HDgadget

A prematurely added menu item seems to have confirmed that Amazon will be offering high-definition content on TiVo.  The new option - which has appeared in the normal Amazon Video On Demand menu - currently does nothing when selected, but presumably it will soon offer a list of titles that can be streamed in HD.

Amazon's On Demand service has been available to TiVo users since July 2007, with streaming content from the retailers "Unbox" service.  Up until now, however, there's only been standard-definition movies on offer.

It's uncertain how long download times will be for high-definition content, with the extra data involved.  Also unknown is Amazon's pricing for the new HD movies.  However the appearance of the menu option suggests that we'll find out those answers sooner rather than later.

[via Engadget]

HP's 1.5TB MediaSmart Server ex487 (and its smaller 750GB sibling, the ex485) were just announced hours ago, but that hasn't stopped a few lucky reviewers from putting their hands-on pictures and impressions online for the world to pore over. The biggest knocks that seemed to really grate the nerves of critics were that the single eSATA port was not port-multiplier aware, and despite the bump to 2GB of RAM, the TwonkyMedia and Remote Media Streaming software were still deemed "quirky and in need of some polish." Those gripes aside, the newfangled unit was pretty well adored. In fact, WeGotServed flat-out called the device "stunning," praising HP for its tightly integrated applications that worked fairly well on top of Windows Home Server. For those eying a simple-to-use media server, it looks like HP finally produced one that can be purchased sans regret; the real question, however, is will the outfit push these delectable new features down to existing ex470 / ex475 owners?

Read - MediaSmartServer review
Read - WeGotServed review / hands-on

Mmm, do we like where this could go. Some engineering soul has managed to get the open-sourced XBMC onto a MID -- Compal's Atom-powered Jax10, to be precise. In theory, at least, this combination would make for a decidedly incredible portable media player if the price of these Mobile Internet Devices were to hit a reasonable level. Sure, many of the Cowon / iriver / Archos units support just about every file format out there, but you're still limited by whatever ecosystem comes loaded in. Have a look at the demonstration vid after the break, but don't blame us if you suddenly get the urge to buy a MID.

[Via Slashdot]

CES 2009 is literally days away, but it seems that those looking for details on any possible new HDTVs from Samsung may not have to wait to get their fill. A few postings over at AVForums has led us to believe that the outfit will be debuting a number of new sets for a litany of markets. The 2009 lineup will reportedly consist of a few new Series 3, 4, 5 and 6 panels, with the main focus being on their LED-backlit-ness. Everything should be available for purchase during the first half of next year, with sizes ranging from around 40-inches and up. Obviously, there are far too many details linked below to cover in this space, but one mention we found particularly interesting was the promised Internet@TV feature, which should effectively replace InfoLive and instead rely on those Yahoo Widgets we've been hearing about for so long. It's about to get really interesting, folks.

[Via Audioholics, thanks Celle]

Ah, there's the Furutech we know and love! The company made famous for charging obscene amounts of cash for AV items that cannot possibly be worth their weight in gold is back in full force, pumping out a power filter / AC distributor for $700. For those untrained in mathematics, that's around $116.66 per outlet. Of course, these aren't just any outlets, as each one is tested with its own α (Alpha) cryogenic and demagnetizing process and is plated in 24k gold. You'll also notice a proprietary Axial Locking System which purportedly lowers receptacle resonance by a factor of ten, and the high-grade aluminum chassis effectively shields against RFI and alien radiation. If you believe all of that, you can gleefully give your cash away right now in exchange for one.

If you've been eying something a touch larger than Samsung's 61-inch HL61A650, why not consider Mitsubishi's WD-65835? The 65-inch Diamond series set was overshadowed by the altogether more intriguing LaserVue when it was introduced this Spring, but there's still a lot here worth loving. The surprisingly lightweight set was found to have accurate colors, "convincingly deep blacks" and a "bright, punchy, dimensional image," all of which sound characteristically Mitsu. Truth be told, critics had a tough time knocking the image quality at all under real-world scenarios, noting that its "exceptional contrast and solid blacks" easily trumped all but a few flat-panels. All that praise for a 65-incher under three grand? Smells like a winner if you've got the space.

