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HD Media Centers

Kaleidescape Cinema One - Review
HD DVD Home Theater Blu-ray

Kaleidescape Cinema One - Review

The Kaleidescape Cinema One is a 4TB media server priced at $3,995, capable of storing up to 100 Blu-ray-quality or 600 DVD-quality movies, with bitstream pass-through of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio over HDMI. Testing against an Oppo reference player in a high-end home theater revealed that a default-enabled detail enhancement setting degraded image quality when used alongside a Darblet video processor, and AACS licensing requires the physical Blu-ray disc to be present during playback of imported titles unless a $3,995 DV700 vault is added. Factoring in hardware amortization, per-movie cost-of-ownership for Blu-ray collectors ranges from roughly $60 to $105 depending on system configuration, making the value proposition heavily dependent on collection size and usage pattern.

Rodolfo La Maestra •
Articles
Kaleidescape Offers Industry's First Internet Delivery Of Movies That Match Quality And Extra Content Of Blu-ray Discs And DVDs
HD DVD Home Theater Gaming

Kaleidescape Offers Industry's First Internet Delivery Of Movies That Match Quality And Extra Content Of Blu-ray Discs And DVDs

Kaleidescape has launched what it claims is the industry's first digital movie download service delivering full Blu-ray-quality video and audio, including 1080p resolution, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless soundtracks, and 24fps progressive scan video. The service, backed by a multi-year Warner Bros. Digital Distribution agreement covering nearly 3,000 films, also includes complete disc extras such as director's commentary, deleted scenes, and alternate endings - content previously unavailable through electronic delivery. For home theater enthusiasts, this means no compromise between the convenience of digital downloads and the full-quality experience of physical media, managed through the kOS 5.0 operating system.

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Events & Trade Shows HD DVR HD DVD

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #543: Google Fiber TV

Google Fiber TV, launched in Kansas City, delivers an IPTV service over a gigabit residential fiber connection with a DVR unit featuring 2 TB of local storage, 1 TB of Google Drive cloud storage, and the ability to record up to eight simultaneous streams in full 1080p HD. The system blends traditional cable channels with Netflix and YouTube in a searchable interface, includes built-in placeshifting inherited from Sage TV technology, and ships with a Nexus 7 tablet as the primary remote. Priced at $120 per month for the combined gigabit Internet and TV package, the service currently lacks key channels like Fox and ESPN, which limits its appeal despite its technical ambition.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD Media Centers IPTV 4K Ultra HD

Is Cord-cutting Hurting the Pay TV Market?

Strategy Analytics forecasts digital TV subscriptions growing from 114M in 2011 to 129M in 2016 at a 2.36% CAGR, but their methodology bundles IPTV with traditional pay-TV, obscuring meaningful subscriber trends. When IPTV subscribers are subtracted, combined digital cable and satellite subscribers barely grow from 106M to 109M over the same period. Deloitte's survey data reinforces the concern, finding 9 percent of Americans have already cut the cord and 11 percent are actively considering it, signaling real pressure on traditional pay-TV providers.

Ken Werner •
Columns
3DTV Market Trends & Analysis HD Media Centers

Panasonic's 2012 Smart VIERA Plasma HDTV Model Line-Up Builds Upon Its Award Winning Tradition

Panasonic's 2012 Smart VIERA Plasma HDTV lineup spans 17 models from 42 to 65 inches, anchored by NeoPlasma Black 2500 technology with 24,576 steps of gradation and 6,220,800 pixel cells of full local dimming on flagship VT50 and GT50 series. New 27-gram Bluetooth rechargeable 3D glasses, cloud-based VIERA Connect IPTV with unlimited apps, built-in Wi-Fi, and THX certification in both 2D and 3D modes round out the platform. Buyers gain a genuinely expanded smart TV ecosystem alongside measurably improved contrast and eco-friendly mercury- and lead-free panels rated for 100,000 hours.

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HD Media Centers IPTV Manufacturing

Industry's First Integrated Wireless Receiver Gives U-verse TV Customers More Freedom to Easily Watch TV Anywhere, in Any Room in the Home

AT&T's U-verse TV Wireless Receiver, manufactured by Cisco, is the first fully-integrated wireless receiver offered by any TV provider, delivering live SD and HD content plus full Total Home DVR functionality over in-home Wi-Fi from a residential gateway access point. Priced at a one-time $49 fee plus $7 per month, the receiver requires only a power outlet and TV connection, eliminating the need for rewiring or dedicated outlet installation. This means customers can place a TV in virtually any room, including kitchens, patios, or guest rooms, without scheduling a technician for outlet work.

