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The end of the world is nigh, but at least Children of Men is available on Blu-ray

Anton van Beek — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:08:45 +0100

I’ve now visited Alfonso Cuaron’s superbly engrossing apocalyptic vision of the future so many times on so many different formats (cinema, DVD, HD DVD and now Blu-ray) that it sometimes feels like I live there. But, to be honest, I don't really mind because it's read more »

It's time to grab the 'Big F***ing Gun' as Doom makes the leap to Blu-ray

Anton van Beek — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:59:45 +0100

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson headlines the cast in this adequate, if hardly groundbreaking 2005 big-screen adaptation of the popular videogame franchise. The plot is forgettable, the performances are average at best and only the action scenes really read more »

Star Wars voted the movie most fans want to see as a 3D Blu-ray release

HCC News Team — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:54:23 +0100

The original Star Wars has been voted the film most film fans want to see as a 3D release on Blu-ray. The sci-fi classic was the clear favourite of the Home Media Tastemakers Forum (which, according to trade journal Home Media Magazine, is a screened group of consumers being used as a sounding board by some US movie studios). read more »

16 million UK homes to have access to Freeview HD by Xmas 2010, Freeview iPlayer coming

HCC News Team — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:45:20 +0100

Sixteen million UK households will have access to Freeview HD by Christmas 2010, according to Freeview managing director Ilse Howling. Speaking at London’s Intellect Consumer Electronics Conference, Howling said the new service, featuring BBC HD, ITV HD, Channel 4 HD and (at some point) Five HD will be available to half of all UK homes in time for the 2010 World Cup. read more »

JVC Blu-ray to offer hi-res MKV file support

HCC News Team — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:01:41 +0100

JVC’s debut Blu-ray disc player, the XV-BP1, looks likely to be the first from a major Japanese brand to offer hi-def MKV file playback support as part of its multimedia functionality.

It joins LG’s BD370 (which it appears to be related to), in also offering buyers the ability to play back DivX and MPEG-4 content from USB. read more »

Home Cinema Choice #171 - On Sale Now!

Steve May — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:32:38 +0100

With so much cool tech flowing through the HCC offices it's easy to get blasé about gobsmacking gear. But every so often, hardware arrives that makes even us hardened AV veterans sit up in awe – like Philips' amazing new Cinema 21:9 TV. In the latest issue of HCC, we devote six pages to this amazing screen. After you've read this review, I urge you to track one down and experience it for yourself. With the first ever Cinemascope ratio, it's either the ideal movie-watchers' TV or a monumental folly. One thing's certain: it'll change the way you look at TVs forever. read more »

World Exclusive: Hands-on with Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series on Blu-ray

Anton van Beek — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:38:21 +0100

As you are all undoubtedly aware, sci-fi smash Battlestar Galactica is making the jump to Blu-ray later this year. Even before the show came to an end earlier in 2009, fans had been clamouring for the original miniseries and the subsequent four seasons of the hit show to be available to buy in hi-def. Now it's read more »

Kylie does a Spinal Tap as White Diamond takes us behind the scenes

Chris Jenkins — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:23:58 +0100

Since breaking away from Pete Waterman, Kylie Minogue has always been a sort of Aldi version of Madonna, following Madge's lead as she re-invents her image, costume and style. read more »

Fox, Paramount and Sony in DVD merger talks

HCC News Team — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:45:46 +0100

Three of the world’s most famous movie studios are in talks to merge elements of their DVD operations.

Executives from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment are reportedly discussing the possibility of combining DVD production and distribution, including moving all disc replication to Sony DADC. read more »

Sony claims annual CO2 emissions cut by 100,000 tons

HCC News Team — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:41:02 +0100

Sony says that it has managed to reduced its global CO2 emissions by approximately 100,000 tons over the last financial year. The achievement comes on the back of several company-wide environmental initiatives. 'Through continuous energy efficiency efforts, European operations have reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 90 per cent between 2000 and 2008,' added the company. read more »

