(September 2, 2010) Panasonic announced today its plans to offer the blockbuster movie “Avatar” in the Full HD 3D Blu-ray format in an exclusive deal for purchasers of its 3D HDTVs (as reported in TWICE). According to our industry sources, the Fox 3D release will also be the first disc to carry the THX-Blufocus 3D Certification.

While Avatar marketing details have not been finalized, Panasonic currently offers full instant rebates of the purchase its 3D Essentials Kit (which contains Full HD 3D Blu-ray versions of Coraline and Ice Age 3 along with two pairs of Panasonic 3D active shutter glasses) and its  DMP-BT100 3D Blu-ray player if they are purchased along with one of Panasonic’s seven 3D TVs (offered in screen sizes from 42″ to 65″).

The Avatar 3D disc will be available the first week of December for Panasonic 3D TV purchasers, with the general release sometime in Q1 of 2011.

A Panasonic spokesman added, plans are being made for current Panasonic 3D TV owners to be able purchase the 3D Avatar disc in December as well.

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(August 8, 2010) THX has teamed with Blufocus to offer the industry’s first and only 3D certification for Blu-ray movies and broadcast programs. Based on HD Guru’s observations of some of the early content on DirecTV’s N3D channel, the new program is a welcome boost for the home 3D experience.

The THX-Blufocus Certification program will cover all aspects of 3D production including on-screen characters, graphics, subtitles as well as audio and authoring quality assurance.

This timely move by THX will set the bar for quality 3D and we look forward to evaluating soon the first  THX-Blufocus Certified 3D Blu-ray movie release.

Below is THX’s press release.

THX PARTNERS WITH BLUFOCUS TO DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES FOR 3D POST-PRODUCTION AND AUTHORING

THX-BluFocus Certification Sets Guidelines and Testing Procedures for Evaluating 3D Audio-Video Quality, Disc Interoperability and the Physiological Effects of 3D

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., August 9, 2010— THX Ltd. has teamed with BluFocus, a quality assurance and advanced testing facility for the home entertainment industry, to build an ecosystem of services to address the technical challenges of 3D post-production. THX®-BluFocus 3D certification sets authoring and production guidelines and testing procedures for evaluating 3D Audio-Video quality, 3D Blu-ray disc and player Interoperability, and the physiological effects of 3D on home viewers.

“The long-term success of 3D in the home depends heavily on content producers and consumer electronics manufacturers delivering a comfortable and compelling experience for today’s first wave of consumer adopters,” said Rick Dean, senior vice president at THX. “Our partnership with BluFocus complements the work THX is doing with leading HDTV manufacturers and other industry organizations to drive standards for 3D visual quality and usability.”

One of the biggest reported concerns among consumers is experiencing fatigue from 3D video and glasses. THX and BluFocus are researching root causes of viewer fatigue to better understand the physiological effects of 3D. The goal is to work closely with content producers to implement best practices and guidelines for all 3D elements, including onscreen characters, objects, graphics and subtitles. THX-BluFocus certification also evaluates how 2D-to-3D conversion adds depth to the picture, and whether this added depth causes any creative errors or flaws that deviate from the storyline or may cause fatigue.

“The added dimension of 3D brings with it more technical challenges than traditional 2D post-production and authoring, and requires more steps in the production chain,” said Paulette Pantoja, CEO of BluFocus. “The certification program we are creating with THX will help refine 3D post-production and authoring and help content producers minimize technical flaws long before 3D content is broadcast, streamed or authored on optical disc.”

During the THX-BluFocus 3D AV certification process, engineers analyze Left and Right Eye images frame-by-frame to ensure they retain the sharpness and detail of the original master video elements. All audio material is also fully evaluated to make sure they meet studio Reference Level and remain faithful to the master recordings. In addition to focusing on 3D Audio-Video quality, THX-BluFocus certification also evaluates Blu-ray Disc and Blu-ray player interoperability to ensure they play seamlessly together.

THX-BluFocus 3D Certification Categories

THX-BluFocus certification will be offered to the producers and distributors of movies, television programs, games and other content. When shopping for a 3D Blu-ray Disc or digital download, consumers will be instructed to look for the following THX-BluFocus certification logo and icons on disc packaging and digital artwork.

