s announcement of a 2nd generation HD-DVD player. These newer versions include shorter load times, HDMI 1.3, and in one case, full 1080p resolution. There are two models, look f…
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We all know what today is, so let’s skip the tagline.

Well, for all the news (interesting and otherwise) that the Blu-Ray camp made last week, Universal announced their round of November titles for HD-DVD release. Among them are Waterworld (I met Kevin Costner on the set of that film when I was in the Army, true story), The Hulk (a better movie than people give it credit for and one that should blow out a subwoofer or two) and the granddaddy of them all, King Kong. Release for all three…
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Insert silly saying here, I’ve got no energy to do so, for it’s the day of rest in America.

What can I say, I’m going to sit and watch my butt expand this go round (damn, I’m doing it now), so here we go…

As far as the firmware update goes for the Toshiba HD-DVD players, I did manage to download it last week and throw in Constantine for some scenes, and I’ve gotta say I definitely noticed a change in quality from the Dolby Digital Plus soundtracks. There was mnore active low end fidelity an…
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I feel like a kid in some sort of a store…

Well the week has seen some surprises, concrete or not for both camps. First and foremost, the 2.0 Firmware for the Toshiba HD player is out now. There has been some glowing praise, not only for the firmware (which now allows TruHD), but for the continuing consumer support. Bill Hunt at The Digital Bits was the first to really publicly comment on the job Toshiba (and the HD camp is doing), and while as an HD owner I can agree with it, one also has to remembe…
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Highly Defined

How long until Madden comes out?

Just the usual news and notes from me, but in mildly disappointing news, RoboCop, and Black Hawk Down, 2 Blu-Ray titles that would have made the race a little more interesting, were pulled or bumped from the released calendar until who knows when (presumably until the whole MGM/Sony distribution issue can be hashed out).

Meanwhile in terms of other release news, while Blu-Ray owners can’t wait for the previously released Warne…
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Where your trusty columnist has joined the ranks of the Xbox owners…

Things have moved along like people have figured in the next-gen DVD wars, which is to say, there isn’t a clear winner since the last time we talked. There is some news from Paramount, being that Mission: Impossible III will release SD, Blu and HD DVDs all on the day and date (10/30 for those who are curious). The HD release and extras will be duplicated from the Blu-Ray extras, with the exception of a picture-in-picture commentary …
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In what universe is a weekend jail visit considered a “family emergency” when it comes to missing your job? Can anyone answer this for me? By all means, send your answers (or curious situations) to yours truly. I’m curious to hear what the responses are.

The big news in the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray battle is that Training Day, Rumor Has It and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang arrived on Blu-Ray this week, after being available in HD-DVD for a little while now. And the verdict? Well, at least according to Pet…
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What’s that thing on your shoulder? Oh yeah, it’s almost the end of fricken summer, go out and play already!!!

Well, after my proverbial guts had been spilled on the floor last week, let’s look at news and notes on the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray fronts, shall we?

Warner Brothers teased HD supporters by promising a release of Good Night and Good Luck on the same day as it’s Blu cousin, but is holding off for now, for reasons unbeknownst to be as of this writing. At least there will be a Blu-R…
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OK, so after a brief disruption of service, there’s a new blog author in town for the Highly Defined column, and he’s me. To just do a quick intro on the author of the column: this is me!

No wait, that probably won’t suffice. But to assuage those videophiles in the house, here are a few things about the gear I watch this stuff on. I’ve got a Toshiba HD-A1 (I had the XA1 for a couple of weeks, then I came to my senses and realized that this was WAY too much money to spend on a DVD player, hence the ex…
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