In a continuing series of products wanting to put HD content where you are, Gefen has released the “HDMI RS-232 Extender” (catchy, eh?) which will send out HDMI, RS232, and infrared signals through two CAT-5 (ethernet) cables. Not for the faint of wallets, the extender can send 1080p resolutions up to 150 feet or 1080i resolution content up to 300 feet. It’s also HDCP compliant so you don’t have to worry about not being able to watch copy-protected content. If you’ve got the money (note: this is pointed towards the bigger venues), then for $599 you can get Gefen to send you a pair out. Ouch… Via [CE Pro] [Read more]

So we’ve known about Agent’s K and J saved the world over a decade ago, but now it’s time to witness our salvation in the glorious high definition goodness on Blu-Ray. June 17th is the day the original “Men in Black” movie comes to Blu-Ray in high definition. The Blu-Ray disc will include two commentary audio tracks (”Telestrator Commentary” and “Technical Commentary”), the standard deleted and alternative scence, along with the “Men in Black” music video by Will Smith and the Profile 2.0-exclusive “Intergalactic Pursuit” trivia game for those with Profile 2.0 compatible players. Mark your calendars, this will be one to get. Via [HighDefDigest] [Read more]

Equinux’s TubeStick has been around for a while in Europe using their broadcasting standard (DVB-T) but this is the first time us in North America can join in on the fun. In a market previously dominated by Elgato, Equinux hopes to take some of that market share away by releasing an ATSC/NTSC standard-compatible tuner. The TubeStick Hybrid looks similar to it’s older English brother, just a bit longer/wider/heavier. The software is where the TubeStick has an advantage. Using The Tube (their software), users can use “TubeTalk” where they can chat about a certain program they’re watching. Miss a detail? Ask around and hopefully get an answer without spoilers. You can also post episodes to your .Mac and FTP accounts. We... [Read more]

I guess when there’s hurricanes around, Bermuda folks have to stay inside. So why not have cable? Better yet, why not have that cable in HD? CableVision in Bermuda has announced the availability of CNN HD and NFL Network HD to subscribers for an additional $12 per month. Still, it’s better than your other options, especially from a quote: “CableVision’s HD line-up is unmatched in Bermuda. We are the only ones offering HD and it just keeps getting better.” Aka, unless you love your SD content, you’re screwed. Read [The Royal Gazette] Via [EngadgetHD] [Read more]

We’ve all run into that situation: You’re watching something on TV (usually cable or satellite) and your program is quiet and goes to a commercial (OxyClean anyone? “BAM!”) and your ear drums have ruptured, with a pending lawsuit on the way to the cable networks. Well, Toshiba and Dolby Labs have come up with a new technology to help level out those differences, and my main comment? It’s about time. Due to the nature of human hearing, many subtleties of the content can be lost when listening at low audio levels. To address this problem, Dolby Volume continually analyzes the audio and properly balances low, middle, and high frequencies to maintain the nuances and impact of the program material regardless of playback... [Read more]