THX-BluFocus AV Certification – THX-BluFocus AV certification indicates that sound and images have been analyzed to ensure they maintain the quality and detail of the original master elements.

THX-BluFocus Creative Certification – The THX-BluFocus Creative certification indicates that all 3D elements in the feature presentation have been analyzed to detect any creative errors and flaws that deviate from the director’s intent or may cause viewer fatigue. Subtitles, menus, graphics and other elements may also be reviewed.

THX-BluFocus Interoperability – THX-BluFocus Interoperability certification applies to Blu-ray Discs to ensure they play seamlessly on 2D and 3D Blu-ray Players from many major consumer electronics brands.  More than 100 Blu-ray Players, from different regions, are evaluated with each THX-BluFocus Certified Disc to deliver a hassle-free user experience.

ABOUT BLUFOCUS

BluFocus Inc. is the entertainment industry’s first advanced testing and advisory service specialist for Blu-ray. The company offers products and services to content owners, player manufacturers, content developers and tool developers to ensure a seamless, issue-free customer experience that makes full use of Blu-ray Disc’s expanded capabilities which include BD-J, BD-Live and now 3D.  BluFocus has recently expanded into the Digital Distribution and Broadcast areas to offer the same quality services and expertise they have proven with Blu-ray and DVD.

ABOUT THX LTD.

Founded by George Lucas and recognized by audiences around the globe, THX is synonymous with the design and certification of world-class cinemas, premium audio systems, HDTVs, and blockbuster movies and games. Products featuring THX defy convention and define quality in their class, whether in the cinema, home or on the road. For more information, visit www.thx.com. Become a THX Facebook Fan and get THX Tech Tips, Fan Videos and more. Go to Facebook and search “THX Ltd.”

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(May 26, 2010) According to a published report and confirmed by an industry source, the box office record breaking movie “AVATAR” will be coming “soon” to 3D Blu-ray disc! Our  source adds the disc will be part of an Panasonic promotion with 20th Century Fox to make the discs initially available only to purchasers of Panasonics’s 3D plasma displays.

Currently, Panasonic offers the 3D Blu-ray releases “Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (see photos) and “Coraline” for free via mail-in rebate (link). These titles are also exclusive to Panasonic 3D plasma owners and are not available for sale. Avatar 3D’s release marks the first live action 3D Blu-ray title and is expected to greatly boost 3D TV awareness and demand.

As to when “soon” will be, no release date was provided, however the current Ice Age/Coraline offer expires on July 10, 2010. We expect the AVATAR 3D  promotion to follow shortly after in the August/ September 2010 time frame. A Panasonic spokesperson declined to comment.

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Copyright ©2010 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HDGURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. Data within is subject to change. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Just Posted At HDGURU3D.com- Our 3D HDTV Primer (1/2/10)

(January 2, 2010) 2010 marks the beginning of the 3D home video era. While in many ways it is similar to the introduction of HDTV in late 1998-1999,  in others it’s quite different.

In 1998 and early 1999 TV makers introduced their first HDTVs. The set makers generally limited the initial offerings to one model per company. The changes needed to make a display high definition were huge, requiring modifications to picture tubes, far wider bandwidth circuitry, the incorporation of up-conversion technology and other expenses. Prices ranged from $9000 for a 34″ Sony direct view model to $10,000 for a Philips 64″ rear projector. Programming was limited to a handful of network shows in 1999 and most of 2000. The first full time HD channel, HD Net launched Sept 6, 2001.

The cost delta to enable 3D capability within a HDTV will be small, especially when compared to the standard to high definition switch. 3D requires a high refresh rate (generally 120 Hz for plasma and 240 Hz for LED and LCD), the display’s ability to send a sync signal to 3D glasses, and additional signal processing.

On to the predictions.

3D Full HDTV Prices Will Be Low

1. HG Guru predicts 3D ready versions of flat panels will sell for around the same as their 2D 2009 counterparts, with initial street prices beginning around $1299 for a 40″ 3D ready 240 Hz edge lit LED LCD. By comparison, a 2009 Samsung 40″ 120 Hz Edge Lit LED Samsung sells today on Amazon for $1249.99.

