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While I wouldn’t actually give one of my kidneys for an NFL cheerleader, I’d devote a few minutes to checking out the NFL Cheerleaders: Best of 2008 on NFL.com. There are 72 photos that should keep you busy. Let me help out a little: 1, 24, 30 (middle), 42 (both), 50, 51, 57 and 70 (go Bucs).
Divorce can be messy. When 50% isn’t good enough, some spouses might choose — I don’t know — a kidney as well. A New York doctor gave a kidney to his wife while they were married. He’ll settle for $1.5 million as opposed to getting the kidney back. Really?
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Looks like Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones got the boot in Dallas last night. I don’t see any other team giving the guy another shot. Jerry Jones was his best bet. Sorry, Pacman. *Awa-awa-awa*
Wardriving is no longer necessary. A company based in San Francisco called Autonet Mobile has developed a router that uses 2.5 and 3G networks allowing you to surf the Internet from your car. The service costs $29.99 for 1GB of data/mo. or $59.99 for 5GB of data/mo. This opens things up for road ragers everywhere. “Get off your damn laptop and watch the road!”
In case you missed my post or haven’t heard, the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship will be shown in 3D. Visit the link to see if it’s showing in your city and where. From what I’ve seen, tickets are anywhere between $13 and $16.
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No sooner than I compare Blockbuster & Netflix video on demand pros and cons, Amazon throws a curveball in the whole thing by bringing its library to viewers via the Roku digital video player. Yes. The very same used by Netflix VOD users.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that it will offer customers the ability to instantly purchase, rent and watch digital movies and TV episodes from its popular video service, Amazon Video On Demand
, via the Roku Digital Video Player. Beginning in early 2009, the Roku Player, which currently supports only the Netflix service, will offer access to Amazon Video On Demand’s more than 40,000 commercial-free movies and television shows, enabling Roku customers for the first time to watch new release movie titles instantly.
The service is already available to Amazon VOD users on other stand-alone devices such as a specially-equipped TiVo DVR
The great thing about Amazon’s VOD service is that new release movies are available the same day that they are released on DVD that are not currently available on the Roku Player. The service boasts instant playback with no downloading, no waiting and no subscription fee. The library includes over 40,000 movies and TV shows that stream instantly to a quality consistent with your bandwidth. And as I mentioned in the Blockbuster v Netflix comparo, the Roku player will connect to any television set using HDMI, component video, composite or S-video connections.
So, now we sit and wait while Amazon dangles this carrot in front of our faces. In the meatime Macworld attendees wait for an announcement regarding an improved Apple TV, and Blockbuster has a small window of opportunity to reinvent its offering. Better hurry.
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Looks like it’s tax season again. I spotted this one yesterday. I can’t wait to see my first Uncle Sam tax mascot. Of course if you want to dress up as one, I’m sure you could find a classified on Craigslist.
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Digital distribution of movies is becoming more than just a convenience. Video on demand (VOD) technology is becoming the status quo. As video formats have evolved, so has the method of delivery. Reel-to-reel. BetaMax and VCRs. DVD players. High-definition Blu-Ray. And now delivery of videos goes beyond format. There are an increasing number of utensils to feed your video appetite. In fact, there is a large list of video on demand services. If you have a broadband Internet connection, then you’re ready to explore the world of VOD.
So, how do you choose?
I’m a DIRECTV customer as well as a Blockbuster.com user. I’m contemplating a VOD service as an alternative to my Blockbuster service. So, I decided to take a look at Blockbuster’s VOD service and compare it to Netflix. Pretty smart, eh? Yeah…I thought so too.
BLOCKBUSTER. I’m already partial to Blockbuster over Netflix, so naturally Blockbuster.com was the first place I went to get some details. According to Blockbuster’s current offer, when you rent 25 movies in advance — which costs $99 — Blockbuster will send you one of its 2wire MediaPoint digital media players. The box includes composite, HDMI and component outputs.
Unfortunately the information available on Blockbuster.com is routine at best — an electronic brochure of the service actually. So, I contacted BlockBuster with a slew of questions.
This blogger shares his pros and cons of the Blockbuster service and related hardware.
With the lack of information available on the Blockbuster site, I decided to email them for some answers:
Dear Derrich,
Roughly 2,000 titles are currently available. The library changes frequently.
The device upscales up to 1080i resolution if used with an HDMI connection, cable not included. Some of the titles, such as the IMAX titles, are compressed with high definition, but not all titles will be in such high quality. The device also only offers stereo only for the audio.
The prices range from $1.99 to a max of $3.99.
There is no long-term storage available. Rentals are only made available for a maximum of 30 days after download. Once you actually start to watch the movie, however, there is only a 24 hour license issued to play the movie as many times as you wish. The files are auto-deleted either when the 30 day period or 24 hour watch period expires.
