In the market for a new Audio/Visual receiver and want to make sure it will be future proof for at least a few years? Then look no further than the just announced Sony STR-DN1010, the company’s first 3D offering:

Featuring HDMI 1.4 3D pass-through technology, ample high-definition connectivity and compatibility with all of the latest Blu-ray Disc audio formats, the new STR-DN1010 AV receiver is designed to create a simple solution for controlling any high-definition or 3D capable home theater.

The 7.1 channel STR-DN1010 AV receiver (110 watts power per channel @8-Ohms, 1kHz, 1% THD) features full high-definition 1080/24p support and seven HD inputs in total (four HDMI and three component) allowing for connection to a wide variety of HD devices. The receiver’s HDMI 3D pass through technology supports 3D video from connected devices and passes them through to a 3D compatible high-definition television, while decoding high-resolution audio codecs.

The receiver also features an icon-driven menu system for simple device and content navigation and has the ability to upscale analog video sources to 1080p resolution via HDMI. The model also boasts a sleek piano black gloss design that matches Sony’s line of Blu-ray Disc players and televisions.

The STR-DN1010 is compatible with all advanced audio codecs, including Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD Master Audio and features wireless 2nd zone capabilities through Sony’s S-AIR wireless technology. With the addition of an S-AIR transmitter (model EZW-T100) and separate S-AIR speakers (sold separately), the receiver can also drive wireless audio in up to 10 additional rooms.

The STR-DN1010 receiver also features a Digital Media Port (DMP) input for simple connection to external sources including an iPod and iPhone (compatible DMP accessories required and sold separately) and is compatible with both Deep Color and x.v.Color.

The STR-DN1010 AV receiver will be available this June for about $500.

Damn it, Sony’s done it again – releasing the coolest stuff only to it’s Japanese customers at home. Today they announced two new products that should turn hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of gamers green with envy. The first is a Japan-exclusive Michael Jackson-themed PS3 bundle. People hoping to cash in on the passing of the King of Pop are releasing the “movie” ‘This is It’ on Blu-ray and Sony has decided to moonwalk along with them to the money. The Playstation 3 Slim bundle costs ¥33,500 and includes a 120 GB hard drive, one controller, and the Blu-ray of MJ’s salvaged concert rehearsal footage.

Why only Japan, Sony? Don’t you know we love Captain Eo over here too?

The second slap comes with the announcement that Japan is getting a “Spring Blossom Pink” PSP 3000. Sure, three years ago there was a co-branded P!nk (as in the slutty popstar) PSP bundle and the more recent release of a “Lilac” PSP with a Hannah Montana game, but we need more options for accessorizing our gaming systems with our outfits. Unfortunately, for now it looks like only Japanese gaming fashion-istas can pick up the Spring Blossom Pink handheld for ¥16,800 ($183).

It’s like a scene out of West Side Story, with two groups of fanboys spitting into gangs and ready to rumble in a back-alley somewhere. I speak of the impending battle between PS3 owners and Xbox 360 loyalists in light of the impending release of Final Fantasy XIII. The issue? Which platform will the game look better on?

Answer: PS3.

There isn’t even an argument.

Here’s the facts:

According to Square-Enix, the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIII will ship on a single Blu-Ray disc, containing uncompressed video and music for maximum quality. The Xbox 360 will ship on multiple discs and audio and video will be compressed. Why is this happening? Simple: it’s Blu Ray versus DVD. Blu holds up to 50GBs on a single disc whereas the Xbox 360 can only hold 9GBs.

So, yes, the PS3 will look better. Will you be able to notice? Probably not. But that isn’t the point in a fanboy war.

Source

Update: Those are the facts when it comes to the old format wars and the benefits of Blu-Ray over DVD (and the now dead HD-DVD) and it will certainly give PS3 owners a clear advantage when it comes to the audio and pre-rendered video of cutscenes. However, it is still unknown whether or not Square Enix decided to use some of that extra room for the code needed to handle the compensations in the software developers need to write to overcome the anti-aliasing deficiencies in the PS3’s GPU. The hardware native to the Xbox 360 which allows it to smooth the geometry of curves, circles, arches, and certain diagonals in 3D games being rendered in real-time wasn’t included in the PS3’s internal architecture and was glaringly obvious in the system’s early games. Many recent games compensate for this by asking the PS3 to overcome this through extra routines they write into their software – often at the significant cost of some of the main processor’s clock cycles which can subsequently mean lower framerates. So was that a trade off Square Enix was willing to make? Were they clever enough to make it so you still won’t even notice? We don’t know yet, but it is a battle that will have to be won by more than capacity alone. It will probably be determined by how smart they were in working around the different limitations unique to each platform – no matter which one you personally are rooting for. – Christiaan Allebest