We're not even going to front -- prior to this article, we hadn't heard of Bush (the consumer electronics manufacturer) nor the BD01. According to reports from the UK, though, the Bush BD01 has become the nation's first widely available sub-£100 Blu-ray player. At least at Argos, the deck -- which typically sells for £146.80 -- has just dropped to £97.86, and while the specifications aren't anything to write home about, it'll certainly handle the BD basics. You won't find BD-Live support and it won't help those in NTSC territories (PAL only), but it will upscale vanilla DVDs via HDMI and it won't totally demolish your savings. Better get a move on though, as we're told that stock is "very limited."

[Via ITProPortal]

Optoma announces a digital video projector, including DVD player. The Movie Time DV11 creates it from three meters away an image of about 100 inches (254 cm) to conjure. The maximum image size is the manufacturer with 335 inch (8.5 meters) to. Thanks to an integrated slide show function, it is possible to photos directly from a CD to project. In addition, the DV11 also capable of MP3 or WMA formats from CDs or DVDs and play.

The sound is carried out via two integrated 5-watt speakers. Alternatively, a hi-fi system or external speakers with a compact projector connect. The Movie Time DV11 from Optoma is now including a remote control for around 800 euros offered in stores.

New two-channel gear aside, you just know NAD wouldn't turn its back on components for this fad of moving pictures with audio. Sure enough, New Audio Dimensions is bringing out updates to its T-series of AV receivers (T 785, T 775, T 765), T 175 AV Tuner-Pre-Pro and Master Series M15HD Pre-Pro. The most notable new tech here is the use of Modular Design Construction (MDC) -- a design that allows NAD to build new functionality into products module-by-module for tasks like audio decoding and image processing. The $4,000 T 785 receiver packs in the top of the line AM 200 and VM 200 modules for audio and video, respectively, and things step downward to the AM 100 and VM 100 modules by the time you get to the $3,000 T 765 receiver. Follow the link for full model line pricing info.

It's been five long years, but the devs behind MediaPortal have decided their Windows Media Center / SageTV / BeyondTV competitor is worthy of exiting beta, finally reaching version 1.0. A long way from its roots as a Xbox Media Center port for Windows, it promises easy access to music, movies and more from a full screen display, along with support for watching and recording live TV. DownloadSquad mentions MediaPortal 2 is now on the way, with the open source project looking to add media streaming to / from various devices to the mix. Certainly seems worth a look if waiting on a boxee invite isn't your cup of tea.

[Via Download Squad]

In the next step for the download-to-own movement, Tsutaya TV offers Japanese viewers the opportunity to download high definition (1080i) videos from Paramount, Warner, NBC Universal or Disney and burn them to a Blu-ray disc to keep permanently. In a trial run, AV Watch downloaded a full length 8.8Gb movie (No Country for Old Men) in 28 minutes over a fiber connection, compared to 120 minutes via ADSL. The magic of Google Translate reveals video quality that was only slightly outpaced by Blu-ray standards, unfortunately accompanied by only a stereo audio soundtrack. The biggest handicap? Equipment incompatibilities, with a burned disc that wouldn't play in a PlayStation 3, we're not sure if the acTVila-based service is ready for prime time, but at the moment we're at loss for a better option that serves both our need for instant gratification and packrat mentality at the same time.

Add another to the CES must-see list, as DDD TriDef and Altera have teamed up to create automatic 2D-to-3D converting processors. Slated to run demos on a 46-inch Hyundai IT 3D LCD , the opportunity for plug and play 3D could make for an easy transition, just like the jump to HD (ha!) While you collectively shudder from horrible memories of the old days of high definition, we'll ponder whether this is the same sterescopic 3D chip Samsung is testing with an eye towards a late '09 release. Considering their long track record with DDD finding this hardware a home next to your MediaLive Digital Media Adapter doesn't seem to be entirely unreasonable speculation.

Still playing your Xbox 360 on a non-HDTV or, like some of us at EHD, sticking out the holidays at a relative's where standard definition is the only option? Good news, the Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts title update went live earlier this week, rendering things readable, even under the most trying of circumstances. Now, getting your console online at your dial-up only, WiFi-less, out of 3G range cousin's house is the only problem left, until that's solved hit up Xbox 360 Fanboy for comparison shots of the original and newer, bigger text.