There are no other fees or membership requirements to use the OnDemand service. Once you have the device and use the 25 prepaid rentals, if you never rent again..you’ll never be billed.
Please let us know if there’s any other questions we can help with.
NETFLIX. The Netflix website on the other hand was refreshingly informative about its offering. Heck, it even points you in the direction of the manufacturer, Roku, for a more in-depth resume of abilities.
Right off the bat, this thing is the epitome of ‘straight foward’. Box is $99 (MSRP). Buy it, keep it. If you already have a Netflix unlimited plan (from $8.99/month), then you’re all set. The terms and conditions isn’t a bunch of legal jargon — it consists of six bullet points. Your existing Netflix plan doesn’t change. The number of movies available on demand is limited to a little over 3,500. One blogger even went so far as to compile a list of Netflix On Demand movies. Netflix claims 12,000 selections; we can assume the other 8,500 or so are TV shows. More importantly, watching movies or TV shows instantly does not affect the number of DVDs you get.
In addition to the Roku player, you can use the Netflix service with a number of other devices such as the Xbox 360
In addition to those devices, today LG announced the first broadband-enabled HDTVs with Netflix streaming software embedded directly in the TV, eliminating the need for one of the above boxes.
THE WINNER IS…. It looks like Netflix has found a way to marginalize Blockbuster. I’m tempted to take advantage of the 30-day free trial to see if I like the ‘DVD by mail’ service as much or better than Blockbuster. If so, why wouldn’t I make the switch to the company with a better On Demand product?
The bottom line is that Netflix rules the VOD battle.
While I test drive the two services, there are still some other VOD services out there for me to research such as Amazon Video On Demand
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The BCS has been busted again. So what now?
The Million Dollar Band may have shown the Utes Marching Band how it’s done, but the Utah football team has induced vertigo causing more BCS turmoil. After spanking the Crimson Tide 31-17, the Utes improve to 13-0 on the season.
Should they be #1?
Why not? They played like the #1 team suffocating Alabama’s offense with eight sacks, three turnovers, and held the Tide to just 36 rushing yards (they averaged over 196 per game this season). And Utah executed impeccably on offense — including some risky 3rd and long trickery to keep a drive alive late in the game — thanks to the leadership of the unsexy Heisman shoulda been, Brian Johnson.
The unfortunate part is that they won’t be voted #1 in the final BCS poll. Of course, that’ll be Florida or Oklahoma. Perhaps Utah will earn the ultimate respect from the AP…right?
Probably not. Of the 4 non-BCS teams that have gone undefeated through bowl games (Utah did it twice, Boise State in 2006, Marshall in 1999 and Tulane in 1998), Utah achieved the highest AP poll rank after their win over #20 Pitt in 2004. Even though the Sooners were throttled by USC 55-19 in the Orange Bowl, they still finished above the [undefeated] #4 Utah Utes.
What they’ve done is seal their spot as the #2 team in the nation.
What about Texas? Given the poor play of the Big Ten in the bowl games (currently 1-5 in bowl games), we’ll assume the ‘Horns pull it out…handily. Why shouldn’t they be #2?
While I absolutely despise the USC Trojans, they certainly deserve a voice for the #2 spot after putting Nittany Lions to sleep for the season in the Rose Bowl.
Whatever happens on January 8th, I can’t possibly be satisfied. The BCS was nothing but a contrived championship format that rewarded the current darlings. Wait. Or was that the Heisman? Nevermind. Regardless, the BCS (Bowls Contrived in September) blew it again…it’s incredible, it’s sickening, it’s time for change.
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A couple of weeks ago, I learned that the BCS National Championship game would be aired in 3D at select movie theatres throughout the U.S. Because I had already seen films in Real D — Meet the Robinsons 3D, U2 3D and Bolt 3D — I assumed it would definitely be shown somewhere in San Antonio.
Wrong.
Those films are distributed by their respective providers. I contacted Michelle Martell, COO of Cinedigm Entertainment, about why the game would not be shown in San Antonio. While I was under the impression the theatres chose not to air the game, Michelle informed me that none of the San Antonio theatres were part of Cinedigm’s “network of participating theatres”. Cinedigm will distribute the game using its CineLive® set of technologies. She also added that…
…each location selected for this first wave has [1] digital cinema compliant projection, [2] digital 3D systems, [3] satellite dishes, and a variety of other software and hardware installations…transmitting a large amount of data required to deliver live 3D in sync right eye/left eye
The broadcast is sent to the theater in an HD and 3D format. 3ality Digital has partnered with Fox Sports, Sony and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. for this live 3D broadcast of the 2009 FedEx BCS Championship Game. It will shown in 80 theaters across 35 states on January 8th. This will be the first time that a live 3D broadcast will be available to the general public. Those fortunate enough to experience the game in this format should do so. To find out if the game is being shown in your city, visit Cinedigm.com for a list.
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