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Save $8 on 'Toy Story 3' Blu-ray[teaser]Save $8 on the third and final chapter of Pixar's must-own animated hit on Blu-ray! [/teaser] Here's another offer, this time to save $8 on 'Toy Story 3' starring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen available on Blu-ray on November 2. Click this link to access to the page where you can print out your coupon valid at participating retailers. The offer is available in-store only in the U.S. and Canada and the coupon expires on November 8.Posted Mon Nov 1, 2010 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'Robocop Trilogy' $25 at Amazon[teaser]His friends call him Murphy. You can call him... R-R-Robocop -- and he's 25 bucks this week only at Amazon! [/teaser] The online retailer has put up the 'Robocop Trilogy' starring Peter Weller (for the first two films anyway) on Blu-ray for only $25 (58% off the suggested list price). Click here to order some security for your city (and home) for a great price today! This offer is in effect from now through November 6.Posted Sun Oct 31, 2010 at 02:45 PM PDT by: -
HD Advisor, Texas - Pop. 81Editor's Note: Each Friday, High-Def Digest's own HD Advisor will answer a new round of questions from our readers. If you have home theater questions you need answered, send an email to [email protected]. If you've already sent a question and don't see it answered yet, please be patient as we work our way through them. To browse through previously answered questions, visit the main HD Advisor page. Answers by Joshua Zyber Upgrading Old A/V Receiver Q:I have an Onkyo TX-SV 454 receiver that I would like to connect to my HTPC. Unfortunately, the receiver has no digital input, just 5.1 multi-channel analog inputs. The HTPC has a coaxial S/PDIF output and a 3.5 mm TRS output. Now I have three options: 1) Connect the computer to the receiver with a TRS to RCA cable (5m). 2) Buy a DD/DTS decoder which has digital inputs and a 5.1 multi-channel output. 3) Buy a new receiver that I use with my ten-year-old Canton loudspeakers (5.0 configuration). I'm not sure it is worth the money to upgrade my existing system to digital surround sound as I don't know if there would be any difference on such an old system. I don't want to go for an all-new configuration as the speakers sound absolutely fine. What do you recommend? A: The TRS output (also commonly called the "headphone jack") is an analog connection that will only transmit stereo audio. With proper adaptors, you may be able to break this out into two RCA "male" leads that will plug into the stereo analog inputs on your receiver. This will be your cheapest option. Unfortunately, you will obviously not benefit from discrete 5.1 surround sound. Your HTPC will downgrade the 5.1 soundtrack on the movie disc you're watching to 2-channel stereo, and then your receiver will have to decode that stereo signal through Dolby ProLogic processing (or a similar program) to give you a very basic form of surround sound. Connecting the S/PDIF output from your computer into a Dolby/DTS decoder with 5.1 analog outputs would allow you to experience discrete 5.1 surround (of the standard lossy Dolby Digital or DTS varieties). This is more expensive, but you should get better results. However, both of these seem like stopgap solutions. What you really need is a new A/V receiver with digital inputs, which can probably be purchased for not much more money than an outboard Dolby/DTS decoder. A new receiver will also future-proof you for future upgrades, such as lossless Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio surround. In the end, only you can decide your own priorities. If you don't feel that you're likely to upgrade your HTPC or your speakers anytime soon, perhaps a new receiver is overkill for your needs. I'd be inclined to suggest starting with the simple TRS-to-RCA adaptor, which should cost very little. That will at least give you a start, so you can decide whether you really need more. Universal Remotes Q: I'm looking for a good Universal Remote. My dream remote is the Harmony 1100, but it's a bit more than I'm currently willing to spend. The General Electric RM24941 is actually around my price range, and kind of what I have in mind, but it doesn't look like this supports Blu-Tooth. I'm thinking that I'm probably going to cap myself around $80. I want a remote that is easy to set up and use, will control the TV, receiver, PS3, HD DVD player, Dish Network DVR, my Laserdisc player, and my VCR. And I'm hoping for more than basic functionality – on the DVR, I want to be able to get to both the guide and my recordings, I want to be able to select inputs on both the TV and Receiver. It would also be nice, but not required, if it would let me select listening modes on the receiver as well. A: I'm a big fan of the Harmony line of remotes. Harmony has an unparalleled database of electronics codes, and will support just about any device you can possibly think of. Because you download the codes you need from your computer, this essentially future-proofs the remote against new devices you may acquire in the future. Harmony's database is frequently updated. If, by some chance, the code for one of your components isn't available, you can also easily program a Harmony remote to learn from your existing remote. And their remotes are sufficiently customizable to support any specific functions you need easy access to. The Harmony 650 will just about fall into your price range. This is a 5-device remote, so you may need to sacrifice one of the components you've listed above. Honestly, how often do you use the VCR? Can you keep the old remote around for the rare occasion you need that one? I assume that your concern about Bluetooth is that you want the universal remote to control your PS3. That can be easily (and inexpensively) fixed with a Nyko BluWave adaptor. Plug the BluWave into one of the PS3's available USB ports, and the console will accept standard IR remote signals. Then program the Harmony to output the BluWave's