Nearly 50 3D HDTVs To Be Available

2. HD Guru predicts vendors will offer multiple Full HD 3D models in their 2010 lines with an industry total of 40-50 different models using plasma, LCD, LED LCD, DLP and front projection by year’s end.

3D Programming and Content Will Arrive Quickly

3. 3D programming will arrive much faster in 2010 than HDTV did back in the late nineties and early 2000s with dozens of Blu-ray discs, Playstation 3D games, and a full time 3D DirecTV channel. HD Guru predicts one or more cable providers will have a 3D channel before the end of 2010. In addition to movies and games, 3D broadcasts of sporting events will commence.

Low Cost 3D Blu-ray Players

4. HD Guru predicts 3D Blu-ray players will be available from every 3D TV maker, priced about $100-$150 higher their 2D counterparts.

LED HDTVs To Get Local Dimming

5. New thin, edge lit LED LCD HDTVs will arrive from virtually all big screen LED TV makers. New designs will provide edge lit “local dimming” for the first time, for better blacks and better contrast, along with other picture enhancements.

Thin LED HDTVs in 60″ and Above Screen  Sizes

6. TV Vendors will begin to sell thin LED edge-lit models in 60″ and larger screen sizes.

3D Compatible Surround Sound Receivers

7.  All major audio companies will introduce 3D compatible surround sound receivers in 2010. Consumers will learn their pre-2010 models will not be able to handle HDMI 3D signals, requiring the use of external switching and legacy sound formats such as Dolby Digital (instead of  Dolby TrueHD) or the purchase of a new SS receiver.

Mobile Digital TV Arrives Within Portable Devices

8. Mobile Digital TVs will finally arrive with a number of 21st century Watchman-type products as well as inclusion within other screened portable devices.

Home 3D HDTV Will Succeed

9. 3D HDTV will be declared a success with faster consumer adoption than HDTV in year one.

Glasses Free 3D  Will Arrive

10. Our final prediction, a glasses-free Full HD 3D consumer computer monitor and/or laptop computer will be announced before year’s end, though it will be designed for a single viewer.

HD Guru Wishes Our Readers a Happy New Year

Just Posted At HDGURU3D.com- Our 3D HDTV Primer

To learn more about choosing an HDTV please click this link.

For a list of the Best HDTVs under $1000 please click this link.

For a list of the 10 Best HDTVs please click this link

.

Edited by Michael Fremer

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Copyright ©2010 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HDGURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. Data within is subject to change. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

HD Guru’s list of last minute gift items will help you pick outstanding products for the video and audio enthusiasts in your family. HD Guru or a staff member tested every product and each one is highly rated. To make shopping easy, we’ve included links to Amazon.

Spears and Munsil Blu-ray Test Disc $25

This Blu-ray disc contains all the test signals you’ll need to properly set the main user controls on any HDTV. Among other useful tests is the moving wedge HDGuru used for 120Hz/240Hz LCD evaluations. This disc, our least expensive suggestion, will be a welcome addition to any HDTV owner’s Blu-ray collection.

Moxi DVR MR 1500-T3 $499

HD Guru sampled Motorola and Cisco HD DVRs provided by cable providers and Verizon’s FIOS  and the Moxi significantly outperformed all of them thanks to better graphics, improved functionality and far greater storage capacity—a built-in 500GB hard drive stores 75 hours of HD— plus the ability to add a large external hard drive (up to 6TB) for 1000 hours of HD content.

Moxi also brings to your HDTV Internet content from Hulu, Netflix YouTube and web servicess. Best of all, there is no monthly box fee. You’ll only pay for an M CableCard rental (typically about $2 a month from your cable provider) to supply its built-in twin tuners.  HD Guru gives the Moxi its highest ♥♥♥♥♥ rating (a full review will be coming soon).

