GOW Hidden Fronts Free Starting Next Week

Nice! Beginning Monday, the Hidden Fronts Map Pack will join the Annex gametype and Multiplayer Map Pack 1 as another piece of free downloadable content for Gears of War.

From the media alert:

With nearly 500,000 downloads to date, the “Gears of War®” Hidden Fronts Map Pack has become the No. 1 piece of premium downloadable content on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

“Gears of War” has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, and continues to hold the title of most popular Xbox 360 game on Xbox LIVE, as “Gears of War” recorded the most number of unique players among all Xbox 360 games in August 2007, as well as the highest cumulative number of hours played by Xbox LIVE members.

In the Hidden Fronts Map Pack, players can clash for control of four dynamic areas, including Bullet Marsh, Garden, Process, and Subway:

Bullet Marsh
In this Kryll-infested swamp, an old generator still powers the area lights. A few stray bullets could easily knock out the generator, leaving combatants to fend for themselves against the Kryll.

Garden
This overgrown and crumbling conservatory still has a working fertilization and pesticide system. This system can pose a serious hazard to anyone who ventures into the greenhouse without first venting the air.

Process
Fight for control of this subterranean Imulsion processing plant, still active despite the cessation of the Pendulum wars.

Subway
Timgad 's Central Subway station used to serve as a central hub for commuters. Now the tunnels are crawling with Locust.

Gears of War is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more details, visit http://gearsofwar.com/news/

New Xbox Accessories Coming Next Week

The Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 3 Wireless Controllers and Headset, and the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit, will all be available in the US beginning Sept. 4.

From the media alert:

Gear up for the release of “Halo 3” on Sept. 25 with two new high-quality Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 3 Wireless Controllers. Legendary comic book artist and “Spawn” creator, Todd McFarlane, has masterfully designed these controllers featuring both the Covenant Brute and Master Chief™ themes. Both fade and scratch-resistant controllers come with a Limited Edition “Halo 3” Master Chief™ figurine designed by McFarlane himself for an estimated retail price of $59.99 (U.S.).

The Spartan green and gold Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 3 Wireless Headset provides the mobility and communication essential for soldiers in their fight against the Covenant. With high-quality voice connections over Xbox LIVE, this accessory will be available for an estimated retail price of $59.99 (U.S.)

The Xbox 360 Messenger Kit, which includes a Chatpad and Xbox 360 headset for an estimated retail price of $29.99 (U.S), allows users to easily chat with friends or family on Xbox LIVE and Windows-based PCs. The automatically backlit Chatpad quickly connects to any Xbox 360 controller and can be easily controlled with simple thumb strokes so users can simultaneously chat and play games with ease.

More detailed information and art can be found by visiting www.xbox.com/press.

Polk Audio announcing SurroundBar50 at CEDIA '07

Settling for the tiny, paper stock speakers flat panels come with is almost as bad as running coax from your cable box to your HDTV, so we are glad to see Polk Audio adding to their offerings. Polk intro'd their original 42-inch SurroundBar (pictured) two years ago to an empty market, but now quite a few manufacturers produce so-called "sound bars." Their latest, SurroundBar50, is designed with 50-inch flat-panels in mind, as the speaker is 51-inches long and mountable either above or beneath the set via the included mount. The extra real estate enhances the virtual surround field as well as providing more internal volume and producing deeper bass. The official announcement isn't happening until Polk Audio's CEDIA press conference on September 6th, but expect the SurroundBar 50 to land at $1,099 this October. We know these virtual surround speakers aren't as good as the real deal, however, don't knock these speakers till you hear 'em in person, as they're a solid alternative to a room full of speakers.

from Engadget HD

Expect $699 42-inch LCDs this holiday season

LCD prices just keep on dropping and it looks like they might hit rock bottom before the '07 Christmas spending season. Reports suggest that they will finally cost less than their CRT counterparts and bargain shoppers should be able to pick up a 42-inch "second-tier" (aka cheap, no-name house brands) LCD for around $699. The 32-inchers should go for around $299-399 which would officially make 'em less expensive than those 'ol CRTs. Walmart/Costco shoppers might be happy with these prices on the cheaper models and honestly, if a person is satisfied with the picture these sets produce; great, buy the less expensive LCD and start enjoying high definition.

from Engadget HD

Mass Effect To Begin Shipping November 20

We just sent a press release out with the announcement of the North America ship date and price for Mass Effect. The game will hit shelves on November 20, with a price of $59.99. Mass Effect is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB.

For more information, visit www.masseffect.com, or read the media alert.

from Gamerscore Blog

Philips launches Aurea LCDs, with next-gen Ambilight

Right on schedule, Philips has unveiled its new wave of Ambilight-powered television: Aurea. Sure, it's not as sexy when you call it by its 42PFL9900D model number, but the 42-inch 1080p LCD is sure to turn heads either way. Under the hood Philips has 100Hz refresh, "invisible speakers" and even a trio of HDMI inputs. The new Ambilight Spectra tech uses 126 LEDs and shoots light through the "Active Frame" for a more extensive Ambilight experience. The displays will be available next month, but there's still no word on price. Peep the gallery below for some stylized shots of the display by fashion photog Vincent Peters.

from Engadget HD

Family Guy moves to Xbox Live on September

The sneak peek apparently wasn't enough, 'cause 20th Century Fox has reportedly now gone all the way for "Family Guy" to be on Microsoft's Xbox Live. Yup, the other dysfunctional all-American family will be moving in on the green machine as downloadable content come September 2 - only a couple of days away from now.

The executives over at Fox have proclaimed that "[i]t's about as perfect a demographic fit as we can get." And we totally get that point. After all, the fans of the cartoon, which revolves on the satirical and unconventional everyday lives of the Griffin family, have a strong fanbase of 18-34 years old. That would be the same as the demographic of the gaming industry. So really, it's just a matter of simple math: 1 1 = 2. Cartoon gamers = cartoon on game console.

