Home Theater/HDTV/et al...

krim wrote:*grabs the takoyaki iron and waits for the invite*



:fingerscrossed: :fingerscrossed:

Hmm...that's tempting...although I'd have to ask you to wait until you arrive to make them or else they'd be all gone on the drive over here!

Tu_triky wrote:Hmm...that's tempting...although I'd have to ask you to wait until you arrive to make them or else they'd be all gone on the drive over here!

That's probably why he's bringing the iron... Fixings are extra. :beaten:

Besides, they'll be really fresh, if made on the spot. :victory:

bmwracer wrote:
That's probably why he's bringing the iron... Fixings are extra. :beaten:

Besides, they'll be really fresh, if made on the spot. :victory:

We should hire that guy in the youtube video....he can cook up about 300 takoyaki in 30 minutes...

:hehe:

Tu_triky wrote:We should hire that guy in the youtube video....he can cook up about 300 takoyaki in 30 minutes...

:hehe:

LOL.

That might match our expected takoyaki consumption rate. :mrgreen:

bmwracer wrote:
LOL.

That might match our expected takoyaki consumption rate. :mrgreen:

:hehe: :hehe:

Per capita. Poppin' takoyaki like bonbons...if there's any leftovers we can open up a stall on Western Ave. "Ai, Irrashimase!"

We can borrow the signage from this shop "Nihon, Ichi tako" = Japan's best octopus!

[image]

okay, i won't go OT. :P

Tu_triky wrote:

Oh yeah those 1280 res torrents..I might try it for kicks but those files are so large...typically close to 1GB per episode! :sweat:

Forget those. I grab the h264/x264 ones when they're available. Same file size as 704x576 ones, but high res. Nice, but all the filtering your PC can do isn't worth the extra gig of download. IMHO anyway. :sweat:

Nice TV btw. :thumbsup:

tabana wrote:
Forget those. I grab the h264/x264 ones when they're available. Same file size as 704x576 ones, but high res. Nice, but all the filtering your PC can do isn't worth the extra gig of download. IMHO anyway. :sweat:

Yeah those files are too darn big.

Nice TV btw. :thumbsup:

Yeah it's pretty cool...i got the W series....it's an upper mid range model just below the XBR series....which is cool but way more expensive.

tabana wrote:Forget those. I grab the h264/x264 ones when they're available. Same file size as 704x576 ones, but high res. Nice, but all the filtering your PC can do isn't worth the extra gig of download. IMHO anyway. :sweat:

Unless he connects his Sony directly to his PC, he won't be able to play the x264-encoded videos, since his standalone player probably only supports DivX/XVid and not x264...

Of course, the standalone player might not support the 1280 resolution in any format... :sweat:

bmwracer wrote:
Unless he connects his Sony directly to his PC, he won't be able to play the x264-encoded videos, since his standalone player probably only supports DivX/XVid and not x264...

Yeah I just use an HDMI to DVI cable....my Oppo Digital DVD only supports DiVX and XVid as you stated.

Tu_triky wrote:Yeah I just use an HDMI to DVI cable....my Oppo Digital DVD only supports DiVX and XVid as you stated.

As I figured.

I wonder if there really is any noticeable (not psychological) difference between the standard 704X396 upscaled/upconverted and the 1280x576 HD versions...

I'll certainly test that out when I get my HDTV... :fingerscrossed:

bmwracer wrote:
As I figured.

I wonder if there really is any noticeable (not psychological) difference between the standard 704X396 upscaled/upconverted and the 1280x576 HD versions...

Good question...hell of I know! :beaten:

Depends of the process. If it just double the pixels, it will look like shit. If it does filtering on the image, then it should almost look like 1080p. Sometimes it's a little blurry, but if you have an edge enhancer too, it looks very good. If you're into linear algebra, I can send you the formula. :P

Sadly, I think we'll see more and more of those 2gb/episode. They're almost all on 100mbit and we're stuck on DSL for the same price. :usuck:

tabana wrote:Depends of the process. If it just double the pixels, it will look like shit. If it does filtering on the image, then it should almost look like 1080p. Sometimes it's a little blurry, but if you have an edge enhancer too, it looks very good. If you're into linear algebra, I can send you the formula. :P

I would think all the standalone players use a sophisticated upscaling/upconversion algorithm, since it's very likely embedded in the videoprocessor that they use... :)

Yes. It doesn't take much time to do and it's not very demanding. A chip that cost a few cents to a dollar can do it. Only if you use a cheap player or use media player without any filtering you'll have just the doubling pixel thing.

HDTVs: Now Is the Best Time to Buy

Wed Feb 6, 2008 8:53AM EST

Missed a great deal on an HDTV this past week? Don't sweat it.

Experts say the best time to buy a new HDTV is usually after the Super Bowl when retailers cut prices on older models to make room for the new ones.

Over the long view, analysts at Pacific Media Associates say we can expect a 15.6% drop on flat panel display prices this year.

According to the research company, last year they saw a 14.7 percent price drop on HDTVs, which increased sales by 41 percent. If their estimates are correct, more than 113 million displays were sold worldwide instead of the 80 million units they had predicted.

There's no question this trend will continue in 2008, especially now that more people will consider buying a high definition TV before the big digital television switchover.

Even the optimistic folks over at NPD Group say manufacturers and retailers will try to entice consumers to upgrade to digital televisions this year, so it's very likely we'll either see tempting price drops or more bundled systems like the ones Consumer Reports noted on this article.

This year I believe older HDTV sets will face some stiff competition, especially when thinner, sexier displays, like Hitachi's ultra-thin 1.5 model, arrive in stores. Do expect to see bigger, sharper, greener, and even Internet-connected HDTV sets in 2008.

Netflix Goes the Blu-ray Way

Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:22AM EST

The movies-by-mail giant says that from now on, it will only buy Blu-ray discs, and that it expects to "phase out" its inventory of HD DVD movies by the end of the year. Talk about a nail in the coffin.
In a press release, Netflix says that it will keep renting out HD DVD movies "until the discs' natural life cycle takes them out of circulation in the coming months." The statement goes on to say that the industry has "picked a winner" in the format war, and that "focusing on one format will enable us to create the best experience for subscribers" who want HD movies.

The news is the harshest blow for HD DVD since Warner Brothers announced it was jumping ship and going exclusively with Blu-ray. It's sure to have a chilling effect on already dwindling HD DVD player sales, and while Netflix still has a few hundred HD DVD titles for rent, HD DVD viewers will eventually be left with Blockbuster (which has by-mail HD DVD titles for rent) and local video stores (which may or may not have HD DVD movies on their shelves). Indeed, I've been renting my share of HD DVDs from Netflix, and I have several upcoming titles in my "Saved" queue; now it looks like I'll have to rent "I Am Legend" somewhere else\or just get the DVD version, until I give in and get a Blu-ray player myself.

Hmmm. I got the feeling Blu-Ray would be the winner.... in 5 years, nobody will remember HD-DVD :sweat:

Anime Dad wrote:Hmmm. I got the feeling Blu-Ray would be the winner.... in 5 years, nobody will remember HD-DVD :sweat:

HD DVD is dead. Unlike Betamax, Atrac, and Mini Disc this time Sony will win the Format War.

Anime Dad wrote:in 5 years, nobody will remember HD-DVD :sweat:

Maybe sooner.

The only thing that will keep HD DVD alive will be the XBOX 360. But probably only for games...