Monday
Dec282009
Dec 28 Episode #2: AV After Dark
Thanks for listening and everyone have a happy New Year. You can find AV Rant at www.avrant.com. We really enjoy these collaborations and hope you do too. Thanks to listener Ted for both the Intro and Outro music. Check out more of his work at www.thesysmusic.com.
Listen to the show
This episode we discuss:
- Is online the future of content delivery?
- PlayOn – never pay full price.
- Bitstream or PCM your Blu-ray? Orb Audio – does sex sell speakers?
- McIntosh is bringing back the boom box.
- Toilet paper iPod dock– on Braden’s Christmas list.
Reader Comments (7)
Regarding the potential of IP TV...
I agree a lot with Ara in terms of what is possible and what is just around the corner.
I have spent the last two years without a cable package and instead have just used a combination of Apple TV, Netflix Streaming, streaming hulu through PlayOn and Apple TV hacks, and watching sports over the air.
However, I do think that their needs to be a major shift in the way the content is accessed. In order to watch my iTunes content I need to watch the Apple TV, to watch Netflix I need to load the Xbox 360 or PS3, and to watch Hulu I need to go to the boxee interface within the Apple TV.
As Ara said, the perfect setup in my mind is to see Apple make a deal with content providers so I can get certain tv networks via subscription (thereby negating hulu), stream sports, and integrating netflix streaming into the interface (since everyone else is doing it anyway). That would mean all of my tv content, in one seamless user interface.
Now some of you may be thinking that I could get all that content in one box now if I just use a DVR with my cable provider. And while I can get most of that content that way, it yields several big disadvantages.
1. The content would be stuck on my DVR to be watched in one room. Currently I get to enjoy my content where ever I want it. On my TV upstairs, in my theater room downstairs, on my computer in the office, or on my iPhone where ever I am. And iTunes keeps all of my content synced everywhere automatically.
2. Most of the DVR Interfaces for Dish Network, Direct TV, etc are almost as bad as switching between various devices now. While babysitting for my neighbors it took me a full 10 minutes to figure out how to change the channel on their Dish Network DVR. Part of that is the lousy remote but I'm a web developer for crying out loud, electronics are my strong suit.
3. The costs for getting cable are outrageous. Between Comcast and Charter (in the midwest) their are monopolies everywhere in the cable industry. For me to get internet and cable tv with DVR it costs me $150 a month. For just internet $50... I frankly don't find $100/month to be worth it. At that rate I can buy 50 shows (2 or 3 seasons of a show!) a month from iTunes and still just be spending the same amount I would having cable.
iTunes is doing a lot of content in HD and it looks fantastic (and sounds fantastic too in 5.1), this is not simply another Hulu. If Apple worked out a subscription model to let me get 5 or 6 tv networks for $30 a month, I would be the happy. Commercial free, on demand, anywhere i want it, happy.
The download link is wrong. It goes to the 12/25 show #405. Bummer, 'cause I wanted to listen while I exercise later. How am I supposed to stay healthy if you get the link wrong?
Download link fixed!
Thanks for the feedback,
Ara
I've never heard that Bitstream sounds better than PCM but I HAVE heard that Bitstream is louder than PCM. Is that possible?
This AV guy still sucks ! He sounds like a mentally challenged Elmer Fudd....but not as bright ! A and B.....stay away from this loser !
I think Elmer Fudd (previous poster) is a little mentally challenged himself. Elmer, loosen up and open up your stuffy little mind. I have been listening to both the HT Guys and AV Rant for over a year now, and find both shows informative and entertaining. As far as Tom Andry's 'street cred', mosey on over to the Audioholics website and read his reviews. Dude knows what he's talking about, and he just calls it as he sees it. Life isn't all sweetness. light and Stereo Review drivel, enjoy a little bitterness in your life.
Ara and Braden, I think AVAD is a good show and hope you'll keep it going....
PS3 slim does bitstream