So, what's included in this oh-so-sweet deal? Apart from the first two seasons available for purchase, there's also the straight-to-DVD film "Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story", which will cost you 160 Microsoft Points (about US 2). But if you would prefer the DVD copy, then "Family Guy Season Five" will be available on September 18, to coincide with the debut of the show's new episodes.

from X360 QJ.NET

Mass Effect To Begin Shipping November 20

We just sent a press release out with the announcement of the North America ship date and price for Mass Effect. The game will hit shelves on November 20, with a price of $59.99. ass Effect is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB.

For more information, visit www.masseffect.com, or read the media alert.

from Gamerscore Blog

Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special Plus Sale This Weekend!

It's Labor Day weekend here in the US, and so lots of folks will be heading to the lake/ocean/park (or to their basement to hang out on Xbox LIVE). We're celebrating by letting you know what's shipping next week a little early, and announcing a "sale" on a few Xbox LIVE Arcade titles this weekend.

Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special are coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade next week, Wednesday, September 5, beginning at 9 AM GMT (2:00 AM PDT). Both are 400 points.

On top of that, four Xbox LIVE Arcade favorites will be available for half their regular price this weekend. Small Arms and Zuma Deluxe will be 400 points (regularly 800), and Gauntlet and Dig Dug will be only 200 points. Buy them beginning at 12 AM GMT on Sunday, September 2 (5 PM. PDT on Saturday, September 1) and continuing through 11: 59 p.m. GMT (4:59 p.m. PDT). Don't miss out!

Cyberball 2072 (400 Microsoft Points)
Rediscover the arcade classic game “Cyberball 2072” from Midway on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your team downfield for a touchdown. But watch out, the ball gets hot if you don't keep moving! Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn't go critical before you can score.

For more details on “Cyberball 2072,” please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/c/cyberball2072xboxlivearcade/

Fatal Fury Special (400 Microsoft Points)
The third title in the “Fatal Fury” fighting game series from SNK Playmore makes its way onto Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday! Join Terry and Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi and 12 of the toughest titans in one of the biggest matches of the millennium. Set in Southtown, a fictitious American city, players must compete against the ruler of the underworld Wolfgang Krauzer. Who will win? You’ll have to play to find out.

For more details on “Fatal Fury Special,” please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/f/fatalfuryspecialxboxlivearcade/

Finally, don’t forget to check out this week’s new downloadable content for “Soltrio Solitaire.” For more details, please visit www.xbox.com/livearcade.

from Gamerscore Blog

Toshiba A2 is going for 238.00!!

Toshiba's A2 is going for 238.00 on Amazon and is a number 1 seller (again)! With the A2 being so cheap right now it will hit 200 bones by X-Mas (easy). Cheap players are abound and will continue to get cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. :)

Story is HERE (via link we received from Toshiba). Amazon A2 product page is HERE.

Universal Launches New HD DVD Website

Check it out you can even download trailers and exclusive content onto your HD DVD player...pretty cool stuff! :)

http://www.universalhidef.com/

Venturer announces SHD7000 low-cost HD DVD player for holidays

Chinese firm Venturer has apparently been hard at work on a budget HD DVD player, which it's claiming will be out the door and onto store shelves in the US by this holiday season. The SHD7000 should have ethernet, DVD upconversion, HDMI, but the thing only outputs to 1080i, despite supporting TrueHD audio. We don't know just how cheap the SHD7000 is going to be, but entry-level is entry-level, so we expect it'll be less expensive than your other options, save Microsoft's $180 Xbox 360 add-on.

from Engadget HD

XBLA gets Puzzle Fighter and Streets of Rage 2

Today is a somewhat surprising Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday offering up a twofer that we weren't clued in on. One half of the twofer that we fully expected to release today is Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix which is available for 800 Microsoft points and offers lots of multiplayer puzzle fighting fun. We hear it's Puzzle Fighter'licious! The other half of the surprise XBLA twofer is SEGA's Streets of Rage 2 which was super secretly sprung on us as we had no prior knowledge of its release this week. Streets of Rage 2 is available for 400 Microsoft points and allows players to take on the evil Mr. X in two player online co-op. Sorry War World, SEGA is in town this week.

Both games are available for download this very moment off of the XBLA and we're hoping that maybe next time Microsoft will be kind enough to clue us in on ALL the game releases before Arcade Wednesday rolls around. We're old grumps who don't like surprises unless they make us filthy rich.

from Xbox 360 Fanboy

Sony announces 15 new Bravia 1080p HDTVs, including 70-inch LCD

Set your saliva glands for drool, Sony Japan just launched a truck load of new 10-bit 1080p Bravia LCD HDTVs. Ready? We won't keep you in suspense.

X series (includes 24p support, "Motion Flow", which sounds like 120Hz, and XMB)

• KDL-70X7000 (70-inch, LED backlit!) -- should cost about ¥4m, or about $35,000 US.
• KDL-52X5050 (52-inch)
• KDL-52X5000 (52-inch)
• KDL-46X5050 (46-inch)
• KDL-46X5000 (46-inch)
• KDL-40X5050 (40-inch)
• KDL-40X5000 (40-inch)

W series (includes 24p support, "Motion Flow", which sounds like 120Hz, and XMB)

• KDL-52W5000 (52-inch)
• KDL-46W5000 (46-inch)
• KDL-40W5000 (40-inch)

V series

• KDL-52V5000 (52-inch)
• KDL-46V5000 (46-inch)
• KDL-46V3000 (46-inch)
• KDL-40V5000 (40-inch)
• KDL-40V3000 (40-inch)

That's all we've got for now, so as always, more details as they come in.

Get an Xbox 360 with 8 free HD DVD movies!

It seems that the Amazon promotional offer does not work only for Toshiba HD DVD Players but for the Xbox 360 add on too!