Monsoon HAVA Titanium HD WIFI $149.95

The Monsoon HAVA Titanium HD WIFI extends your HD content throughout your home and anywhere in the world using a broadband internet connection and PC or laptop. You can view your live or DVR recorded content where and when you desire. The HAVA accepts any HD video source and wirelessly streams it throughout your home in DVD-quality video. You can also watch and control programming on a mobile phone with a broadband Internet connection.  Makes a great gift for anyone who’s on spends a lot of time “on the road.” Hammacher Schlemmer via Amazon

Panasonic Real Pro Ultra Massage Chair 30007KX $3446.81

The 30007KX is Panasonic’s best massage chair with 7 different techniques (Swedish, Kneading, Junetsu, Percussion, Compression, Tapping, Shiatsu and Rolling). It has 36 air bags covering 460 sq. inches for your feet, calves, arm/hand, waist, shoulder and your butt!  The back area rollers provide 200 sq. inches of heavenly massage. This chair also features auto body scanning to customize the massage to your body. We love ours. Disclaimer: we purchased it. Gizmos for life via Amazon

Tripp Lite AVR900U Surge Protector/Uninterrupted Power Supply $99.65 (Free Shipping)

Don’t fall victim to salesmen spouting benefits of a power line conditioner, claiming it will give you a sharper picture or richer color. It’s nonsense. All you’ll really need is protection against power surges and blackouts ( the latter if your system uses a hard drive such as a DVR or Vudu). Tripp Lite`s AVR900U line-interactive UPS provides surge protection for home theaters in an ultra-compact housing. Its battery-supported AC output will supply continuous power during short blackouts, while its automatic voltage regulation corrects for brownouts (low voltage)  and over voltages. The AVR900A includes 12 output receptacles, 4 of which are widely spaced to accommodate large transformer blocks without obstructing adjacent outlets. 6 outlets feature full battery support and surge suppression. The remaining 6 supply surge suppression for components such as a cable box or surround sound receiver. Single-line telephone suppression jacks protect equipment with a DSL or standard dialup RJ-11 phone line connection such as a TiVo or a DirecTV receiver.  Amazon

Sony  MDR500NC Noise Cancelling  Headphones $271.99

The  Sony MDR-NC500D headphones use digital technology  to reduce up to 99% of the noise from planes, trains and buses, while providing high-quality audio. Its built-in lithium-ion rechargable battery provided over 15 hours of noise cancellation in our tests. The MDR500NC fit snugly yet comfortably without any of the ear pressure discomfort of the Bose noise cancelling headphones (as reported by CNET and NY Time’s David Pogue). The 500s come with hard case and adapters for twin miniature plugs found in many planes and a battery backup (in case you forgot to recharge). The HD Guru gives it our highest recommendation. The price has just been reduced (for the first time) to below $300 Buy.com via Amazon.

Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Player $127.99

If you have not seen a Blu-ray movie on your 1080p HDTV, you have never seen how good high def can appear. Broadcast, cable and satellite HDTV is far more compressed than Blu-ray movies, resulting in noise or artifacts that are not present on Blu-ray. The Panasonic Blu-ray player uses proprietary chips to create superb Blu-ray playback and excellent functionality.

Vudu Movie Streaming Player $149.99 and up

The Vudu system offers “on demand” viewing of movies in standard and high def versions with a library of over 10,000 titles. Why Vudu instead of Amazon on demand, Netflix (on-line) or other services? Because it has the best picture quality of any provider we’ve tested to date. It’s also simple to operate and has a fantastic user interface. Vudu is available as a free standing box or embedded within the LG BD390 Blu-ray player. Best Buy has the lowest price on each at $149.99 for the BX100 free standing box and $279.99 for the  LG BD390 (currently in store pickup only).

To learn more about choosing an HDTV please click this link.

For a list of the Best HDTVs under $1000 please click this link.

For a list of the 10 Best HDTVs please click this link.

Edited By Michael Fremer. If you’re looking for great music to play on your home theater/audio system, check out Michael’s website (link)

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HD GURU|Email

Copyright ©2009 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HDGURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. Data within is subject to change. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

The HD Guru scoured the web to find the hottest post-Cyber Monday deals on the best HDTVs. All these HDTVs have free shipping. Use the links below to check out the deals. (Note: These prices are correct as of publication. However, stores tend to raise prices as supplies diminish.)