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HD Media Centers IPTV OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

HDTV Almanac - Pay TV Services Lose 0.5 Million Subs

Pay TV providers shed a net 553,000 subscribers in Q2 2011, with Comcast, Time Warner, Dish Network, and Cablevision all posting losses while only DirecTV gained a modest 26,000. Telco rivals Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse bucked the trend, adding 184,000 and 202,000 subscribers respectively. With Q3 forecasts equally grim, the subscription TV market faces mounting pressure to adopt a la carte pricing as a potential strategy to retain cost-conscious customers.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
HD DVD Home Theater Gaming

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #465: McTiVia Review

The McTiVia ($230) is a compact wireless display adapter measuring 5.1 x 2.6 x 0.9 inches that mirrors a Windows or Mac desktop to an HDTV over HDMI, supporting up to 8 connected computers. Despite wired Ethernet delivering acceptable mouse responsiveness, audio output was limited to two-channel stereo even through an AV receiver, a notable shortcoming for a device at this price point. It performs adequately for web browsing and streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, but falls short as a full Media Extender replacement.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Market Trends & Analysis HD Media Centers IPTV

Panasonic's 2011 VIERA Plasma HDTV Model Line-Up Builds Upon Its Award Winning 2010 Line

Panasonic unveiled seven 2011 VIERA Plasma HDTV models at CES, spanning 720p X3 and 1080p S30 series with screen sizes from 42 to 60 inches, all featuring 600Hz Sub-field Drive and the new Neo Plasma Infinite Black Filter for improved contrast in bright environments. The lineup transitions from VIERA Cast to the expanded VIERA Connect platform, adding apps such as Hulu Plus, Facebook, and MLB.TV alongside existing services like Netflix and Skype. DLNA compatibility and HDMI-CEC via VIERA Link allow seamless integration with other A/V components, making these sets a practical hub for both streaming and home network control.

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HD DVD Home Theater Gaming

Hauppauge Introduces High Definition Video Recorder Support for Windows Media Center

Hauppauge's HD PVR, a $199 high definition personal video recorder, now integrates with Windows Media Center via a free software update, enabling recording of premium cable and satellite HD content through component video at resolutions up to 1080i with 5.1 channel audio via optical connections. The device uses an IR blaster to automate channel changes on set top boxes, allowing the Windows Media Center electronic program guide to schedule recordings without manual intervention. Users of Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional can now build HD libraries of premium subscription content that was previously inaccessible to Windows Media Center.

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Mvix HDHome Converges Home Theater, Gaming and Home Computing Into a Single Device
HD DVR Home Theater PC (HTPC) Gaming

Mvix HDHome Converges Home Theater, Gaming and Home Computing Into a Single Device

The Mvix HDHome is a Windows 7 Media Center-based HTPC that integrates a slot-load Blu-ray player with PowerDVD, an embedded TV tuner, Wireless-N networking, and RAID-enabled hot-swappable HDD bays into a compact living room unit. Available in two configurations - the 2-bay HDHome S2 at $999 and the 4-bay HDHome S4 at $1599 - both models support true 1080p playback, HDMI output, optical audio, and Gigabit Ethernet. For buyers seeking a single device to replace a media player, BD player, NAS, and gaming PC, the HDHome presents a densely featured but premium-priced option worth examining closely.

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Kaleidescape Introduces Next Generation Movie Players
HD DVD Home Theater Blu-ray

Kaleidescape Introduces Next Generation Movie Players

Kaleidescape's new M500 and M300 Players, built on the proprietary M-Class architecture, introduce Blu-ray Disc support with 1080p/24fps video and bitstream pass-through of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The M500 copies Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs to a server for multi-zone playback, though studio compliance requires the source disc to remain present during Blu-ray playback. Priced at $3,995 and $2,495 respectively, these players integrate with an expanded Movie Guide of over 135,000 titles including 3,300 Blu-ray entries, making them a serious option for high-end home theater installations.

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HD Media Centers IPTV 4K Ultra HD

AT&T U-verse TV Lineup Expands to Include Four New HD Channels

AT&T U-verse TV has added four HD channels - HLN HD, Discovery Kids HD, truTV HD, and Turner Classic Movies HD - bringing its total HD lineup to more than 130 channels across all U-verse markets. As the only 100 percent IPTV service offered by a national provider in the U.S., U-verse TV claims to exceed the HD channel counts of major local cable competitors in every market it serves. Subscribers with compatible packages gain access to these channels through their existing HD subscription, which requires a $10 monthly HD Technology Fee.

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Sports Laser TVs HD Media Centers

Welcome to the 21st Century

HDTVexpert.com relaunches with a faster, more flexible format built for frequent updates, sharper analysis, and selective reviews that cut through the noise. Gone are the days of redundant coverage - this redesigned platform zeroes in on what matters: emerging trends, trade shows, IPTV, broadband TV, and digital delivery. Longtime readers will find familiar favorites retained alongside new tutorials. A heartfelt tribute to web designer Chris Campbell marks the close of one chapter and the confident start of another.

Pete Putman •
column
LED TVs OTA HD & Antennas HD Media Centers

AT&T U-verse TV Lineup Expands to Include Five New HD Channels

AT&T U-verse TV expanded its lineup to more than 115 HD channels across all U-verse markets, adding five new HD channels including Cartoon Network HD, MSNBC HD, TV One HD, WFN HD, and TBN HD at no extra cost to existing HD subscribers. The service, which operates as the only 100 percent IPTV platform offered by a national provider, also introduced new international programming for Filipino and Cantonese viewers. Subscribers already paying the $10 monthly HD Technology Fee gain access to the new channels automatically, depending on their package tier.

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