If you take 3 HD DVD movies that are on this page and buy them with the Xbox 360 add on you will get the 3 movies free plus the rebate for the 5 free ones already. I don't know if this a glitch or what, but it does work.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...22571&plpage=1

Samsung expands Bordeaux PAVV LCD lineup: now with 25,000:1 contrast

Just months after upping its line of Bordeaux PAVV LCDs to 17,000:1 in the contrast ratio department, Samsung is outdoing itself once more with the supposedly-titled LN40 (40-inch) and 46F81BD (46-inch). Aside from all that contrast, the sets also boast a sexy black frame, 120Hz Auto Motion Plus technology, 1080p24 support, integrated speakers, HDMI inputs, and System Link, which reportedly enables the display to connect to the internet. No details surrounding price or availability at the moment, but click on through for a few more showcase shots.

from Engadget HD

HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on August 28th, 2007

And so it begins, not only is this the first week that the Blu-ray camp misses out on the first Paramount HD DVD exclusive Blades of Glory, but they don't have any titles to boot. We have however, heard of some people locating Blu-ray copies of Blades of Glory that haven't been successfully recalled, but they don't count none-the-less. While we're talking about the count, no we haven't deducted the 32 Paramount titles -- Yet. We've added a comment to explain, but we'll officially remove them in 30 days, by this time most of the remaining stock should be depleted. We know some of you won't like it, but tough. Despite all the fuss about Blades of Glory, the biggest exclusive title this week is Heroes, with some of the best HD extras yet.

HD DVD 278 vs Blu-ray 286 *

Blu-ray

• Zilch

HD DVD

• Blades of Glory (Paramount)
• Dawn of the Dead (2004) (Universal)
• Heroes: Season One (Universal)
• The Hurricane (2000) (Universal)
• Notting Hill (Universal)

*Blu-ray total reflects 32 Paramount titles only available for a limited time.

from Engadget HD

8 Free Movies with HD DVD Player Purchase!

On Amazon: Buy a Toshiba HD-A2, HD-A20, or HD-XA2 HD DVD player between August 27 and September 23 and receive 3 HD DVDs from Amazon, plus the 5 free movies via mail-in rebate.

Link with Details

5 Free Movies Extended to Laptops

http://thelookandsoundofperfect.com/...t_notebook.pdf

HD DVD site updated - Slogan: Your HDTV is not complete without a HD DVD

Just wanna update you guys that the official HD DVD site has been updated with . See Keanu pick the red pill instead of the blue pill in Matrix :D and see how they play out the slogan: Your HDTV is not complete without a HD DVD

http://thelookandsoundofperfect.com/

The BDA's damage control

No matter what the BDA tells you, there is no se the Paramount/Dreamworks news is a big deal. We're not only talking about 10% of all the Blu-ray titles, we're also talking about some of the biggest titles -- like MI3 and Transformers. Of course we expect the BDA to have a bunch of articles all over the Internet explaining that this is a non-announcement, or that they were paid off -- as if it matters why -- which we find interesting to read, but it doesn't change the fact that this might be the watershed moment that could give HD DVD the advantage. Of course this thing is a long way from over and anything could happen, but the prediction that the format war will be over this holiday season seems really silly now. Especially when combined with the news that both Samsung and Onkyo will be in the HD DVD hardware game sooner rather than later.

from Engadget HD

Retrofit for Wireless Racing Wheel Available

Last night, a press release was issued, and information was posted on Xbox.com, about a retrofit that's available for customers of the wireless racing wheel.

From Xbox.com:

As a precautionary measure, Microsoft Corporation is voluntarily providing its customers with a free retrofit to the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel. The Wheels were manufactured during 2006 - 2007. A component in the Wheel chassis may in rare cases overheat and release smoke when the AC-DC power supply is used to energize the Wheel.

There have been no reported incidences of fire, personal injury or property damage due to the Wheel malfunction. Despite no known safety incidents, we are advising our customers about this because of our strong commitment to ensuring that our products are safe and perform to our design specifications.

Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should visit www.xbox.com/support or call Microsoft at 1-800-4my-Xbox to register to receive the retrofit and protect against the potential hazard described above. Instructions will be provided with the retrofit. We are notifying and will be coordinating our response activities with the relevant regulatory agencies such as the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. This may impact delivery dates.

Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should stop using the AC-DC power supply until they have obtained their retrofit. Owners may continue to operate the Wheel using battery power. While operating in battery mode, the force feedback feature will not be available. Once retrofitted, owners may run the Wheel using AC power and reactivate this feature.

Get Started Now
If you have a Wireless Racing Wheel, print out the retrofit form, complete it, and send it in. You'll receive information soon from Microsoft regarding your retrofit. In the meantime, use your Wireless Racing in battery mode.

For further information and support, please contact 1-800-4MY-XBOX.

from Gamerscore Blog

Halo 3 Single and Multiplayer Gameplay Footage

Halo 3 single and multiplayer gameplay footage in Team Xbox

Multiplayer video 1
Multiplayer video 2
Single player Video

First look at Halo 3 LE and CE video content

http://gameinvasion.comcast.net/gameinvasion/show/#1266429_halo_3/2209632_halo_3_exclusive_gameinvasion_2pass_001

Best Buy 360 Addon with 300 for 179.00 back in stock (free s&h or store pickup)

360 addon with 300/king kong included is back in stock:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....at128600050027

Direct link to the 5 free movies rebate:

http://thelookandsoundofperfect.com/...x360_offer.pdf

Paramount's CTO on Why His Studio Is Dumping Blu-ray

Alan Bell discusses why HD DVD is his studio's exclusive high-definition format

Michael Bay Retracts Earlier Statement; Says He Supports Paramount's Decision to Back HD DVD

In a story that just won't die, 'Transformers' director Michael Bay now says he over-reacted when he posted a widely-reported angry message on his web site last night, condemning Paramount for dropping its support of Blu-ray.

After huddling with Paramount brass today (and apparently watching the '300' HD DVD -- "it rocks," says Bay), the 'Transformers' director says he understands where the studio is coming from, and that after hearing Paramount's rationale for choosing HD DVD over Blu-ray, "I like what I heard."
Bay now dismisses his earlier comments as an ill-informed late night post, written in haste following dinner with three owners of Blu-ray players. "I drank the kool aid hook line and sinker," said Bay.
The full text of Bay's new post follows below:

"Last night at dinner I was having dinner with three blu-ray owners, they were pissed about no Transformers Blu-ray and I drank the kool aid hook line and sinker. So at 1:30 in the morning I posted - nothing good ever comes out of early am posts mind you - I over reacted. I heard where Paramount is coming from and the future of HD and players that will be close to the $200 mark which is the magic number. I like what I heard.
As a director, I'm all about people seeing films in the best quality possible, and I saw and heard firsthand people upset about a corporate decision.
So today I saw 300 on HD, it rocks!
So I think I might be back on to do Transformers 2!"

