Author Archives: Stephen Dawson

Why make a classic movie 3D?

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Because it might make lots of money. Say, $US30.15 million in its opening weekend, topping the box office.

Posted in 3D, Cinema | Leave a comment

Canberrans, rescan your digital radio

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

I checked this morning and 666 ABC Canberra is now running, albeit at a relatively low 48kbps. ABC Radio National is also picked up, but at the moment the signal is empty. No word yet on ABC Classic, Triple J … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Radio | 3 Comments

Canberra Digital Radio finally going full service!

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

The ABC has just announced that from this Monday, 5 September, it will be broadcasting its local radio station, 666, on digital radio. It adds: In addition to 666 ABC Canberra, a number of other ABC radio services will also … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Radio | Leave a comment

A new move in Blu-ray trailers

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

I’ve just been analyzing the forthcoming Roadshow Entertainment Blu-ray of the new Jason Stratham action movie, Blitz (available 22 September), and noticed something different. As with many such discs it opens with several trailers. But the trailers aren’t for Blu-ray … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, CD | 4 Comments

Blue Jeans Cable

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Just a quick one on HDMI cables: if you want useful and well-argued views on them I wouldn’t normally direct you to the website of a cable vendor. But Blue Jeans Cable seems to be an exception. It says things … Continue reading →

Posted in Cables, HDMI | Leave a comment

Edge enhancement: the Devil’s Work

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

In the next Sound and Image magazine I have a piece on the sharpness control in TVs. Specifically, it is a whinge about how many TVs come, by default, with this advanced to a picture-damaging level. I used Samsung as … Continue reading →

Posted in DTV, Video | 4 Comments

i Check Movies

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Do you like lists? Do you like movies? One of my daughters has drawn my attention to a web site that joins those two likings together, and features an attractive design to boot. The ‘check’ in www.icheckmovies.com is a tick. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema | Leave a comment

Left eyes and right

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

If what you see through your left eye alone is further to the left, then it is also further to the rear. What am I talking about? UPDATE 8 August 2011: What I’m talking about is stereoscopic 3D. Look at … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D, Blu-ray | 1 Comment

Do we have only ourselves to blame?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Matt Briggs emailed me a link to this very interesting article in the New York Post on why movies are so dreadful: ‘Everything that’s wrong with Hollywood — We have only ourselves (and directors, actors, China) to blame‘. Of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema | 4 Comments

Are movies getting worse?

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

One of the four blogs I read nearly every day is that of the good professor William M Briggs, Statistician. He hits nearly all the right buttons for me. Moderately and thoughtfully conservative, and a great proponent of the view … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, Giveaway | 5 Comments