Monthly Archives: February 2009

Shawshank moves up

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

As I mentioned the other day, Warner Bros is releasing The Shawshank Redemption on Blu-ray next month. A couple of days ago they sent me a sample. As it happens, it’s the US version in the US packaging, which we … Continue reading →

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More Bond Coming

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

Yesterday Twentieth Century Fox sent me five more James Bond catalogue movie Blu-ray releases, adding to the half dozen released last year. These are due out on 18 March this year. They are: Goldfinger (1964) (perhaps the best of them … Continue reading →

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Finding Firmware Information

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

In my previous post I explained why it is important for me to report what firmware version is installed in some of the devices which I am reviewing. It occurs to me that consumer electronics manufacturers will need to come … Continue reading →

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Firmware

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

My five-way Blu-ray player comparison review is out in the new issue (Feb/March 2009) of Sound and Image magazine. The review covers lower cost players: the LG BD300, the Panasonic DMP-BD35, the Samsung BD-P1500, the Sharp BD-HP21X and the Sony … Continue reading →

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Star Trek goes Blu

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

Paramount Pictures has just released its Australian Blu-ray release schedule for April and May this year. And this is the first time it is a specific schedule, not just the Blu-ray titles mixed in with the DVD schedule. A couple … Continue reading →

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More Blu-ray vs DVD comparisons

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

The so-called Bram Stoker’s Dracula and The Matrix have joined my Blu-ray vs DVD comparisons. The former (which I compared to the PAL Superbit DVD version) is variable in the improvement; the latter is magnificent. The Matrix was a very … Continue reading →

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The Zombie Strippers test

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

In my recent comparison of inexpensive Blu-ray players for Sound and Image magazine, I introduced a new picture quality test. Here’s how I explained it: In assessing picture quality, I made resort to a test that shall henceforth be known … Continue reading →

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Company Precedence in The Matrix

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Stephen Dawson

Viewers of The Matrix will recall that at the very start, even before the cascading computer text, the Warner Bros and Village Roadshow movie logos are presented on stylised screens as the creepy music starts. This movie was a co-production, … Continue reading →

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