Toshiba A2 selected as 2007 Product of the Year

Electronic House magazine named both the Toshiba 57LX177 Cinema Series REGZA HD LCD TV and the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD as 2007 Products of the Year, the manufacturer said Tuesday.

"We are thrilled to receive two Product of the Year awards from Electronic House," said Maria Repole, Toshiba's director of corporate communications. "Their recognition is further proof that our REGZA LCD TVs and HD DVD players are leading the way in high definition products for today's connected home. In fact, our market share in the LCD TV market has grown exponentially and our HD DVD players are dominating in dedicated high definition player sales."

According to Electronic House, the awards are based on product demos and feedback from both installers and users. Entries are judged on criteria including technological innovation, overall value, lifestyle benefits and overall features.

"Both the 57LX177 and HD-A2 stood out from the crowd for their innovative technology and ability to create an outstanding high definition entertainment experience," said EH editor-in-chief Cindy David.

The HD-A2 HD DVD player includes everything you'd expect from a high-def disc player -- like web-enabled connectivity, HDMI outs and standard DVD upconverting -- for a market low price of $299.

Amazon HD DVD sales skyrocket in past 2 days!

We have enjoyed a very large spike in HD DVD players sales since Paramount and DreamWorks exclusive announcements.

The format battle is heating up and we will see more major announcements at CEDIA. So stay tuned...

This Week in the US Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace

This week, you can download several new movies, including Slow Burn (HD), The Long Weekend (HD), Number 23, The Last Mimzy, Zodiac (HD), Renaissance, and The Ninth Gate (HD).

Paramount Officially Cancels Blu-ray SKUs

In a note to retailers, Paramount has officially canceled all previously-announced upcoming Blu-ray releases. As expected, Paramount won't release a single of its previously-announced upcoming Blu-ray.

Vizio dethrones Samsung as LCD king in Q2

Whoa, where did Vizio come from and what the heck is happening to Sony? We've heard of the Circuit City/Aldi/Walmart/ brand for sometime now, but didn't have any idea they were such a major US LCD player. TGDaily is reporting that the budget brand shipped 130k more LCDs than the former leader, Samsung, during '07's second quarter. Vizio's shipment increased an impressive 76% over last year and now surpasses not only Samsung, but also Sony, Philips and Sharp. Keep in mind that these are simply units shipped and not units sold, however, the two stats do share a bed. The same report indicates that while Vizio is increasing at a neck breaking speed, Sony just might be breaking their neck. Their quarter two shipments dropped a whopping 43% over last year. There seems to be a major shift in the LCD market and with the holiday season right around the corner, yeah - it's that time again, we can't wait to see the Q4 shipment and sales numbers.

from Engadget HD

The real blow of Paramount/Dreamworks announcement

Firstly i need to make a confession nearly shat my pants reading the press release. I couldn't believe it at first, I was like maybe it for certain titles only as Warners is then more and more article surfaced, and when AP, AFP and Reuters picked the stories, the announcement spread like wild wire on the cyber world with more than 50 pages (30 results per page) of google news search 3 hrs after the announcement. Reuters screamed, Paramount/Dreamworks drop Blu-ray support. I was like OMG OMG - today I received the key to my first house which was completed 2 months ago then this. I was like I am in heaven!!

How huge is the Para/DW announcement? It is the MOST HUGE :p news ever in the format war. It so huge Sony's PR Firm, GCI Group, a Los Angeles-based public relations firm, began calling reporters and news sites to tell them that a Hollywood news blog was reporting that HD DVD supporters gave Paramount $100 million in "promotional considerations" to dump Blu-ray. http://www.tvpredictions.com/bluraypay082007.htm
. BDA is sooo worry they are force to shell possible attacks to make a joint statement touting interactive and web features on BD that NO setup BD players can support with FOX and Disney. BDA also contacted websites telling them that FOX will remain BD exclusive when no one actually said that FOX is going neutral.

okay now on the real blow on BD on the announcement. This is more to BD losing support than HD DVD gaining support. Paramount's decision basically mock BDA, target, and other minor BD support announcement made within this few months. All the the announcement combined is not even half as big as the Paramount announcement. Personally i would rather see Disney and Liongate announcing support for HD DVD than Paramount/Dreamworks dropping support for BD because maybe were conned into getting BD because of studio support. Studio support is almost in EVERY BD purchasers reasoning for doing so. No own expected Paramount/Dreamworks announcement. It was shockingly out of the blue. Not even a word on that in the cyberworld. How how would this stale BD sales. Will in worsen the BD standalone player sales? I bet. How many will cancel their Sony and Samsung BD players pre-order?

The second blow: Assuming Paramount and Dreamworks release titles regularly. This will certainly help HD DVD closing the small movie sales gap. Blades of Glory, Transformers and Shrek alone earned Paramount USD1.5b. They are going to be huge when they are released. The announcement will DEFINITELY and seriously reduce the sales gap.

Third blow: the timing of the announcement, is this a prelude to HD DVD's marketing onslaught over BD? BBi did not exclusive BD support. So did Target. But Para/DW is after supporting BD for more than a year. they have the sales data. BBi had a date collected during the period where HD DVD had nearly no title releases and use it as the reason' to announcement support for BD. Para/DW had more than a year of data from the expensive BD player era till the sub$500 era and they decided to drop out of support for BD. This is after LG and Samsung whom also supported BD exclusively announced support for HD DVD.

pre Para/DW announcement: BD = 84.6%video content availability vs HD DVD's 41%. And the sales ration was stuck a 2-1 for nearly year.

post Para/DW announcement: BD 71.4% vs HD DVD's 41%.

