RayL Jr., special member (no, not short-bus-to-school special) of AVS forum has started an awesome list of great apps for home theater computers. It has been maintained and updated to include just about anything you might need for working on and using your home theater PC.

I think everything is covered, from general utilities and even bargain shopping for media, to specific software for HTPCs and audio/video.

Thanks, Ray! You’re special to me too. I don’t know about the “member” part though…

Free killer apps List

Samsung’s new 5-disc HTiB systems all incorporate an integrated DVD Player/Receiver, a full set of high-quality surround sound speakers and a superb sub-woofer to transform any living room into a fully- functional digital entertainment center. Audiophiles will appreciate the wide center channel speaker that enhances dialogue prominence during movies so words do not interfere against background sound effects and music.

Ummm, I think audiophiles already appreciate what a center channel has to offer, and I doubt these packages would please a true audiophile’s ear. They do offer an easy way for beginners to get into home theater, and have some home theater PC functions without the hassle of a full-fledged HTPC.

The five-disc progressive-scan DVD players support multimedia files including DivX and MP3, as well as DVD Audio, WMA-Disc, CD-R/RW and DVD -R/RW. They also display JPEG images so viewers can watch picture slide shows burned to CD from digital cameras in the comfort of their living rooms instead of huddling around a small computer monitor.

We definitely want to grow this sport as much as possible, so I name this entry-level home theater in a box experience as worthy of the game.

Press Release

Fox Networks is planning to launch two High-Definition TV channels next year: a high-def version of the National Geographic Channel and “Fox HD,” which will feature programming from several Fox channels, including the network and the FX channel… HD National Geographic Channel will launch in January. No launch date was given for Fox HD.

Yeah, baby! Can I get an “Amen!” from my Home Theater lovin’ brethren out there! Foxy baby, bring it on! This is great news, HD TV continues to grow steadily.

Source

I found this decent write-up about the current state of affairs with the next level of DVD format, the new betamax war!

Behind the Blue-Ray front lines
Mfgs: Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Zenith
Studios: 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Co. and Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Electronic Arts and Vivendi

In the HD DVD Camp
Mfgs: Toshiba, NEC and Sanyo
Studios: Paramount pictures, Universal Pictures, New Line Cinema, HBO and Warner Bros.

Blu-ray will be out in 2006. HD DVD has said they will be out in (the fourth quarter of) 2005, but we question that and think it will not be feasible. We think they wont be out until next year.

Nothing earth-shattering here, but a good synopsis.

High-definition DVD technology promises sharper home theater

Interesting comments at the end of the article about VOD and downloading movies. The quality sucks right now, definitely nowhere near getting your HT groove on there.

This baby is the first 1080p lcd at the size of 46″. Someone just try to tell me bigger ain’t better. You go Samsung.

Pros:
Yes, it’s big.
Good brightness in well-lit room.
Looks good even when turned off. (can your woman do that?)

Cons:
Green shift on dark scenes/areas.
Some color banding.

Verdict:
Not the best choice for a light-controlled viewing room, but when you need brightness or have no control over light, give this unit a good look.

Full Review

I came across this tutorial for tweaking your DVD output via your Home Theater PC. I really like the before and after photos, especially Yoda - “With home theater strong, that one is.” I could just hear him say.

The way they set the photos up is a little weird, but very effective. Let the page load and then mouse over an image, wait a moment (or 20 if you’re on dialup) and the after picture will load. You can see the difference easily by mousing over and away from the image.

You can really see the difference a tweaked HTPC can make. Get your clarity on!

Beginners Guide to DVD Enhancement on a HDTV via Home Theater PC

Get yer game on! Need to know if the game’s going to be in HD? This site lists most major sporting events broadcast in HD on the major networks, for the current 14 day window.

Have your plan at the ready, no need to leave these spots open on the calendar. The boys will thank you, and you might save yourself from that wonderful trip to the mall/wedding/apple-picking/whatever that could be stealing your prime HDTV lovin affair time.

HD Sports Guide - HDTV Sports Listings & News

Audioholics (gotta love that name) has a review of this inwall set. It is affordable and looks to be a good choice for a first in-wall set of 5.1s.

The Phase Tech CI-20VII speakers show clearly that you don’t have to spend a bundle of money to get good performance from a home theater speaker system. The sound quality of the CI-20VII speakers make them a solid value, and their two-piece installation system makes it simple to upgrade to a better model in the future. They also have a small footprint, so they don’t take a lot of space on the wall. I would highly recommend the CI-20VII speakers if good performance is your goal without breaking the bank.

Overall, the CI-20VII in-walls are a great value, and when you can get performance like this for $1,000 for a five-piece entire system, it’s definitely worth your consideration.

The only thing missing from this 5.1 setup is the optional .1 part. The (not included) in-wall sub uses two 8″ drivers, which is not htdude approved. To get that rump-shakin rumble from explosions or just the bumpin beat from your tunes, I recommend two 10s or one 12″ driver, bare minimum. To get your audio right, don’t skimp on the bass.

Full Review

I came across a recent powerbuy at Audio Video Science for killer home theater seating from Coaster. These seats are designed with HT in mind.

I checked a couple of these models out at local dealers earlier this year, and they seemed well fit for the task. My wife-unit didn’t approve, since there would be a divider between us. For some reason of which I have no clue, she’d like to be closer.

However, you single guys or those of you who, ahem, might not want to be that close to that “special” someone, this could be the ticket.

Powerbuy Link

When activated the speakers automatically drop out of the ceiling at angles 15, 30 and 45 degrees. They then rotate to any position to create the appropriate soundstage for the individual theater application. Time has multiple presets and is infinitely adjustable across the sound stage.

Now that’s the cool factor that’ll draw the WOW out of your HTgoers.

And it wouldn’t be a great addition to your lazy.. I mean home theater without some remote control:

A dedicated remote, the TCR, will be included to adjust the speaker angles and rotation and establish multiple presets. These presets will allow the end-user to address multiple seating locations and party modes as well as different music and theater preferences.

Prices don’t look too bad either:

The TIME speakers are sold individually and not in pairs so as to allow dealers to order them for 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 systems as needed. The TIME models One, Three and Five have an MSRP of $350 and $550 and $750 each respectively

The TIME Command Unit and remote control, which will control up to eight speakers, will be bundled together and have an MSRP of $250.

I look forward to hearing what these puppies can do.

From SpeakerCraft

News Article