Updated 3:00pm 12/3/09

Updated 7:30pm 12/3/09

Updated 9:30 am 12/4/09

Updated 10:30 am 12/4/09

Updated 1:00 pm 12/4/09

Updated 5:15 pm 12/5/09

Updated 8:15 pm 12/6/09

Cyber Week Blu-ray Movies under $10

[carousel list="blu-ray" category="DVD"]

Panasonic DMP-BD60 $118.99 Andychc

Samsung UN-55B7000 55-Inch 1080p LED LCD $2549.13 Amazon

Panasonic X1 Series TC-L37X1 37-Inch 720p LCD $469.99 Buy.com Sold out

Panasonic TC-P50S1 50-Inch 1080p Plasma $1095.99 Buy.com (under buying choice on right side after link jump)

Samsung LN40B500 40-Inch 1080p LCD $609.00 6 Ave raised to $678.00 DataVision $609 Sold out

Panasonic TC-P46G15 46-Inch 1080p Plasma with Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray play $1179.96 6 Ave

Samsung LN46B500 46-Inch 1080p LCD $799.00 Sold out

Panasonic TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma $1248.85 raised to $1255.00 Amazon

Panasonic TC-P42S1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma $784.99 Amazon

Toshiba 55ZV650U Regza 55″ Class Clearscan 240 Hz LCD HDTV and Toshiba BDX2000 Blu-Ray Player With BD Live Bundle$1699.98 Tiger Direct

Panasonic X1 Series TC-P50X1 50-Inch 720p Plasma $639.59 raised to $784 lowered to $689.98 raised to $859 Lowered to $799.98 Vanns

To learn more about choosing an HDTV please click this link.

For a list of the Best HDTVs under $1000 please click this link.

For a list of the 10 Best HDTVs please click this link.

Edited By Michael Fremer. If you’re looking for great music to play on your home theater/audio system, check out Michael’s website (link)

Have a question for the HD Guru?
HD GURU|Email

Copyright ©2009 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HDGURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. Data within is subject to change. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

The HD Guru scoured Amazon’s “Cyber Monday” deals to give you a head start on the best HDTV and Blu-ray disc bargains.  Scoop up these hot deals today (Sunday) before they’re sold out.

Learn more about the HDTVs listed below at LINK

We plan to update the listings when additional “hot deals” are revealed.

Best Buy Just Added

Samsung UN55B7000 Just Added

Cyber Monday Blu-ray Movies under $10

[carousel list="blu-ray" category="DVD"]

Panasonic X1 Series TC-P50X1 50-Inch 720p Plasma $639.59 Electronics Expo

Samsung UN-55B7000 55-Inch 1080p LED LCD $2368.13 Amazon

Panasonic X1 Series TC-L37X1 37-Inch 720p LCD$549.99 J&R

Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P42S1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV $784.99 Amazon

Samsung LN52B530P7F 52″ 5 series LCD-$1197.99  Best Buy

LG 42LH30 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV $729.99 Tiger Direct via Amazon link. On the right hand side after the link jump.

LG 47LH30 47-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV $849.99 Amazon via link

Panasonic TC-P50S1 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV$1095.99 Buy.com on right side after Amazon link jump

Panasonic TC-P50S1 1080p Plasma $897.99 Best Buy

Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P58S1 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV$1499.99 via Amazon link Free Shipping

Panasonic Viera TC-P58S1 Plasma $1479.99 Best Buy

LG 42LH50 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz Broadband LCD HDTV $796.10 (6 Ave.) (Note: the price will show as $886.53. Call 877.684.2831 and mention coupon code afl5 as stated above to get price protection adjustment to $796.10)

To learn more about choosing an HDTV please click this link.

