Hi Def Life Blog Awakens- Redux.

Not sure why I tend to get so caught up in the rapid pace of technological progress, yet I tend to neglect my one and only blog.  I've decided to put some fresh air in the tires, wash the windows, change the oil and go for another ride.

Apple rolls out new Mac Mini, MacBook Air, but drops the optical drive.

I'm an Apple fanboy- no surprise to my friends and family.  Many years ago, Apple had the cajones to introduce USB to the masses and to drop the floppy disc when the first iMac was unveiled.  Many years later,

Netflix Price Changes - To stream and only to stream- that is the question.

On July 12, Netflix announced that they are separating the price plans for streaming and mailed discs.  Being a member that prefers to have both, this $5 per month increase (plus tax) is pretty annoying, but not terrible if I have to switch to renting via iTunes for new stuff. 

Tangled Looks Delicious on Blu-ray

I now own two Blu-ray movies, and thanks to my kids, Tangled is one of them. We saw this in the theater, and I have to admit I fell asleep a couple times (which I have been known to do).  Anyway, watching it tonight was like seeing it for the first time, and even though I don't find the music to be anything special, this movie looks amazing.  I have no interest in seeing movies like this in 3-D, but in 1080p on my 42", with the lights turned way down low, I was really impressed.  If Pixar is responsible for raising the bar on Disney animated movies, then this is the proof.

AppleTV Netflix HD streaming is looking good!

I'm late to the game, but am just about wrapped up with season one of the modern Battlestar Galactica series.  So far, I'm very impressed with the quality of the streaming on my LCD.  Probably the most impressive examples are the sharpness and vibrant colors in the title sequences.  I was also surprised at how good the Viper ships look when flying over terrestrial backgrounds.  During action, when the camera moves a lot and

"Hi-Def" Blog Awakens

After a few years of languishing in my bored frustration with blog software (I'm no programmer), I abandoned my first real blog, "Hi-Def Home Theater Firmware Updates".  That was about three and a half years ago, when various industry forces pounded a stake in the heart of HD-DVD, and iTunes and AppleTV were finally starting to show signs that they might be more than a "hobby" in Steve Jobs' eyes.

Disc War Over, Media PC Options Getting Hotter

Now that I can relax and enjoy Blu-ray for a year or so, I've already taken the Apple TV plunge.  Needless to say, I am very happy with the new "Take 2" firmware/video rental options, the HDMI capability, and look forward to more features as this little box matures.

Gizmodo Review