Ever wonder why a hack like Michael Bay continues to helm awful movies? Because there is apparently no shortage of easily-pleased people with disposable income, as evidenced by the latest sales figures for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on DVD and Blu-Ray. In the first week alone, it managed to sell an amazing 7.5 million in its first week of availability. Previously, the vampire flick Twilight was the best-selling DVD of the year at 8-million copies, but it has had since March 21st to attain that number, whereas Transformers nearly surpasses it in a single week. And that, dear reader, is why Michael Bay is allowed to create more crap.

Source: Home Media Magazine

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan releases this week, which should make fans going through withdrawal quite happy. The Plan, directed James Olmos, attempts to fill in fill in gaps as it relates to the Cylons, specifically the story of Kavil. Unfortunately, The Plan is not a strong movie, lacking a central narrative thread. It plays out like a retrospective of key Battlestar events, doesn’t really shed light on anything, is disjointed and without purpose. Not a great review, sorry to say. On the upside, the special-effects have never been better, easily the best technical work of the series.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Buy Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on DVD

Buy Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on Blu-Ray

Monty Python: Almost The Truth is the best documentary ever created about the British comedy group Monty Python. Stretching six glorious hours, every member is interviewed, memories are recalled and tons of things you never new are revealed. This documentary, made by the son of Terry Jones, goes in-depth on how the group formed, what their lives were like prior to Monty Python, their inspirations, battles with the BBC, how George Harrison of the Beatles financed The Holy Grail because he wanted to see the movie, and on and on and on. No Monty Python fan should be without this great documentary in their library.

Buy Monty Python: Almost the Truth on DVD

Buy Monty Python: Almost the Truth on Blu-Ray

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney’s classic animated masterpiece originally released in 1937, is finally getting the high-definition treatment with a Blu-Ray release on October 8th. This latest version is the best available, perhaps even rivaling the original print.

If you have children who haven’t experienced the story and magic of Snow White, then let this version be their gateway drug to all things Disney. At only $19.99, it’s a steal of a price.

Order Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Blu-Ray

This is a two disc set packed with extra features, including:

BD Live Exclusive Features: Disney Smart Navigation Your Guide, the Magic Mirror, will guide you through the Blu-ray interactive experience. He has artificial intelligence enhanced by BD Live. He knows what the weather is like, what time of day it is and more!, DisneyView: Disneys pioneering animated feature is brought to the modern era of widescreen high definition viewing by allowing the user to expand their viewing experience beyond the original aspect ratio of the film. Acclaimed Disney artist Toby Bluth was able to draw beyond the borders of classic full frame cinema and fill the otherwise dark edges of the screen with beautiful custom imagery, giving audiences a new view of their animated classic favorite

Backstage Disney: Hyperion Studios – Audiences are digitally transported to 1937 to discover firsthand, Hyperion Studios, the original studio Walt Disney himself built and where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was conceived and developed. Viewers will virtually walk the halls of this historic landmark experiencing life at Hyperion Studios back in the 1930s. This feature contains newly dimensionalized archival photos, never before heard animator recordings, archival transcripts and rare footage of Walt himself revealing how Disney s gifted filmmakers crafted the very first animated feature.

Animation Voice Talent, Dopeys Wild Mine Ride – interactive set-top game, Disney Through The Decades & A New Century featurettes, Heigh-Ho Karaoke Sing-Along, Disney Family Play Games including Jewel Jumble Game BD Live allows players to compete against connected players from all over the world, What Do You See Game BD Live allows players to compete against connected players from all over the world, Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Game This mirror can find the secret princess inside each viewer with a series of questions. After the Magic Mirror determines what Disney Princess you are most like, then, enabled by BD Live you can receive a magical phone call from that Princess.

The movie Taking Woodstock starring Dimitri Martin is nearing release, though judging from the preview, it doesn’t appear to be a serious movie about this pivotal musical and cultural event. It makes me wonder why anyone would bother with Taking Woodstock when a superior movie on the matter has been available since 1970 called Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music. This is an epic documentary that is beautiful to behold with the added bonus of showcasing the very young editing skills of a rookie director named Martin Scorsese.

The Director’s Cut of Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music is now available in gorgeous Blu-Ray and runs 4 hours. You’ll see some fascinating behind-the-scenes footage and tons of performances, including The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Santana and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

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