Edited By Michael Fremer. If you’re looking for great music to play on your home theater/audio system, check out Michael’s website (link)

Have a question for the HD Guru?
HD GURU|Email

Copyright ©2009 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HDGURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. Data within is subject to change. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Everyone Dons 3D Shutter Glasses For Panasonic’s Latest 3D HDTV Demonstration At CEATEC 2009

Panasonic’s 103″ 4K Resolution (3840×2160) HDTV Prototype

Panasonic Recommends Viewing At 1.5 Times Screen Size For Its 4K HDTV

Screen Close-up of Panasonic’s 4K 103″ Plasma Prototype

Panasonic’s 1 Inch Thin Z1 Plasma Series (Right Side Row)

Are Available In 46″, 50″ and 54″ Screen Sizes In Japan

The Latest Version Of Panasonic’s 3D (Shutter Type) Eyeware

3D Guy Al Caudullo Shooting Sony’s Chief 3D Camera Engineer Yoshiko Kuriko in 3D

Sony’s 240 Hz Single Lens Camera (Bottom Photo Shows Light Path From Lens To Image Sensors)

Panasonic Chart Predicts Blu-ray Revenue Will Overtake DVD By 2011

Mitsubishi Reveals Its HDTV Red and Green Lasers At CEATEC 2009

Have a question for the HD Guru? HD GURU|Email

Copyright ©2009 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HDGURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. Data within is subject to change. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions

So you’ve seen the demos in the store, read the reviews, found the best price.  You are the proud owner of a brand new High Def video camera. You’ve even shot some video of the wife and kids and watched it on your Panasonic TC-50G10 50” Plasma that was recommended by the HDGURU. It looks great, amazing almost like 3D! Wow, you can’t wait to send a video to Mom & Dad. They bought an HDTV, so they will be able to see just how great the video looks. But, how do you send them the video? They don’t have an HD Video Camera, you both bought a Blu-ray disc player, but how do you make a Blu-ray disk? Well, the answer is here, Adobe has released the Adobe CS3 Production Premium bundle. This amazing complete package includes everything you need to shoot, import footage, edit it, and add special effects, music, graphics, and titles! Everything that you need to create your masterpiece.  Add to that an LG GGW-H20L Blu-ray Disc burner and HD DVD-ROM reader, so that you can not only burn Blu-ray disks, but also watch both Blu-rays , HD-DVD’s, even regular DVD’s and CD’s on your HTPC (Home Theater PC). The only other ingredient that you need for this High Def recipe is 25GB Blu-ray blank disks.

Let me take you through the creation process of your first Blu-ray.  Let’s start. Adobe CS3 Production Premium comes with a fantastic group of programs that include Adobe OnLocation, Adobe Ultra, Adobe After Effects® CS3 Professional, Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3, Adobe Encore® CS3, Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended, Adobe Illustrator® CS3, Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional, and Adobe® Soundbooth™ CS3. The install is not for the faint of heart and can take about an hour to complete. The package requires at least 32GB of hard drive space, a 32-bit video card and a 1280×1024 or higher resolution monitor.

With the package installed and your masterpiece shot with your HD Video camera, the real fun begins. Now, Adobe is not for those without some computer knowledge. If you are a little more advanced then you will want to load Adobe OnLocation®CS3 on to your laptop. This program allows you to capture directly to both your videotape and your computer hard drive. It also comes with an impressive array of very professional tools to make sure that your images are recorded perfectly. You can even have some fun with stop-motion animation. At the very least you can immediately review your shots to see if they came out the way that you expected. If you don’t want to get in that deep then you would use Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3 to capture the footage from your camera to your hard drive. At this point you have several options, you might want to use Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended or Adobe Illustrator® CS3 to create custom graphics to use in your video or use Adobe After Effects® CS3 Professional, a long standing industry standard to create some amazing special effects.  The great thing about it is that is all up to you and your imagination. You can make a simple video with very little trimmings or perhaps your own personal Star Wars epic! One of the more spectacular new additions to Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3 is the ability to make web ready flash movies directly from the timeline with Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional without having to go through all the hassles that you might have to with other programs.  Adobe Flash® CS3 allows you to create excellent quality videos in a very small file size. But your choices don’t stop there, you can just as easily export for standard DVD, the web, and mobile devices. Another cool feature is the ability to create dramatic slow- and fast-motion effects right on the timeline, you can slow things down without compromising quality.

Adobe® Soundbooth™ CS3 allows you to orchestrate your video or just clean up your audio. One of the nicest features is the interactivity of the Suite of programs. If you are working on the timeline in Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3 then you can right click on any audio file and choose to “Edit in Adobe Soundbooth.” Once your editing is done Adobe is still there for you with Adobe Encore® CS3.

