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The Future of Movie Special Effects

July 13, 2012

Movie magic has come a long way since the first documented special effect in 1856, when a photographic trick was used to simulate a movie beheading. Now with such epic fantasy, adventure, and science fiction films on offer as Lord of the Rings or Avatar – along with a demand from moviegoers the world over for absolute realism – there’s an ever-increasing need for special effects to get better and better.

Gone are the times when we were impressed with the tantalizing effects of movies like the original Tron and Star Wars; gone too are the days when budgets were a fraction of the $220 million dollars spent to create movies like the Avengers (released in 2012). Expectations today are most definitely running high, especially with the introduction of technologies like IMAX in cinemas and HDTVs, 3D TVs, and Smart TVs in home theaters.

Modern movie effects

As technology has improved, Read More »

Review: Sennheiser RS 130 Surround Wireless Headphones

July 11, 2012

A home entertainment room isn’t complete without the perfect sound setup, and these days there are some great options for all the audiophiles out there. If you want the ultimate private viewing experience that rivals any regular speaker system, Sennheiser has come up with a gem of a product.

The Sennheiser RS 130 is a perfect mid-range product that won’t dent your bank account while still offering quality sound in a tight package. Whether you need wireless headphones to enhance your favorite movies, or a practical product that allows you to watch TV while your partner sleeps besides you, these headphones deliver in all key categories. Strap one on and you might never go back to the way things were.

Sennheiser RS 130 Key Features

Long transmission range offering solid connection is all areas of your home
Excellent range of motion that won’t have you glued to one place
Great recharge rate and Read More »

Five of the Best Entertainment Products to Hit the Stores in 2012

July 9, 2012

The year 2012 has seen many new technologies hit the shelves in local entertainment and technology stores. These products were welcomed with enthusiasm and almost instantly became part of pop culture in our modern world. The following describes in more detail the best entertainment products to hit the stores in 2012 as well as the ones that may be about to do so later this year. See if your favorite item made the list!

iPad: 3rd Generation

The iPad 3 is one of the most talked-about tech products to hit the stores in 2012. The latest version of this smart pad busted onto the scene early this year with all-new feature enhancements: a greater number of applications (including iLife and iWork), faster load times, ultra-fast 4G LTE, and breakthrough retina display technology, all within the tablet’s by-now recognizable sleek form factor. The most impressive part is the retina display, which is able Read More »

Sharp Unveils 90-inch AQUOS, the World’s Largest LED TV

July 1, 2012

You know what home theater enthusiasts say: bigger is always better. At least that’s what manufacturer Sharp took to heart when recently the company launched the world’s largest LED TV: the incredible 90-inch AQUOS LED TV (LC-90LE745U).

The feature-rich set includes a bright and crisp 1080-pixel display, full HD active 3D capability (with a pair of 3D glasses included), built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, and Sharp’s AquoMotion 240 technology, which enhances the seamlessness of fast-action motions while also eliminating blurring. The AQUOS LED TV also features Sharp’s SmartCentral, an interface offering direct access to apps and VOD (video-on-demand) services like Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Facebook, Twitter, and even Skype.

Of course, what really sets Sharp’s new AQUOS apart is its size: 4 feet tall, about 6 ½ feet wide, and a lean 141 pounds heavy (without the stand). It’s bigger than Sharp’s previous two LED TV offerings – one an 80-inch and the Read More »

E3 Conference 2012 Highlights: Home Theater, Gaming, and Home Entertainment

June 12, 2012

E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2012 was held last June 5 to 7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and again it generated tons of buzz as one of the world’s biggest gaming industry events. E3 2012 saw video game makers, electronic entertainment companies, and console and consumer tech manufacturers introduce new products and platforms to the public. Here’s a list of the best of ‘em – coming to a home theater, home entertainment, or gaming room near you:

Microsoft’s Xbox SmartGlass

At E3 2012, Microsoft introduced the Xbox SmartGlass, a service that enables users to connect tablet computers and smartphones with Microsoft’s video game consoles. With SmartGlass – which is coming holiday 2012 – users can control what they’re seeing on TV using their phones or tablets as a remote. Playing games, browsing the Internet, listening to music, or watching shows on the mobile device can now be moved and Read More »

Customizing The Furniture In Your Home Theater

May 25, 2012

Image by Chad Jones

Are you thinking about turning an empty space in your home into a home theater? This can be a great way to create a place where you and your family can spend time together watching your favorite films. As you begin to design and decorate your home theater space, you may want to consider having items and furniture custom-made to create a unique place. With the popularity of home theater installations on the rise, many manufacturers are offering personalized, custom pieces that will make your viewing room beautiful and unique. By finding the right designers and craftsmen, you will have a space that will make you always want to stay home.

The first piece of furniture you may want to think of is an entertainment center. An entertainment center can be extremely useful in a viewing space. This will give you an area to store movies and Read More »

Some Amazing iPhone Apps for Movie Lovers

May 23, 2012

Are you a movie buff? If you are, and you have an iPhone, you could get your daily dose of trivia, information, content, and games related to movies, all on the go. There are tons of iPhone apps out there which cater to movie buffs and home theater lovers. But not all of them are good. It takes a little digging around to find the best ones out there. Your job has been made easier with this list of the very best when it comes to iPhone apps for movie lovers.

Flixster

This is one of the very best, sponsored by the now popular RottenTomatoes. It gives you plenty of information on the latest movies and DVDs that have come out, shows timings of movies in different theatres, and a whole lot more. It has the trusted rating system of RottenTomatoes which lets you decide on the movies to watch and the Read More »

Speaker Wire: Make Your Sound System Perform!

May 17, 2012

Most home owners find that the most difficult part of installing their new surround sound system is choosing the best speaker wire for their system. Their goal is the get the right speaker wire type that will give their system the power and sound its needs to perform at the highest level.

The reality is that nobody wants to install a complete sound system and later find out they used an inferior speaker wire product that is causing their new speakers to under-perform. This type of mistake could prove to be very expensive and very time consuming, especially if installing new speaker wire is the only option. So why not do it right the first time?

The speaker wire industry is a huge market. There are many manufacturers out there trying to push consumers to their products. Many manufacturers are flooding the market with marketing material that touts their wire as the best. All this marketing for sure confuses consumers Read More »

5 Ways to Deal with (Untidy) Cable and Cords

May 15, 2012

Untidy cable and cords can spoil the ambiance of the most lavish of interiors and the most sophisticated of home theater setups. Unfortunately, technology has not yet advanced to the extent that we can completely eliminate these cables and cords from our lives. On the contrary, the number of gadgets and appliances that we use are increasing day by day, and it doesn’t seem that this trend is going to change anytime soon. Therefore, we have no choice but to deal with these unsightly cables and cords to make them more bearable.

Following are 5 excellent ways through which you can effectively deal with untidy cable and cords:

Image from DigitalTrends.com

Identify

The very first thing that you need to do is to identify the different cords and cables that are being used by the various appliances and home entertainment components in your home.

For this, you may need to untangle the different cables Read More »

Outdoor Home Theater Design and Installation Tips

April 17, 2012

Outdoor home theater: just the idea of it sounds more fun than anything you’ve ever done at the local cinema. Top-notch entertainment from the comforts of your own home: specifically, your own backyard or patio. Well, thanks to advancements in home theater technology, the dream can now be a reality.

Looking to design or install your own outdoor home theater system? We’re sure it’s going to be one of the most exciting home projects you’ve ever had. Do keep in mind that in order for your system to perform optimally – and to stay protected from unique outdoor elements like snow, rain, and too much sunlight – you’ve got to make careful considerations about how the entire system is set up. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Get creative. Not enough budget for a high-end big-screen HDTV? Don’t worry. The centerpiece of your outdoor home theater system can Read More »

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