These figures will surely affect the movie sales ratio of HD DVD vs BD.



what do you think the real blow and significant of the Paramount and dreamworks' exclusive HD DVD support?

from AVS Forum - HD DVD Players by xboxboi

Xbox Live Video Marketplace

300 now on Video Marketplace

If you’ve been waiting for 300 to hit the (U.S.) Video Marketplace….your wait is now over. Both the SD and HD versions are now available for download. The HD version weighs in at hefty 5.3 GB.

Shooter HD

Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a former Marine Corps sniper who leaves the military after a mission goes bad. After he is reluctantly pressed back into service, Swagger is double-crossed again. With two bullets in him and the subject of a nationwide manhunt, Swagger begins his revenge, which will take down the most powerful people in the country.

TMNT HD

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return in an all-new CGI action adventure, written and directed by Kevin Munroe. After the defeat of their old arch nemesis, The Shredder, the Turtles have grown apart as a family. Struggling to keep them together, their rat sensei, Splinter (Mako), becomes worried when strange things begin to brew in New York City. Tech-industrialist Maximillian J. Winters (Patrick Stewart) is raising up an army of ancient monsters, and only one super-ninja fighting team can stop them—Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor), Michelangelo (Mikey Kelley), Donatello (Mitchell Whitfield), and Raphael (Nolan North)!

Toshiba intros the REGZA C3500 and RF350 for your LCD-viewing pleasure

Toshiba continued its onslaught of LCD TV announcements today with two additional new lines for your purchasing pleasure. The two families joining the recently crowded gang are the REGZA RF350 (pictured above) and the REGZA C3500. The former "design minded" displays come in 40-inch (¥330,000 / $2,866) or 46-inch (¥390,000 / $3,388) varieties, deliver 1920 x 1080 resolution, and feature VA panels, 1080p / 60p / 24p, x 2 HDMI, x 2 S-Video, X 3 composite, D-sub, and ethernet jacks, plus HDMI, digital, and optical audio. The latter appears to be the company's play for the cheaper end of the market, though they don't scrimp too badly on features. The C3500's come in 26-inch (¥150,000 / $1,303) and 32-inches (¥170,000 / $1,476) at 1366 x 768, or 37-inch (¥250,000 / $2,171) and 42-inches (¥300,000 / $2,606) at 1920 x 1080, and rock an IPS panel, 1080p / 60p / 24p formats, 2 x HDMI jacks, ethernet, plus your standard slew of S-Video, component, D-sub, and audio ins and outs. Both lines will be available this September.

from Engadget

LG drops the MSRP on the BH100 HD DVD/Blu-ray combo player

Let's say you absolutely must have high-def movies, and who doesn't, but you also can't decide which format to buy. The obvious choice is to buy LG's combo player - the BH100. That way if one format doesn't pan out, you don't have to post the other one on Craigslist as your player supports both formats. However, said combo player actually cost more than buying a player from both HD DVD and Blu-ray. (Sony BDP-S300 + Toshiba HD-A2 = $899) Thankfully, LG is trying to keep up with the times and they dropped the MSRP of its player to $999 from $1199. The price is still technically higher than buying one of each but then retailers can slap their sale prices on 'em and get that price down to where it needs to be.

from Engadget HD

Philips to launch Ambilight successor Aurea

Consumer electronics manufacturer Philips will demo their successor to Ambilight -- the ambient lighting technology that generates light effects on the sides of a television -- at European expo IFA on August 30. The new technology, named Aurea, will be featured using a film by director Wong Kar called Seduction by Light. From early photos, the new sets incorporate the lighting directly into the frame, instead of using the previous method of a glass frame around the set.

from Engadget HD

Pioneer's KURO plasma line

Pioneer has finally launched their KURO plasma line this week, with sets beginning to show up in retailers for prices ranging from $2,700 for the KURO -- Japanese for "black" -- PDP-4280HD 42-inch model to $6,500 for the 60-inch PDP-6010FD 1080p bigg'un. Three of the sets in the line are 720p-ish, with the two top 50- and 60-inchers sporting 1080p resolution. All models feature standards like CableCARD support, quad HDMI 1.3 inputs, and Home Gallery for displaying photos and the like via USB, with contrast ratios and color reproduction that's all the rave with reviewers.

Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics coming to HD DVD and Blu-ray

It seems like the TV calibration wiz, Joe Kane, isn't going to sleep until every HDTV around is properly calibrated. In the past he has produced Video Essentials and then Digital Video Essentials (DVE) but neither one of these calibration discs properly addressed high-def basics. Hence the follow-up HD DVD and Blu-ray release titled DVE: HD Basics. This disc features six essential calibration tests that should only take a few minutes to run but if the consumer wants to dive into the vast world of calibration, the disc also includes many of the same patterns found on the professional DVE release. It would be nice to see retailers throw in this $30 disc when someone buys an HDTV set along with an HD DVD or Blu-ray drive but then they couldn't sell their in-house services. The disc is going to hit store shelves just in time for the holiday season on October 30 and we would like to point out that this disc would be a great gift for anyone receiving a high-def set from Santa this year. Just think, they could set up the HDTV themselves, leaving you, the TV guy to enjoy your holiday eggnog.

from Engadget HD

New Pioneer Elite A/V receivers hit the streets

We've checked out the deets on two of Pioneer's new A/V receivers in their Elite range, the VSX-92TXH and VSX-94TXH and now they are finally shipping. As you'd expect from the Elite moniker, these units are pretty packed with goodies. They're both THX approved, 7.1 channel receivers rated at 130 and 140 Watts per channel, respectively. These are fully HD-ready by any sensible definition of "HD". For your eyes, they can pass 1080p, 24Hz video along their four HDMI 1.3a ports. Upscaling of analog video is handled by a Faroudja DCDi chip for all your digitally-deficient components. For your ears, these receivers handle Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio audio signals. If you can't get enough THX goodness in your theater, these units also have Neural-THX Surround, the latest in audio trickery to get your ears to suspend disbelief. There's the usual gaggle of inputs on these units, on top of which Pioneer has added iPod, XM and Sirius device support.

from Engadget HD

NuVision debuts ten new Lucidium Deep Black 1080p displays

NuVision, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based maker of LCD televisions, has just announced an veritable avalanche of new models on the way, and we've got all the succulent details. The new displays feature the company's Digital Switching Deep Black (DSDB) technology, which supposedly adjusts backlight settings in relation to images onscreen, allowing for contrast ratios up to a whopping 15000:1; the screens also sport the company's NiDO II or NiDO III image processor / color stabilizer. Sets range in size from a moderate 22-inches to the gigantic, impressing-your-in-laws size of 65-inches. Check out a little rundown of the vital stats, prices, and release dates after the break.