Adobe Encore® CS3 enables you to take your completed masterpiece and burn it to Blu-ray. This is where your LG GGW-H20L Blu-ray Disc burner and HD DVD-ROM reader comes into play. Even though Blu-ray has won the format war, there are still a lot of bargains to be had in HD-DVD disks. Buy ‘em up and watch them with this versatile recorder/player. With Adobe Encore® CS3 you don’t even need a separate burning software, Encore allows you to burn directly to your Maxell 25GB Blu-ray blank disks. I tested both the BD–R (which allow you to record once) and on the BD-RE( the re-writeable version). Both performed spectacularly. They yielded perfect copies that played back glitch free. The time for the burn process depends greatly on the length of your content, but remember HD creates big files to get that great picture. It took me about 30 minutes to get a 10 minute Blu-ray burned.

Now keep in mind that Adobe Production Premium CS3® has many more features and it would take an e-book to tell you about all of them. I will be featuring more in depth technical articles on http://www.wemakehd.com as well as videos made with this package on http://www.exploreworldtv.com. So visit those sites for more info. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and I will try to answer as best as I can.

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Copyright ©2009 HD Guru Inc.  All rights reserved.  HDGURU is a registered trademark.  The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission.  The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable.  Data within is subject to change.  HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Unable to find a buyer for its money losing chain of stores, by order of the bankruptcy court, today (Jan. 17, 2009) Circuit City began the liquidation of all of its merchandise in the 567 remaining Circuit City stores in  the US. The HD Guru® visited the local Circuit City store in Hicksville, NY.  Here are the details.

All merchandise in the store is 10% off the yesterday’s prices (except DVDs, Blu-ray discs and CDs which are 20% off).  Unlike the previous liquidation Circuit City held in November 2008 when it closed 155 if its stores, today they did not jack up the prices and redo the price tags, the original price tags are still on all the merchandise.  There are two points to note, besides the 10% discount when considering buying anything at this liquidation sale.  All sales are “Final” and all merchandise is As-Is.  This means, if you purchase an HDTV (or any other item) and you find out it is damaged or it does not function properly when you get it home, it is your problem (no exchanges or refunds are permitted).  If the problem is a manufacturer’s defect, you can get it repaired under the manufacturer’s warranty.  If you discover the HDTV is physically damaged, you are probably out of luck, you’ll have no recourse with Circuit City because of its no returns or no exchanges liquidation policy.

Below is a comparison of Circuit City’s old price, the 10% off liquidation price and the HD Guru’s Pricegrabber price (here is the link ).  Of course, most Pricegrabber merchants have exchange policies for defective merchandise and many have return policies, check with the individual Pricegrabber merchant for details.  (Key Pan=Panasonic;Sam=Samsung; Son=Sony) Pricegrabber pricing listed is subject to change.

Make/Model         CC Old Price   10% Off            Pricegrabber

LG/42LG50            $999.99            $899.99            $849.95
Pan/TH42PZ80U    $949.99            $854.99            $869.00
Pan /TH42PZ85U   $1099.99          $989.99            $929.99
Pan/TH42PX80U    $799.99            $719.99            $709.00
Son/KDL46V4100  $1599.99          $1439.99          $1323.80
Pan/TC32LX85       $699.99            $629.99            $525.00
Son/KDL46XBR6   $2799.99          $2519.99          $1975.00
Sam/ HL67A750     $2199.99          $1979.99          $1646.00
Sam/ PN50A650     $1699.99          $1529.99          $1495.95
Son/KDL40S4100   $999.99            $899.99           $888.32
Sam/LN52A650      $2399.99           $2159.99        $1649.95
Sam/ LN46A650     $1799.99           $1619.99        $1477.00

Conclusion- No Deal!  Go with an on-line or a brick and mortar (B&M) dealer.  Inventories are still very high.  Pick the HDTV you want, shop on-line and if you want to deal with your local, regional dealer or Best Buy, make them an offer below the tag price.  In these bad economic times, the consumer is in the driver’s seat.

Copyright ©2009 Gary Merson/HD Guru® All rights reserved. HDGURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

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