Blu-ray Shopping Spree in 2008

Now that bean counters have a sense for consumer Blu-ray appetite when HD-DVD is out of the picture, it looks like 15 million of the high-def discs will sell in 2008, according to HMR Research. From mid-2006 (Blu-ray's launch) until the end of 2007, 9 million Blu-ray movie discs were sold in the  U.S. But from January 2008 until the mid-March, 3 million sold. Only 12 million more to go!

Panasonic's New Wave of Plasma

At a seminar in Japan this week, Matsushita plasma group manager Susumu Tsujihara didn't say a word about subsidiary Panasonic's plans to manufacture plasma panels for Pioneer's high-end Kuro line.

But everything he did say sounded like very good news to any plasma-fanatic worried about Panasonic's ability to keep Kuros looking fine. Tsujihara ushered in the arrival of Matsushita's “Fifth Wave” of plasma production. This likely has something to do with the company's fifth plasma plant, which will open in May 2009. 

The Sounds of Plasma

This plasma stuff might burn you up with jealousy, but don't try this at home, electrical engineers. At least wait until you get back to the lab. Everybody else should simply enjoy the YouTube videos in safety.

Gizmodo posted two videos of one man's experiments with plasma speakers — you know, the kind that rely on ionized gas to produce sound rather than a magnetic field that moves paper and plastic drivers? In these speakers, the intensity of the plasma varies and creates compressions in airwaves which we hear as music.

What Women Watch

In the decades-old gender battle for the remote control, it appears women have begun to wrangle the device at a higher rate then men, especially when there's a digital video recorder involved.

According to a new study from Solutions Research Group, American women watch TV using the DVR 9.3 times a week, while men only use it 8.3 times per week.

History, Re-Recorded

If audio is recorded without the intention of being listened to, is it still a recording? American researchers in Paris are getting philosophical about a piece of etched paper they found which may contain the first ever piece of recorded audio.

The soot-blackened paper was etched in 1860 by a machine called a phonautograph, a full 17 years before Thomas Edison recorded "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on a tin foil cylinder, which was, until this month, considered to be the first audio recording in history.

Toshiba Theater Bot Heals Heartache

How is Toshiba managing to mourn the painful and expensive death of HD-DVD? Well, with a little bit of R&D therapy, it seems.

Perhaps spending bucket-loads of cash on an adorable 11-inch robot of limited utility will soothe Toshiba's angst. The company is currently testing ApriPoko, a 5-pound home theater bot that can learn to mimic your remote control's infrared signals when you instruct it to.

LG and Vizio: Flat-tastic together?

LG Display, an LCD-panel making offshoot of LG Electronics, is sniffing around for partners to help it sell more LCD TVs. One possible bedfellow is Amtran, the Taiwanese parent of U.S. everyman flat-screen brand Vizio.

Pundits and investors don't see this particular alliance as a good thing.

PS3 This Year, Stand-Alone Player Next Year

Nearly twenty million consumers are so eager to jump on the high-definition disc bandwagon this year that they can't be bothered to wait for a bargain.

Even though a Sony executive all but promised that the price of Blu-ray players won't drop to $200 until 2009, a new study by Strategy Analytics says 18.8 million Blu-ray devices will be sold in 2008. Now that the format-war is over, there's no time to lose! By the end of the year, says the study, 29 million homes worldwide will have at least one Blu-ray player.

Hallmark: The Middle-aged Audience is Listening

Something just wouldn't be quite right if middle-aged people approaching retirement grasped and adopted new technologies faster than their children. So it comes as no surprise that a study on that topic commissioned by Hallmark turned out just like that company's TV specials: predictably.

Floyd's Buzzes Customers with HDTV

Your hair doesn't grow faster when you watch HDTV, but it might make it seem like your follicles get clipped quicker when you're at Floyd's 99 Barbershop.

Floyd's is one of the more prominent national chains in the throwback trend toward ole' fashioned barber shops — including the spinning red, white, and blue poll, hot towel facials, straight-razor shaves, etc.

But, to hedge its bet between 19th century grooming and 21st century pop culture, Floyd's pumps in loud rock music and hangs ESPN-dominated 720p HD flat screens from every corner. The chain's stylists claim the new sets increase their business over the rivals."