[Via AVguide]

• NMU22L Lucidium, 22-inch, 1080p, NiDO II Image processing, DSDB, 2 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, behind the mirror in-wall mounting, $1,299, September 30th
• NMU32L Lucidium, 22-inch, 1080p, NiDO II Image processing, DSDB, 2 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, behind the mirror in-wall mounting, $,1599, September 30th
• NVU22L Lucidium, 22-inch, 1080p, NiDO II Image processing, DSDB, 2 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, $699, September 20th
• NVU26L Lucidium, 26-inch, 1080p, NiDO II Image processing, DSDB, 3 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, $899, September 20th
• NVU32L Lucidium, 32-inch, 1080p, NiDO II Image processing, DSDB, 3 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, $1,299, October 12th
• NVU37L Lucidium, 37-inch, 1080p, NiDO II Image processing, Deep Black 1920x1080 DCS (Deep Color Spectrum) LCD panel, DSDB, 3 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, $1,899, October 12th
• NVU42DCM Lucidium DCM, 42-inch, 1080p, NiDO III Image processing, Deep Black 1920x1080 DCS, DSDB, 4 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, $2,299, October 30th
• NVU47DCM Lucidium DCM, 47-inch, 1080p, NiDO III Image processing, Deep Black 1920x1080 DCS, DSDB, 4 x HDMI 1.3 inputs, $2,899, October 30th
• NVU52DCM Lucidium DCM, 52-inch, 1080p, NuColor x.v. full 10-bit color path, NiDO III Image processing, Deep Black 1920x1080 DCS, DSDB, 4x HDMI 1.3 inputs, $4,399, October 20th
• NVU65HDN Lucidium HDN, 65-inch, 1080p, Silicon Optix Realta HQV image processing, Deep Black 65-inch 1920x1080 DCS, 4-D noise reduction, dual ATSC tuners, $11,999, October 30th

from Engadget HD

Sharp releases smaller-bigger LCDs

Sharp is bringing to the US market a subset of the series of slimmer LCDs recently released in Japan. The D64U series of 1080p LCDs includes four models from 42 to 65 inches, all with re-engineered circuitry inside for a 25% slimmer and 20% lighter frame than previous product lines, while consuming less power. With the thinner bezel and smaller speakers, you might fit a 42-inch set where a 40 would normally go. The panels feature 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 4ms response time, and RS-232 automation controls. The series will be available later this month, with the 42-inch LC-42D64U retailing for $2,099, the 46-inch LC-46D64U for $2,699, and the 52-inch LC-52D64U for $3,799, with the 65-inch LC-65D64U unpriced and following in September.

from Engadget HD

Yamaha announces feature-packed RX-Z11 home theater receiver

Normally home theater receivers aren't considered anything special, content to switch inputs and power speakers, letting the plasma flat-panel take all the glory. But Yamaha has thrown all the goodies and features into the RX-Z11 receiver, with THX Ultra2 Plus certification for quality assurance, five HDMI 1.3a inputs and two outputs, four component inputs and two outs, and support for five audio and two video zones. It also supports the newest audio codecs, including Dolby TrueHD, and DTS Master Audio. To finish off the features, the receiver also supports terrestrial HD and XM satellite radio, network capabilities and internet radio, and includes an iPod dock for external media. The RX-Z11 comes out in November, for an undisclosed (but surely expensive) price.

from Engadget HD

Confirmed: Microsoft: HDMI Coming to Premium 360s

Microsoft has just confirmed that HDMI is now standard with the Premium version of the Xbox 360, now priced at $350. The retooled Premium 360, sporting the fancy HDMI, will sport an HDMI logo on the outside of the box, a Microsoft rep told Kotaku.

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Onkyo confirms hd dvd player

http://www.onkyousa.com/news.cfm?id=119

Latest Yamaha receivers boast HDMI 1.3a / Ethernet / 1080p upscaling

Shortly after Sony unveiled its newly revamped ES lineup of AV receivers, along comes Yamaha with a powerful new duo of its own. The RX-V3800 (140-watt x 7) and RX-V1800 (130-watt x 7) each support lossless Dolby Digital TrueHD / DTS-HD and feature Yamaha's Cinema DSP processing engine, video upscaling to 1080p, HDMI 1.3a, and an Ethernet connection that enables consumers to "access internet radio stations, music files stored on a PC, and the company's MusicCAST audio system server." Furthermore, the units are also compatible with your iPod and XM radio via optional adapters, include Burr-Brown 192kHz/24bit DACs, and will be on display at next month's CEDIA expo. As expected, neither of these devices can be classified as cheap, as the less powerful RX-V1800 will demand $1,299.95, while the higher-end RX-V3800 rings up at $1,699.95.

from Engadget HD

Halo 3 breaks 1-million in pre-orders, media blitz to follow

While Bungie Studio's Halo 3 for the Xbox 360 isn't expected to be out until September 25, the game is already beginning to break sales records online. Microsoft has just sent out a press wire announcing that the game has already surpassed the 1 million mark in pre-orders.

Further confirming this announcement is a related statement made by Best Buy movies and games VP Jill Hamburger:

The excitement for Halo 3 is incredible. From our pre-orders online and the buzz we're hearing in our stores, we know this release is going to be one of the biggest entertainment events of the year. We're thrilled to be able to bring it to our customers.

