High Definition Blog

For those people, such as me, who would like their Media Center PCs to have an application where they could work as a set top box with U-verse, the idea has moved one step closer to a possibility.

Announced at CES 2010 was the tremendous news that later this year X-Box owners will be able to use their consoles as a set top box for U-verse!

Here is the engadget story:

Xbox 360 will support AT&T’s U-Verse TV later this year

I have updated the page to reflect the new software version. The update is at the bottom of the page.

See: Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR Video Capture device

EngadgetHD is reporting a new card will be available for your Media Center PC without needing to get it within a bundled package.  This means you can “roll your own” and be able to get all scrambled cable channels by renting a cable card from your cable company.

See: Media Center CableCARDs freed from OEM requirement//

Ever noticed this seems to be Format War II? People post inquiries on forums about LCD sets and within minutes they get a reply suggesting the poster should get a plasmas instead. Then the threads are deluged with posts about why plasma is superior to LCDs. They quote how misleading statements and facts have tainted the plasmas. LCD proponents don’t seem to jump on plasma inquiries in the same manner. Maybe since LCDs are selling so well they don’t feel they have to proselytize like plasma proponents do.

For the complete story click here: Plasma vs LCD - The Next Format War?

Well the long awaited date has come and gone for the analog cutoff. I woke up this morning to find, as expected, my ATSC tuner saying “NO SIGNAL” because not only did the analog go away for the station I was tuned to, but because that particular station reverted their digital frequency to their prior analog frequency.

That is the reason everyone is saying to rescan your channels on your ATSC tuner.

So I did just that and to my surprise I have several new digital stations and several analog stations still broadcasting! One of the analog channels is our Houston NBC affiliate that chose to keep their digital UHF channel rather than revert back to channel 2. Thanks to PSIP information it really was not necessary as I still punch up channel 2 even though they actually broadcast on channel 35.

Channel 2 analog though is still broadcasting! It is running a continuous loop of information about converting to a ATSC tuner with a crawl that says you will need to do something to keep receiving TV signals. I don’t know how long they are going to keep this up, but it seems like a good service for those that ignored, perhaps through ignorance, the cutoff.

Also, there were several other analog channels still operational. None are major stations and I don’t know how long they will still be operating as analog. A bit interesting since I thought analog would be history.

Warner Brothers has a new service that allows people with WB HD DVDs to turn them into Blu-ray discs for a nominal fee.  Costing just $4.95 plus shipping could be a deal for many.  You keep your HD DVD discs, just send in the original cover art.  A color copy could be made for your HD DVD case if you want to keep the disc case looking original.

For details click the banner above.

And it is yours truly. Internet Brands, a company that operates several internet forums, has ask me to join www.AVRev.com/forum as an administrator and I started today!  AV Revolution is a website that is full of great reviews especially on high end AV equipment.  The forum is a sub-part of that site where all things AV is discussed with emphasis on High Definition TV equipment and audio systems.  Hope to see some of my regular readers there as well as the High Def Forum I’m sure you all know I’ve been with for several years.

This is an article posted by Justin Williams a member at The High Def Forum that pretty well explains the wiring of a SWM system. Used with permission.

Thanks Justin.

Directv SWM Installation Demystified

I received this e-mail from amazon.com:

Dear Amazon.com Customer,

As someone who has shown an interest in home theater products, you might be interested in our offer of a free Denon DVD-2500 Blu-Ray player with the purchase of select Denon receivers.

Build your perfect home theater for less with savings on quality Denon products. Simply purchase a qualifying Denon home theater receiver along with a Denon DVD-2500BTCI Blu-Ray player and the discount will be automatically applied during checkout.

Click Link: Qualifying Denon Receivers