Internet TV wannabe Joost fades to black, shuts UK offices

HCC News Team — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:33:53 +0100

Internet TV wannabe Joost is downsizing, unable to compete against the growing number of broadcaster-backed ‘net TV operations. The company, which was bankrolled by the boffins behind Skype and Kazaa, is shutting offices in the UK and Nertherlands. It says it will refocus as a third-party technology platform developer. read more »

Achtung! Hitler's Bodyguard stands to attention as crazed dictator invades DVD

Chris Jenkins — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:05:52 +0100

As Ricky Gervais commented, if you spend all your time watching documentary channels there won't be anything you don't know about sharks or Nazis. The latter seem to be slightly more popular even than the former, with endless documentaries about WW2, and specifically Adolf Hitler, whose dramatic rise and fall, warped psychology, family, diet and probably taste in interior decoration have been mercilessly dissected on The History Channel, Yesterday and even proper terrestrial channels.

For those who can't get enough of the Austrian loon, here's a chance to read more »

projectiondesign's Kroma home cinema LED DLP projector set for UK debut

HCC News Team — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:47:50 +0100

Projectiondesign says its eagerly-awaited avielo kroma LED-lit DLP projector will arrive in the UK 'imminently'. Utilising ReaLED solid-state illumination instead of a traditional lamp, it will take on Vivitek’s H9080FD at the high-end of the DLP home cinema market. read more »

Optoma pledges 3D projector by Christmas

HCC News Team — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:26:40 +0100

Optoma has unveiled its first DLP-Link 3D projector, which will hit stores before the end of the year.

Priced at around £500, the as-yet unnamed model was demonstrated at the CEDIA 2009 exhibition in London, using the chassis of the company's HD65. It has a resolution of 1280 x 720 (HD Ready) and uses a single lens to create a stereoscopic image. read more »

LG reveals first high-end LED LCD TVs, predicts big shift to LED by 2011 Updated

HCC News Team — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:30:52 +0100

LG has announced its first range of LED-backlit LCD TVs. The new screens, which are just 24.8mm thin, will launch in Europe this summer. Two 55-inch models have been unveiled, the 55LH95 and 55LH93, both ‘designed specifically to target the high-end segment and offer unmatched quality and design’ says LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company President and CEO Simon Kang. read more »

Buzz Aldrin to deliver keynote at CEDIA US Expo

HCC News Team — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:24:01 +0100

Apollo 11 astronaut, and second person to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin has been signed up to deliver the keynote speech for the upcoming CEDIA US Expo. As part of the ongoing 40th anniversary events surrounding the first lunar landing, he’ll address the association’s annual meeting and membership breakfast on Friday, September 11. read more »

Nintendo Wii to get movie downloads, Paramount first to sign-up

HCC News Team — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:19:52 +0100

Nintendo's Wii is to offer movie downloads, but only in Japan. Sonic Solutions’ Roxio CinemaNow has partnered with Fujisoft, to offer streaming media via Fujisoft’s local VOD service. Hollywood major Paramount will supply blockbuster film and TV content.
The Wii may be a latecomer to the game console movie download arena, but read more »

Pioneer & Sharp contract to co-develop Blu-ray

HCC News Team — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:11:30 +0100

Pioneer and Sharp have finally contracted to create a new joint -venture company to develop Blu-ray and other optical disc products. First mooted in April this year, the new company will develop and manufacture BD players - for all market segments - and sat nav units (amongst other products) for sale by the two brands. read more »

Apple updates Apple TV, improves iPhone interaction and offers extra features

HCC News Team — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:01:46 +0100

Apple is to offer a firmware update for its Apple TV streamer box, which adds improved control by iPhone functionality and other tweaks. The updates take firmware revisions to Apple TV 2.4 and (iPhone) Remote 1.3, respectively.
Changes include read more »

Toshiba may back Blu-ray after all, 'we're keeping options open' says chairman

HCC News Team — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:13:37 +0100

Is Toshiba about to backtrack and back Blu-ray? The smart money says 'Yes', after Toshiba chairman Atsutoshi Nishida hinted to reporters at a company shareholder meeting in Tokyo yesterday that the Corporation was reconsidering its position on the format. The company walked away from the hi-def disc market early 2008 after its HD DVD system lost the backing of Hollywood major Warner, vowing instead to concentrate on read more »