Several consumer brands have also announced their own promotion campaigns for Halo 3: Mountain Dew, 7-Eleven, Pontiac, Comcast, Burger King Corp., and Projekt Revolution. Here reads a shortlist of what to expect in the upcoming days:

• Mountain Dew:
• The new Game Fuel drink: A citrus, cherry-flavored version of the original Mountain Dew beverage with increased caffeine content. The drink will come in 20-ounce bottles, 2-liter bottles, and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans, and will be in circulation come August 13, 2007.
• 7-Eleven:
• Game Fuel and Doritos combo promos (watch your sugar intake, kids).
• In-store promotions including the introduction of three three Halo 3-branded collectible Slurpee cups.
• Store contests offering various prizes, such as a chance to be a voice actor in Ensemble Studios' upcoming Halo Wars game for the Xbox 360.
• Limited edition aluminum Game Fuel bottles, designed by the Bungie Studios devs.
• Pontiac:
• Gamers Garage events in select locations will provide fans with an opportunity to play the game before its release this September.
• The company will be releasing 1,000 copies of the game, with one lucky winner receiving a Halo 3-themed G6 GXP Street car.
• Burger King:
• Halo 3-themed food wrappers, including a 42-ounce cup and King FyPod. The promo is expected to take effect from Sept. 24 through Oct. 22.
• Comcast:
• Hosting for exclusive video content, including user-generated movies and machinima.
• Hosting for standard- and high-definition Halo 3 videos on its "On Demand" service.
• Projekt Revolution tour:
• Halo 3 is reported as an official sponsor of this event, which features Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance.
• Game-related VIP events will take place at certain cities in the tour. Visitors get a chance to receive Halo 3-themed merchandise, and a chance to meet members of Linkin Park.

from X360 QJ.NET

HD DVD touts sales growth over Blu-ray's decline

Besides moving low-priced HD DVD players, the HD DVD Promotional Group is taking advantage of Home Media Expo 2007 to announce its most recent sales data, with HD DVD going up, and Blu-ray going down. Specifically, the Nielsen Netratings mentioned show HD DVD hardware sales up 37 percent, and software sales up 20 percent from the first to the second quarter of this year. Over the same period, overall Blu-ray hardware sales (no word on if this includes the PlayStation 3 or not) were down 27 percent and software sales down 5 percent. Shockingly, this trend is attributed to aggressive marketing campaigns and cheaper standalone HD DVD players hitting the market, causing a 183 percent increase in dedicated player sales for the quarter, and over 180,000 players (up from 100k back in April) sold altogether. Whether HD DVD focus on standalones over consoles gives them an edge is unknown, but it seems like Blu-ray may be catching on to the strategy of giving away movies and cutting prices.

Presenting the Halo 3 Military Edition Zune

Microsoft has announced another product with a Halo 3 tie-in, following the success of the Halo 3 black Zune Microsoft has announced another release for the edition, this time in military brown. This edition will only be sold in military retail stores.

The decision was made after Microsoft got positive feedback on the popularity of the Zune in the military. The result is as you see it: Military Edition Zune. It will be packaged in a collectible Halo 3 box and will be fully equipped with artwork, trailers, and music from all three Halo games. Microsoft also contributed 300 of the Military Zunes to the USO of Metropolitan Washington.

The Military Zune will be standardized (so as not to break from military cadence?) with 30GB of storage. It will be available this month, with discounts for military personnel and their families through military retailers.

from X360 QJ.NET

Paramount, Dreamworks dropping Blu-ray in favor of HD DVD exclusivity

This is BIG news......

Affiliations in the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray format war have been pretty clearly defined for nearly two years now -- despite a hybrid player here and some international releases there, most of the players involved have not switched support since the early days. Well that's all about to change, as Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Animation -- which started off HD DVD only before deciding to go both ways -- have officially announced plans to release movies exclusively on HD DVD, dropping Blu-ray support entirely. This include Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation SKG, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films to be Released Exclusively in HD DVD Exclusive Program To Begin with Release of "Blades of Glory," Followed by "Transformers" and "Shrek the Third," Films Representing More Than $1.5 Billion in Combined Worldwide. Let's wait to see how the Blu-ray camp responds to this...

from Engadget

I'm back

I'm still busy, but I'll star posting hopefully in a regular basis, so let get started with this amazing news, specialy the HD DVD supporters, like me; Paramount, Dreamworks dropping Blu-ray in favor of HD DVD exclusivity

Toshiba to Announce 3rd Gen Players: 24fps, CE-Link, more

Toshiba's third generation family starts with the entry level HD-A3 player featuring 1080i output capability. The other two new models, Toshiba's HD-A30 and HD-A35, will output 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080p), the highest HD signal currently available. Both models are capable of outputing signals at 1080p/24 frames per second so consumers can enjoy movies in their native frame rate. The HD-A30 and HD-A35 models also feature "CE-Link" (HDMI-CEC), allowing two- way control between the HD DVD player and a TV through an HDMI connection. The top-of-the-line HD-A35 also adds support for Deep Color via HDMI allowing compatible display devices to deliver outstanding video quality - displaying millions of possible colors to billions of possible colors. Additionally, the HD-A35 offers 5.1 channel analog output and High Bit Rate Audio (up to 7.1 channel) via HDMI. With content encoded in 7.1ch, this advanced surround sound is achieved through the HDMI connection bypassing the player's internal audio processor and sending the signal to a 7.1 capable A/V receiver. High Bit Rate Audio will allow the consumer to integrate the HD-A35 with the latest multi-channel A/V receivers and enjoy a whole new dimension of high definition home entertainment.

Third generation HD DVD players on October 1st

There's no doubt that the HD Format war is in full swing, and just when the Blu-ray camp thinks they're going to catch up with HD DVD's full featured players, HD DVD raises the bar. We'll probably have to wait 'till CEDIA to get the official word from Toshiba, but for now Amazon has a few details about the new lineup, which will be available on October 1st and include three models: the HD-A3 ($299), HD-A30($399), and the HD-A35($499). One thing is for sure, this is going to be a completely different war by the time the holiday buying season rolls around.