Honestly, we picture the typical Meridian customer as the "if it breaks, I'll just buy a new one" type, but we honestly don't know any Meridian owners who we can hit up for hand-me-downs. More importantly, everyone is looking for a value-add these days, so Meridian is offering an extra two years of warranty coverage for purchases made between now and February of next year. So if you've been on the fence about that $35,000 DSP7200 speaker setup, now is a great time to jump in; if you're looking for a way to pitch the $185,000 Reference Video System to your "finance committee," this could be the deal-closer. Heck, even if you're just curious to dose your kitchen countertop with a little Ferrari-approved luxe, you can do so now with the assurance that the "flawless craftsmanship" will hold up an extra couple of years. Kind of puts Bryston's long-standing 20-year warranty in perspective, doesn't it?

While not priced completely out of reason as was the $1,800 Piezo Powerflux Power Cord, Furutech's latest aren't exactly the cheapest options on the block. Aimed squarely at the hard-nosed DIY crowd, the FI-03(R) and FI-03(G) Pure Transmission IEC Input Connectors (or just "receptacles" for the laypeople) are apparently snazzy enough to demand $19.60 / $15.00 apiece. Sure, they're plated in rhodium and gold, respectively, but we get the sense these are still custom made for those with more money than sense. Moving on, we've got the slightly-less-attainable FI-28(R) and FI-28M(R) power connectors, which obviously won't show their true awesomeness without using cabling that's over $400 per foot. Both releases are hosted up after the break for your enjoyment.

Universal Remote's URC Digital R50 was recently taken in by the home theater junkies at BigPictureBigSound, and overall, the $149 (MSRP) device was well liked. In fact, critics had mostly positive things to say, noting that it was able to handle a dozen or so devices without a hiccup... after the somewhat painful setup procedure was complete, that is. The major knocks came during setup; for starters, it would "forget" your progress if you let it sit idle for awhile, and if you realize you need to insert pauses into a macro, you'll have to recreate the entire macro. Outside of a few minor niggles, though, the R50 performed admirably enough to net a three out of four star rating. Hit the read link to see if it's right for you.

If this recession isn't even close to fazing you, Sunfire's got a few components to sell you. The outfit has just started shipping its Theater Grand line of processors and amplifiers, and even the least expensive of the bunch would shock the average home cinema shopper. The TGP-401 processor ($3,500), TGA-7401 Theater Grand Amplifier ($4,450) and TGA-7201 Grand Amplifier ($3,250) are all leaving the docks as we speak, and those with the means to finance one can certainly venture down to the read link for all the nitty-gritty specs. As for the rest of us, at least we've something to aspire to, right?

DViCO's making the already saturated HD media streamer market that much more crowded with its TViX R-3300, but given the smaller amount of choices in the UK, we suppose we'll let it fly. The device was recently apprehended and reviewed by the critics at Pocket-lint, and unfortunately, it wasn't quite a home run. For starters, the device proved somewhat "fiddly" to use, with the well appointed remote proving difficult to learn and the user manual not really being of much assistance. Continuing on with the theme, setup was a mixed affair as well, with a particular file sharing limitation with the NetShare application really grating the nerves. Once things were finally in place, streaming quality was found to be "extremely good" and PVR functionality was top-notch. What we have here is an interesting conundrum: setup and usability weren't awesome, but performance was, which should make for an interesting battle in your mind as you attempt to decide whether to keep or part with your £180.

LG's DVS450H may be "just" a DVD player, but it's a fanciful one. Register Hardware was recently able to acquire one of the units, which handles upscaling and DivX playback without a hitch, and they were mighty impressed with both the form and function. To be honest, though, our interest in this player hovers around the design -- why can't Blu-ray players be fashioned after this? Are manufacturers waiting for market proliferation before thinking outside of the proverbial box in terms of design? Practically every Blu-ray deck that has ever been introduced looks completely typical, with no one willing to take a chance and offer up a stylish, if not unorthodox, alternative. We know, there are inherent risks in pulling such a trick, but won't someone gather up the courage and try? People love to buy shiny new toys, you know.

