Uxi

Ah yes, the infamous "torch mode." Fortunately, there are pro/custom modes available on near every HDTV, but especially the Sony XBR's have an amazing (if near bewildering) gigantic array of options and various parameters to choose from. As far as no HD Feed, at least get an OTA antenna, Alpha OTS. It will make you appreciate your HDTV so much more.

Blu-ray is plenty durable now (thanks to a hard-coat applied to surface of each disc). I have never had a problem with my HDDVDs, but some folks have, and it could benefit from such a hardcoat, as well.

Your guess is correct (the HDMI with audio is primarily for DVI-HDMI conversions), as 2Ch has been with HDMI since the start (and 5.1-7.1 ch since HDMI 1.1).

Still nothing on multi-channel PCM from the 360 HDMI right? I know the Elite doesn't do it, and otherwise have no reason to get a new 360 (as long as my April 06 Premium doesn't give me the red wink of doom).

Really. The PS2 is the most successful game console ever. Granted, the intent to make it a multimedia hub were almost entirely ignored, much the same for the Xbox (officially anyways, the Xbox Media Center Mod gave quite a bit of life). The 360 did make some progress but failed to take on the full scope of the XMC. PS3 has been the most successful. Streaming via Twonky really makes it quite useful and rendered my plasn to clones my near full 60GB iPod direclty on the PS3 moot. I've spent many an hour in front using my 60" TV as a monitor while I browse various forums and web sites. Not quite as useful as Opera tweaked the way I like, but damned close. The Linux functionality is also great. As the PS3 game library grows & develops, we're in for quite a treat, though I don't think it's quite failure if PS3 doesn't sell as well as PS2 (which was quite freakish).

Skull 1 and Low-Viz would definitely be my top two choices.

Can't wait for this obviously, as the 1/72 YF-21 FP is one of my favorite valks, right with my Low-Viz. I haven't gotten a YF-19 yet (was actually hoping for a Ravens VF-19A actually). I hope we get the optional VF-22S face and cockpit like Graham had posted as a possibility for the 1/72. I will not likely be able to resist getting a Gulk YF-21FP but would be dreaming of a Ravens, if not a Max or Gamlin VF-22S. I really hope Yamato forges new ground and does a 1/60 VF-17, though, before the 11B and 11C!

This last week's numbers are in:

Yeah. http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/block...s-the-war-over/ 250 stores were the pilots for both HDDVD and Blu-ray. Blockbuster says they'll continue to stock HDDVD at those 250 stores, but when they expand for the remaining 1200 stores, it's only Blu-ray. Anyways, good idea JsARCLIGHT. I have a 60XBR1 SXRD; Denon AVR-4306; 7.1 Polk RM, PS3, 360/HDDVD add-on, and a plane jane 5-disc DVD carousel. I get HD Cable (Charter) via CableCARD so no STB it's decoded by the TV itself. I do upscaling/deinterlacing on the DVD carousel through the Denon. Here's a pic:

Anything new on XBL? I should probably just fire up and check

The Heavenly Sword Demo was great, but all too short. They mix in some of the cinematic scenes ala God of War and Spiderman 2/3 along with the usual hack and slash. I had some mean combos going, too.

Courtesy AVS member Grubert. Source: Nielsen/Videoscan Sales: Blu-ray/HDDVD Day Week YTD SI 01/07 63.3/36.7 63.3/36.7 41.2/58.8 01/14 68.2/31.8 65.7/34.3 43.2/56.8 01/21 67.8/32.2 66.4/33.6 45.1/54.9 01/28 68.8/31.2 67.0/33.0 46.7/53.3 02/04 69.0/31.0 67.4/32.6 48.1/51.9 02/11 69.6/30.4 67.7/32.3 49.3/50.7 02/18 65.0/35.0 67.4/32.6 50.3/49.7 02/25 68.5/31.5 67.4/32.6 51.5/48.5 03/04 65.7/34.3 67.2/32.8 52.2/47.8 03/11 68.7/31.3 67.9/32.1 52.8/47.2 03/18 81.7/18.3 69.2/30.8 54.3/45.7 03/25 n/a 70.4/29.6 55.6/44.4 04/01 n/a 69.9/30.1 56.2/43.8 04/08 62.4/37.6 69.4/30.6 56.4/43.6 04/15 61/39 69/31 57/43 04/22 52/48 68/32 57/43 04/29 71/29 68/32 58/42 05/06 60/40 68/32 57/43 05/13 62/38 68/32 57/43 05/20 58/42 67/33 57/43 05/27 69/31 67/33 58/42 06/03 61/39 67/33 59/41 06/10 66/34 67/33 59/41 06/17 64/36 67/33 59/41 06/24 70/30 67/33 59/41 07/01 65/35 67/33 60/40 07/08 66/34 67/33 60/40 07/15 61/39 67/33 60/40

