Shane Buettner

Web-Enabled Features For Bandai's Freedom vol. 1
Shane Buettner  |  Jul 21, 2007

Bandai's <I>Freedom Vol. 1</I> offers up to cast/crew info by hitting the A button, storyboards using the B button, and up to seven bookmarks using the C button (all of which is explained by a handy tutorial readily accessible in the main menu). The storyboard feature here is awesome. I've got to admit that I'm not an anime guy, so this material didn't grab me as much as it might some of you. But, think of looking at storyboards and art in band with the movie with something like <I>Lord of the Rings</I>, or even Martin Scorsese's crude storyboards for <I>Taxi Driver</I> (oh wait, that's a Sony movie). Still, you get my drift.

Continue Reading >
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Planet Earth (Blu-ray and HD DVD)
Shane Buettner  |  Jul 11, 2007  |  Published: Jul 12, 2007

Talk about a win-win. Not only is the BBC's <I>Planet Earth</I> series spectacular hi-def eye candy, it's so well-made and narratively compelling that it holds up to an insane number of repeated viewings. And I should know- my two-year old son has us watching several of these episodes (especially <I>Shallow Seas</I> and <I> Ocean Deep</I>) several times a week.

Continue Reading >
How Much Cheaper Does HD On A Disc Need To Get?
Shane Buettner  |  Jul 05, 2007

Today's Blog was inspired by an article I read at Content Agenda. Click <A HREF="http://www.contentagenda.com/articleXml/LN635907567.html?industryid=4517... to read it.

Continue Reading >
Blood Diamond Redux
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 25, 2007

After my recent Blog criticizing the Blu-ray transfer of <I>Blood Diamond</I> and speculating bit budget was to blame, Microsoft's HD DVD Evangelist (that's his job title, not an editorial comment!), Kevin Collins contacted me to point out some facts that contradict my theory of the bit budget for the HD DVD restricting the image quality of both the Blu-ray and (pending) HD DVD releases.

Continue Reading >
Somber Day At UAV
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 20, 2007

I have more info to follow up with on the <I>Blood Diamond </I> Blu-ray Disc but that nonsense is going to have to wait in the wake of the passing of our friend and colleague Randy Tomlinson.

Continue Reading >
Bit Budget Blues? The Sad Case of the Blood Diamond.
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 17, 2007

Our new guy, David Vaughn turned me onto this story, so props to him from the beginning.

Continue Reading >
Less For Your $50 From HBO PPV
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 10, 2007

I'm a huge boxing fan since way back, and seldom miss a big fight any time for any reason. Last night I threw down $50 to watch the Migel-Cotto-Zab Judah showdown on HBO Pay-Per-View over Comcast digital cable. The fight card itself met or exceeded expectations with two of the four matches, including the headliner, being terrific scraps.

Continue Reading >
Separate And Unequal Blu-ray and HD DVD Releases From Paramount
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 06, 2007

The <I>Matrix</I> and <I>Pirates of the Caribbean</I> aren't the only compelling HD releases that have come out in the last few weeks. And a pair of releases from Paramount and Warner however, highlight the different approaches taken by each studio to dual format releases.

Continue Reading >
AV Receiver Buying TipsAV Receiver SetupAV Receiver Tech
HT Guide To AVR Features
Shane Buettner  |  May 29, 2007
Essential Audio Features
Basic Surround Decoding
Today's AVRs feature a ton of surround decoding features from Dolby and DTS, from basic 5.1-channel surround decoding to several ways of decoding stereo into 5.1-channel surround, or beyond.
Continue Reading >
x.v.Color and Deep Color: Don't Believe the Hype- Yet
Shane Buettner  |  May 24, 2007

The 2007 TVs and HDMI 1.3 devices are showing up to market, and the hype machine is running full tilt. New TVs with wider color gamuts and far greater bit depths, and the ability to display as many as 68 billion colors! And if you can name all those colors, I'll buy you a cigar.

Continue Reading >

Pages

X