[Via Slashgear]

Swinging to an opposite extreme from its $1,600 T587 Blu-ray deck, NAD is aiming for the budget-conscious stereophiles with the Classic Series set to appear at CES 2009. In the lineup are three amps, a pair of CD players, a stereo preamp and even an old-style stereo receiver. Trickle down tech from the top-of-the-line Masters Series components in the form of Class A gain modules, beefy chassis construction and other goodies is promising, but you know these pieces can't carry rock bottom prices with that kind of circuitry. Still, NAD has always been about "audiophile approved" sound at a fair price, and the spec-obsessed would be wise to consider the power ratings as conservative. If you've still got a foot in the redbook two-channel world, hit the link for details.

You already knew that Sharp would be gearing up to bring a pair of Blu-ray-infused LCD HDTVs to the United States next month, but did you have any idea that they would be showing their faces first in Las Vegas? Yep, according to Wired, the BD-packin' 32- / 42-inch AQUOS DX HDTVs will be shown off first at CES 2009, after which they'll quickly multiply and separate out to various retail outlets across the land. Also, we fully expect to get pricing details for the couple at the show, but that's obviously not guaranteed.

[Via CDFreaks]

This week's extra special holiday edition of Ask Engadget just so happens to involve some technology that we reckon our HD readers would love to have a say on. Yep, we're talking about HDD-based camcorders, presumably of the high-definition variety. If you consider yourself suitably equipped to give a recommendation on which one is the best for an average consumer, head on over to Engadget Classic and drop some knowledge.

While Sony's 9.9-millimeter KLV-40ZX1M will probably look downright chubby after CES 2009, it's still a slim piece of work by most standards. The LED-backlit 1080p screen is just about set to make the trek north, with scheduled availability in Canada this week. Just as a refresher, the set boasts a single HDMI input, 120Hz Motionflow technology, compatibility with Sony's BRAVIA Wireless Link and an optional speaker bar. The HDTV will sell for a stiff $4,199.99, so we'd suggest heading to a nearby retailer to check it out real good before breaking open the piggy bank.

Ottovonmo did the honors of introducing us all to the idea of a locking HDMI cable earlier this year, and now cable maker Accell is joining in. Said cable is expected to be showcased at CES 2009, and aside from boasting an obvious locking mechanism to ensure your cable stays put, there aren't a whole lot of details. Nope, not even a price / release date.

Samsung's charging ahead in the wide open world of OLEDs, and its latest development could make things better for everyone. Reportedly, the outfit has conjured up a so-called Amorphous Oxide TFT, which is the proper successor of the Amorphous Silicon TFT that's currently used to tell pixels in OLED displays which colors to switch in order to create images. There are two big boons to all of this -- first off, the newfangled tech is cheaper to mass produce, and secondly, it can be retrofitted into current production lines. No telling when Sammy will be able to get this stuff into shipping products, but we're cautiously crossing our fingers for some positive updates in Vegas.

[Via TechRadar]

Sharp's 52-inch LC-52XS1E is absurdly expensive -- around £8,999 at last check in the UK -- but it's easily one of the most sophisticated, awe-inspiring sets that (lots of) money can buy. The critics over at TechRadar were able to give it a look, and while they were thoroughly impressed with pretty much every aspect, they couldn't justify the price for those not completely and utterly loaded. Words like "sensational," "stunning" and "superb" were littered throughout, and reviewers even stopped to notice that SD material still looked good on this expansive LCD. That said, we simply can't fathom a set looking good enough to make the price tag here understandable, so until the sticker starts to come back to down closer to reality, we'd probably wipe the drool from our lips and hold tight.

For Bell TV subscribers looking for hints of anything new, we've finally something to share with you. OpenTV, an interactive TV middleware provider, has just launched a "movie portal application" that will deliver content from programming partner Super Channel. As expected, it provides viewers with a "themed search option, as well as a scheduling option that lets viewers set up recordings and reminders several weeks in advance of a movie's broadcast." Underneath, this seems to be just another attempt to highlight certain programs and get non-subscribers to subscribe, but when new material is this hard to come by, it's tough to complain.

Anyone who has even looked into recording content onto a BD-R knows just how immensely expensive a single disc is. Thankfully, you'll have one more option (and thus, one more competitor to push prices downward) starting next year. Advanced Media, the parent company of Ridata, will be debuting 6x recordable Blu-ray Disc media at CES 2009, with availability in the US slated for Q2 '09. As of now, the only discs planned for release here are 25GB single-layer units, but we don't suspect the dual-layer variants will be too far behind.