Blu-ray has really been pulling away: Lifted from AVS forum beatboy77: Over the past 72 hours we have heard the following from the Blu-ray camp: - Close Encounters of the Third Kind Announced Exclusively on Blu-ray!! http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=351 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Announced Exclusively on Blu-ray!! http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=353 - Target to Sell Blu-ray Players Exclusively http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=349 - Denon enters HD optical with Exclsuive Blu-ray support with the DVD-3800BDCI. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=340 - BJ's Wholesale Club Stores To Carry Blu-ray Exclusively http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6463556.html - Woolworths go Blu-ray exclusive. Drop HD-DVD. http://www.playthree.net/2007/07/wo...ve-drop-hd.html - Razor Digital announces Blu-ray Exclusivity with four IMAX titles for Blu-ray on November 13th. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=337 - Questar announces Blu-ray Exclusivity with three titles which include 'Rudy Maxa's Europe to the Max', 'The Enchanted Pacific to the Max' and a yet to be announced PBS nature series title. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=338 - Tartan Video confirms Blu-ray Exclusivity and announces three titles, 'Black Book', 'The Seventh Seal', and 'Oldboy' on October 23rd. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=336 - 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' announced for Exclusive release on Blu-ray for October 2nd. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=339 - 'Rein Over Me' announced for Exclusive release on Blu-ray forOctober 9th. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=334

It is excellent. ESPECIALLY if you have an HDMI receiver that can take 5.1 PCM (if not 7.1). The uncompressed PCM track set with PLIIx through my Denon-4306 is INCREDIBLE. Walls are shuddering and shaking while gunfire is all around you. Another great track is the Pearl Harbor.

This game looks great, just in stretching the high definition envelope if nothing else. Course, I've always liked Jedi/Sith and think they're fundamental to the game? Star Destroyer? "The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force." Some of the novels had Luke's Jedi Academy pushing out multiple Star Destroyers beyond their system IIRC... I never took it that The Emperor and Vader didn't have such power, but that they were more discrete with it's use, at least for the more grandiose stuff. Or those that saw such things "forgot" it (or died soon after witnessing it), or they somewhat in the know anyway (the Emperor's stooges/advisors, Royal Guard, Hands, etc).

No signs of anything yet. A great many of us on AVS Forum are using the PS3 as our primary Blu-ray players, given that it's the cheapest and one of the best (fastest of either HD format, 1080p24 capability, BTB/WTW, 8CH LPCM, Dolby TrueHD decoding etc). I have 30 Blu-rays and have probably watched each one 2 or 3 times not counting when I'm doing my demo show off. I've also watched the entire Star Wars sextet and LOTR EE trilogy on DVD (if/when I get a Blu-ray burner, I intend to compile the SD versions onto a single BD-RE: probably Prequel Star Wars trilogy, Original Star Wars Trilogy, and LOTR EE trilogy ), if not SD series / anime to a single disc or two since that's one of the best features of Blu-ray IMO.

Looks awesome on my TV (60" 16:9) and the jet engine noise in the intro scared the hell out of me (guess I had the volume up too high). Been awhile since I played any Ace Combat and took me some getting used to the control. I finished the first part and after the intro for the 2nd quit out to watch all the E3 trailers I downloaded on PSN and XBL.

Downloading the AC6 demo, a trailer, and probably 4 or 5 trailers on PSN as we speak. AS soon as that's done, I won't be on the boards for awhile.

Any hearing loss is far more likely to have been from hearing all the 120mm rounds going off from my wingman Abrams, if not my own.

I can't hear anything from mine, unless I'm withing 1 or 2 feet tops. Even then, it's a whisper. That said, my stand is not enclosed, though:

You're supposed to have it Folding or playing Blu-ray movies duh. Just posted this from my PS3 so you can do that, too.

I was watching the first episode on Universal HD yesterday and really wish they hadn't jumped the shark with teh Apollo/Starbuck thing, though in retrospect it was inevitable. Boy, do I wish Mr Escalate would have socked Stands with a Fist in the face, though.

I hope "Evil Hoff" with the beard shows up.

I really don't expect much (if any) difference from Emo to emu (heh). I ordered a 160GB for my PS3 today, though, so the hard drive issue is moot. I do hope to eventually get a new PS3 when they offer it in silver (everything e;se in my HT is silver from the 360 faceplate back to my Denon AVR). PS3 is #1 on Amazon right now. They also have a bundle with Resistance: FoM and the bluetooth remote. I didn't post it here, but I got my Harmony 720 working with my PS3 flawlessly with the Nyko Blu-wave IR USB dongle, so just about every disadvantage the PS3 started with is now gone.

Yeah that's what I want. I will most likely stay with my current 360 pro until there's a 360 that can also do 8Ch of PCM as well. My Denon 4306 will accept no less over HDMI.