Read -- HD-A3
Read -- HD-A30
Read -- HD-A35

from Engadget HD

HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on August 7th, 2007

Any week is going to look slow compared to last week, but at least we have a few day-and-date releases including Disturbia and TMNT, which are available on both formats. Blu-ray has one exclusive day-and-date release from Sony with Are We Done Yet, but we doubt anyone's calling home about that one. Overall August is going to be another slow month of Summer releases, but both camps look like they're cranking up for the fall.

HD DVD 261 vs Blu-ray 278.

Blu-ray

• Are We Done Yet? (Sony)
• Arlington Road (Sony)
• Disturbia (Paramount)
• Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Sony)
• TMNT (Warner)

HD DVD

• Disturbia (Paramount)
• TMNT (Warner)

from Engadget HD

Xbox 360 Drops Price $50 in US

We just issued a press release tonight, announcing a price drop of $50 on the Xbox 360 console, beginning Wednesday, August 8.

We're also announcing the price of the upcoming Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Console, going on sale in September, for $399.99 (all prices ERP US).

• Xbox 360: $349.99
• Xbox 360 Core System: $279.99
• Xbox 360 Elite: $449.99
• Xbox 360 Halo^® 3 Special Edition Console: $399.99

More information can be found in the press release, or on Xbox.com.

from Gamerscore Blog

New Site Now Online for Xbox Repairs in US

For those of you who require sending your Xbox or Xbox 360 in for repairs, we now have another option to speed things along. Xbox.com has an online option for customers in the US, now available at http://service.xbox.com.

This new service lets you register your Xbox or Xbox 360 console, setup a repair, and track the status of the repair, all online. This new site lets you create In-Warranty or Out-of-warranty repairs, and even gives you a $5 discount for Out-of-Warranty repairs.

We hope you don't need to use it, but if you do, we hope it speeds things along.

from Gamerscore Blog

GTAIV delayed until 2008's second quarter

Take 2 Interactive just announced that Grand Theft Auto IV will be delayed until 2008's second fiscal quarter, to compensate for some development processes that have taken longer than anticipated. The release confirms that this is taking place for both consoles, so it should be expected than when a new firm date is announced, that the 360's will mirror the PS3's.

There has been no word of what this means for the episodic content under development for the 360 version of the game, as it was initially scheduled for a second quarter release in 2008. While we are saddened that we won't be experiencing Rockstar North's grand opus this holiday, our wallets definitely feel the pressure being lifted, if only slightly. We'll have to wait and see how this affects Microsoft's projected game sales this holiday, as 2004 may still remain top dog with the absence of GTAIV in October.

from Xbox 360 Fanboy

Forza Motorsport 2 gets DLC, tournaments for August

It looks like Turn 10's promise of downloadable content for August held true, as word has come to us that it's got free cars for download via Xbox Live, as well as a tournament for Forza Motorsport 2 fans.

The news is that three new Nissan cars and a Peugeot car are now available for download through Xbox Live. These are the 2007 Nissan Altima, 2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R, and 2007 Nissan 350Z. They're available for download on all regions, so as long as you have an Xbox Live connection and a copy of the video game, Forza Motorsport 2, you're good to go. On the other hand, you can also pick up the famed Peugeot 908 race car for 50 Microsoft Points.

In related news, Xbox and Nissan are celebrating the release of this new DLC by kicking off two different contests. The first is a Nissan Sentra SE-R racing tourney, whose details you can read about below:

The 32 bracket 256 player tournament will kick off on 18th August and take place over the course of seven weeks. It will finish on the 6th October with a championship race live at the L.A. Auto Show. Finalists will compete for a series of prizes including a chance to win a new Nissan!

The second is an in-game customization contest, where players can customize their Nissan Sentra SE-Rs to come up with the coolest paint job. They'll be judged by members of Turn 10 and Nissan, so you better make those paint jobs extra stylish.

Full tournament details, registration and rules can be found at www.xboxlivetournament.com beginning August 10. In the meantime, you might as well start practicing your driving and styling skills.

from X360 QJ.NET

65nm 360 chips in production 'last two quarters' - 45nm on the way

Though we're pretty confident the Xbox 360 price drop is coming sooner than "this Fall" - more like August 12th, if you want to be specific - we've had the entire Fall season marked on our Microsoft Executive Swimsuit calendar with "65nm chips" reminders. Those weary of the dreaded RROD have been looking forward to the smaller, cooler (and cheaper!) chips being included in the new systems, codenamed Falcon, but the extremely paranoid may want to hold off for the 45nm version.

"As 65nm just started production in the last two quarters, you would expect 45nm to [begin production] about 18 months from that timeframe," said the President of Microsoft manufacturing partner, Charted Semiconductor. That means production on those new even smaller and even cooler chips won't begin until late 2008, early 2009. If that's too long to hold off, take comfort in knowing that those 65nm chips have been produced for some time, and should be making their way to retail Xbox 360s soon (astronotip: Fall starts on Sept. 23 this year, so mark your various themed calendars).

from Joystiq

Nissan DLC Pack + Peugeot 908 *AVAILABLE NOW*

As announced yesterday on the official site the first DLC pack for Forza Motorsport 2 is available now on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Nissan Tournament Pack
Contains the following cars:
2007 Nissan 350Z Grand Touring Coupe
2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE
2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V

Price: FREE



Also U.S. residents will be able to participate in special Nissan sponsored tournaments and competitions. Head over to the official site for all the info:
http://forzamotorsport.net/nissan.htm


2007 Peugeot #8 Team Peugeot Total 908 HDi FAP
Experience Peugeot's 2007 return to Le Mans in the #8 turbo diesel 908. Also this is the only R-class car that is fully paintable.

Price: 50 MS Points

Best Buy selling Xbox 360 HD DVD player for $149.99

It seems that Microsoft's new $179 price tag for its Xbox 360 HD DVD player just wasn't low enough for Best Buy, as the retailer is now offering the drive for the low, low price of $149.99. Of course, it's currently sold out, and it's not clear if this is a permanent price, a pricing mistake, or a one time sale (although it's not advertised as such). As far as we can tell, Best Buy appears to be the only retailer to the further discounted price, though we'll certainly keep an eye out to see if others follow suit.

from Engadget HD