remote codes (not the PS3's). If you search, you might also find good deals on refurbished models that support more devices. For example, Amazon currently has a listing for a refurbished Harmony 520, which will handle up to 12 devices, for just under $60. (I can't vouch for the 3rd Party seller offering this particular deal. I'm just pointing out what I found in a search.) The Harmony 1100 you mentioned earlier is a touch-screen model. This may come down to personal preference, but I find that I prefer to have tactile buttons that I can feel in the dark without having to light up a giant LCD screen and navigate through a host of menus to find the device or function I want. You may feel otherwise. Homework Assignment: You Be the Advisor The HD Advisor knows many things, but he doesn't know everything. Some questions are best answered with a consensus of opinions from our readers. If you can help to answer the following question, please post your response in our forum thread linked at the end of this article. Your advice and opinions matter too! Audio Tweaks Q: Besides having a nice receiver for the speakers, is there any other equipment I can get to enhance the sound from those speakers? Are there any separate amps for each of my speakers I can purchase out there? I go to see films in IMAX a lot, and their sound system is so amazing. I know that I can't reproduce what they have, but was wondering if I could somehow enhance the sound from my speakers. JZ: I'll leave this one for the audiophiles out there to debate. Check back soon for another round of answers. Keep those questions coming. Joshua Zyber's opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of this site, its owners or employees.Posted Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 11:15 AM PDT by: -
'Twilight Zone: Season 3 (1961)' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination — Next stop, the Twilight Zone. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, it seems Image Entertainment is preparing 'Twilight Zone: Season 3 (1961)' for Blu-ray on February 15. The first season was released in September and you can read Aaron Peck's "MUST-OWN" review here! Specs and have yet to be finalized, but the set is expected to be a 5-disc set and will contain all 37 episodes in the third season. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $99.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Twilight Zone: Season One (1959)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 15.Posted Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:50 AM PDT by: -
Save $20 on 'Alien Anthology' with 'The Last of the Mohicans' Blu-ray at Amazon[teaser]Get an extra $20 worth of savings by purchasing both Fox Blu-ray titles together at Amazon! [/teaser] To take advantage of the discount, simply add 'Alien Anthology' and 'The Last of the Mohicans' to your shopping cart, and you'll save an additional $20 off the total -- getting both for $84.98! Click here to add both of these great Fox Blu-ray releases to your home video collection today!Posted Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:30 AM PDT by: -
'NFL Super Bowl XLV' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Are you ready for some more high-def football in March? [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers has announced 'NFL Super Bowl XLV' for Blu-ray on March 8. A must have for fans of the Super Bowl Champions. This product will release a mere 30 days after the big game in the winning team's market. Celebrating the Champions of Super Bowl XLV with this Blu-ray that follows the team from their first snap to the final gun of Super Bowl XLV. Own the most anticipated and watched sporting event of the year. Complete with highlights from the regular season, playoffs and the big game itself. The 2010 release will contain hours of Super Bowl coverage and behind the scenes actions. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99. You can find the latest specs for 'NFL Super Bowl XLV' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 8.Posted Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
REMINDER!! The DVD2Blu Program Lets You Trade In ANY(!) DVD You Own[teaser]Want a discount on some Warner Blu-rays? Trade in the crappiest of your DVD collection! [/teaser] The DVD2Blu trade-in program was a cool idea, but a bit lacking at the inception. This new change makes it simple for anyone to get some cheap Blu-rays by allowing you to trade in any DVD you own for a discount. Alright, it's technically not good for any DVD you own. It has to be a professionally produced DVD that was sold at retail – that means home movies and burns don't count. It's also limited to content that's not considered "adult," so don't go try exchanging your sock drawer movie collection for new Blu-rays. Pricing for Blu-rays starts at a measly $4.95 for titles like 'Beerfest' and 'Ocean's Eleven,' but ranges up to $19.95 for the complete second season of 'Chuck.' Shipping is free if you order more than $35 worth of Blu-rays, which really shouldn't be difficult to do with the selection available. Source: DVD2 BluPosted Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'After Dark Horrorfest Blu-ray Double Feature: Volumes 1-4' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]8 Films to die for will be getting the high-definition double feature treatment early next year! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate plans to mark the month of 1,000 screams with "The Best of Horrorfest" for the first time in high-definition on January 4. Each release will include two fan favorite films from the annual 'After Dark Horrorfest' and some of the titles will come with a few morsels of supplements as well. 'After Dark Horrorfest Blu-ray Double Feature: Volume 1:' Starring Dominic Purcell, 'The Gravedancers' is an old-school terror about a group of friends who realize that dancing on graves is not all fun and games. While at a wake for an old chum, a group of friends decide to get drunk and dance on the graves, which leads to their lives being invaded by a trio of hostile ghosts. 