This week's Ask Engadget HD inquiry caught us completely off guard -- we mean, how often do you hear of someone these days looking for the best of the best in pure stereo sound quality? Rather than buy a janky 5.1 system via a HTIB bundle, Thaddius is looking to make the best of a stereo situation. Help him out, won't you?

"I have some nice speakers left over from a recording facility, and I'm looking to find a great receiver / amplifier that does stereo right. I'll be relying on two towers and possibly a subwoofer in the future, and I'm hoping for something known for excellent sound quality and a nice feature set. Any 2.1 aficionados out there care to chime in?"

Surely this fellow isn't the only one looking to make their 2.0 / 2.1 system shine due to a lack of space for a full blown multi-channel setup, so why not provide a bit of assistance if you're in the same boat? Santa will love you forever, you know.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

The UAE may be short on HDTV content, but there's no shortage of Blu-ray material to watch. To that end, Sharp's giving those with big eyes and bigger egos a chance to indulge with the launch of its RX Series in the region. The 65-inch LC-65RX1M is first on the scene, bringing with it a 1080p panel, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 nits of brightness, 12-millisecond response time and a wide assortment of ports. Oddly, there's no mention of price, but it should be available locally right now.

We actually pondered aloud where all the standalone OTA DVRs were in this wild world earlier this year, and at long (long!) last, we finally have a new entrant into the all-but-dead niche. DISH Network's DTVPal DVR, which was known in a former life as the EchoStar TR-50, has finally started to ship out to anxious buyers. For those who've forgotten, this box acts as a digital-to-analog converter and an HD DVR, capturing up to 30 hours of HD OTA material or 150 hours of SD content. Check the read link for a slew of in the wild / interface shots.

We're not too sure why you'd pass on the opportunity to pick up one of Yamaha's phenomenal soundbars, but those who just have to have their speakers and upscaling DVD player match should find oodles to appreciate in the DVX-700. The 2.1-channel HTIB system includes a DVD player that upconverts to 1080p via HDMI along with 210-watts of power spread evenly over the subwoofer and two satellites. Each of the front two speakers include a 2.125-inch driver and 1-inch tweeter, while the subbie houses a 6.5-inch bass blaster. The system's claim to fame is its supposed ability to "deliver fully convincing surround sound performance without requiring multiple speakers to be installed throughout the room." Given just how well it has accomplished that in the past with its soundbars, we don't doubt that this bold claim is accurate; it's just that we're a tad hesitant to cough up $1,199.95 (MSRP) in order to find out.

Who knows if council members were just signing lines to get their holiday started early, but the Troutdale City Council nevertheless approved a video franchise for Verizon with an "ambivalent" four-to-three vote. We're told that Troutdale, Oregon has just over 3,000 potential FiOS TV subscribers, and while not everyone was super jazzed about the passing, we can only imagine that locals in search of pay-TV competition will be thrilled. Too bad there's no apparent time line for a build-out.

HD DVD's strike from beyond the grave may be falling short before it even gets started, as Digitimes reports no Taiwan drive manufacturers have joined the China Blue HD team so far -- and according to the always talkative anonymous sources, there's little optimism they will. Unfortunately the manufacturer support stage is where VMD, EVD and FVD failed before it and with no Hollywood support and cheaper Blu-ray hardware on the way, it's hard to see how CBHD will ever have much impact.

Take this one with a sizable dose of salt, but one Neil Schneider, President and CEO of Meant to be Seen (MTBS), Blitz Games Studios, has made known that Sony "fully intends" to throw in its support for "stereoscopic 3D gaming and Blu-ray 3D on PS3 in 2009 with the Blitz Tech engine." Granted, MTBS is a stereoscopic 3D certification and advocacy group, thus the whole "salt warning." The meat of the story is that 3D gaming on consoles will likely need a BIOS upgrade to work with its technology, and that capability could be unique to Sony's PS3. Like we said, this here is far from carved in stone, but given how emphatically movie studios, cinemas and home entertainment companies are pushing the third-dimension on us, we wouldn't be surprised one bit to hear that the next installment of Madden is one that requires tinted glasses to fully enjoy.

[Via HDTV Expert]