Audio Video News

Nothing quite like a good old format war. Ten years ago this month we reported on Toshiba’s decision to postpone the U.S. launch of HD DVD from December 2005 to early 2006.

New 4K/Ultra HD televisions use an average of 30 percent more energy than their high-def predecessors, which could add $1 billion to U.S. viewers' annual utility bills if energy-saving improvements are not expanded to all models, according to a report issued yesterday by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the New York-based environmental action group.

Not to bash Gen Y but a recent online quiz measuring how responsible (or not) people are when it comes to their tech devices found Millennials to be “America’s most irresponsible people,” according to insurance provider Protect Your Bubble, organizer of the survey.

What’s your favorite thing to do while watching TV besides watching TV? Compare your answer with the results of TiVo’s annual Multitasking and Social Media TV Survey.

Last week T-Mobile announced an un-metered streaming service called Binge On that allows video from Netflix, HBO Now, ESPN, SlingTV and 21 other services to be streamed without counting toward subscribers' monthly data plan. Subscribers must have a 3-gigabyte data plan to qualify for the service.

When Larry Hornbeck stepped up to the podium to accept an Oscar for inventing the digital micromirror device—the core technology behind DLP video projection—he held up a postage-stamp-sized DMD chip and said: “It’s hard to believe that there are more than 8 million digital micromirrors on this device. Who would ever have believed that [this invention] would change the way the world views cinema.” A couple decades later I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea of 8 million microsopic mirrors tilting at precise angles and reflecting light to create stunning images at home and in movie theaters. So I reached out to Dr. Hornbeck, holder of 38 U.S. patents and winner of numerous awards and honors, to learn more about his crazy invention.