'The Gravedancers' was a favorite of the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. The Blu-ray contains an audio commentary, a couple of featurettes - including a "making of," deleted scenes, storyboards and the trailer. 'Wicked Little Things: Unrated Director's Cut' - Recently widowed Karen Tunny and her two daughters, Sarah and Emma, move to a remote mountain home, which Karen has inherited from the family of her late husband. However, she is unaware that the home is situated near an old mine, the site of an early 20th century tragedy where many children were buried. The only supplement will be an audio commentary. 'After Dark Horrorfest Blu-ray Double Feature: Volume 2:' 'Borderland: Unrated Director's Cut' is a criminal tale of murder and ritual. The story, based on true events, blends the raw fear of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with the stark reality of In Cold Blood and evokes a world soaked in paranoia, fear, and dread. Declared "a brutally suspenseful crime drama" by Variety and "a dark, disturbing gem" by Cinefantastique Magazine, the film features special effects by award-winning KNB Effects. When three Texas University students travel to a Mexican border town on the eve of their graduation, the last thing they expect to face is an ancient blood cult hell-bent on finding candidates for human sacrifice. The Blu-ray features two featurettes and an audio commentary. 'Crazy Eights' - Six people are brought together at the funeral of a childhood friend. While settling the estate, they discover a map, which leads them on a search for a long forgotten time capsule. At the request of their dead friend, they follow the map and what they discover reawakens repressed childhood traumas and leads them on a journey through their long abandoned childhood home...a home with a terrible secret and a mysterious dead girl who will lead them to their strange fates. 'After Dark Horrorfest Blu-ray Double Feature: Volume 3:' 'The Broken' - The life of a successful radiologist spirals out of control when she sees the spitting image of herself driving down a London street. Attempting to discover the identity of her double, she stumbles into a terrifying mystery that involves her family and closest friends, leaving her with no one to trust. 'The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations' - The latest entry in The Butterfly Effect franchise tells the story of Sam who possesses an extraordinary talent: the ability to travel through time. He can use his gift to help police solve cases, but he must never intervene with the past as it could alter the present in horrific ways. When a woman from Sam's past begs him to help her find her sister's killer, Sam breaks his own rule...and all Hell breaks loose. 'After Dark Horrorfest Blu-ray Double Feature: Volume 4:' 'The Graves' - From the creator of the legendary comics Evil Ernie and Lady Death, comes The Graves. On their last weekend together, Megan and Abby Graves are lost in a remote part of the Arizona desert where they are lured to Skull City Mine, an abandoned mine town. But they soon learn Skull City is anything but abandoned - and there's no way out. The sisters are now prey, forced to unleash their most primitive instincts in a desperate, all-out battle for survival against unspeakable horrors - both human and supernatural. The Blu-ray Disc features two audio commentaries, numerous featurettes, "spot the gnome" game, auditions, a music video and more! 'Zombies of Mass Destruction' - A conservative island community is under attack! Port Gamble, Washington is being overrun with brain eaters, and the people seem powerless to stave them off. A rag tag band of rebels led by Frida, an Iranian college student suspected of being an Iraqi terrorist, and Tom, a gay businessman who has returned to town with his partner to come out to his mother, tries to turn the tide and push the invading hoards of undead back. Called "the best of its type since Shaun of the Dead," filmthreat.com states, "Zombies of Mass Destruction is a limb-shucking, eye-gouging hoot, full of both disemboweled stomachs and belly laughs." The Blu-ray Disc includes a "making of" featurette. Suggested list price for each of these releases is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'After Dark Horrorfest Blu-ray Double Feature: Volumes 1-4' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under January 4.Posted Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' Blu-ray $14.49 at Amazon[teaser] Wes Craven's original nightmare may be invading your neighborhood for a great price! [/teaser] Amazon is offering 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' for $14.49 (42 percent off suggested list price). The film stars Robert Englund as the immortal Freddy Krueger and features the screen debut of a very young Johnny Depp! If you want to add this classic 1984 horror to your collection, then click here!Posted Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
Warner DVD2Blu Program: Upgrade ANY DVD to Blu-ray![teaser]That's right, if you have unwanted DVDs lying around, now you can send them to Warner (for a small fee) and receive Blu-rays! [/teaser] For a limited time only, Warner's DVD2BLU program is accepting DVDs in exchange for Blu-rays for as low as $4.95 (or as low as $14.95 for TV seasons) with free shipping on orders over $35! To take advantage of this deal, simply visit DVD2BLU and choose from over 100 Blu-ray titles. After making your selections and placing your order, a confirmation e-mail will be sent with a prepaid shipping label ready for printing. Attach the label to an envelope and send in a DVD (just the discs, which can be virtually any professionally produced products excluding adult material) for each title to the processing center. In a few weeks, your Blu-ray movies should arrive by mail! Complete details on this offer and a list of available titles can be found at https://www.dvd2blu.com/.Posted Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 12:00 PM PDT by:
