FiOS Invades Gotham

Congratulations! It's a girl! It's a boy! Happy birthday! Bingo! You won the lottery! Happy New Year! Look — it's the Publisher's Clearing House van!

Actually, in all probability, it's none of those things for you, at least not today. But, if you live in New York (all 8 million of you), you got a bit of good news this week: The NY Public Service Commission approved Verizon's petition for a Certificate of Confirmation. Yes, I know. You'd prefer a winning lottery ticket. Who wouldn't? But this is still pretty cool. It clears the way for FiOS to become available in the City.

You're still not impressed? Then I guess you don't know what FiOS is . . .

Sony Delivering $399 Blu-ray Player with BD Live Potential

Sony's new Blu-ray player is making news on many accounts. They're currently shipping the BDP-S350 that is about 55% smaller than previous models, uses approximately 52% less packing materials (when will they replace packing peanuts with cheese doodles?  Can't cheese doodles save the planet?) and it's been engineered to consume significantly less power than previous models, and since it weighs 38% less, reduces CO2 emissions related to shipping.

But, what's making enthusiasts really happy?

Samson StudioDock 3i Monitors with iPod Dock

Samson is a small manufacturer of studio gear and audio monitors. Nope — not a typo — a different company from Samsung. Good luck with that one. Back on topic — Samson just released a new speaker system that's perfect for your office, home studio, or listening room. The StudioDock 3i system is a pair of studio-quality monitors, one with an iPod dock and USB interface. You can mix your music and check playback, all on the same system.

The StudioDock will charge an iPod that's docked, and because it uses a USB interface, the quality is great. What's even better?

McIntosh Brings HD Radio Home

McIntosh is well-known for high-end audio amplifiers, and maybe their popularity will rub off on the HD Radio market. McIntosh just introduced the TM2 AM/FM HD Radio Tuner Module for the MA6600 integrated amplifier.

While HD Radio is struggling along in the car audio world, it's barely making a dent in the home market.

Amazon On-Demand Now in Beta

Who needs Netflix and Blockbuster when Amazon.com is around? Seeming to ditch their Unbox, Amazon.com is launching a new store that will stream movies and television shows directly to your PC and soon, to Sony's Bravia Video Link TVs. Yup. We said stream. Unlike the original service from Amazon that required you to download the file, this is a streaming video service, more like cable's video-on-demand.

Who's signed up?

"Scrubs" on ABC in HD, Just in Time

Scrubs has moved from SD on NBC to HD on ABC. Alphabet soup aside, all those letters might not matter much if rumors are true that this is the last season for the comedy. 

Scrubs was on NBC in standard def, surrounded by HD shows for way too long. The HD version will premiere on ABC midseason. Could this be its final year?

YouTube Boobtube TiVo-fest

Although we announced back in March that this was coming, it's finally official. Just announced — YouTube videos will be available on your TV through your TiVo. Broadband-connected TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD DVRs can access millions of videos hosted on YouTube.

Why spend hours cramped in front of your computer when you can watch this in the comfort of your home theater?

The Dark Knight's IMAX Footage Goes Blu

The latest Batman movie is barely breaking out in theaters, yet The Dark Knight's director is already talking about the Blu-ray release. Some sequences of the movie were shot in the IMAX format. For the theatrical 35mm release, they did 35mm "extractions" from the IMAX negatives.
There will be some consequences since it's a different aspect ratio, but keep reading to see what director Christopher Nolan has to say.

John Mellencamp's High-resolution DVD

John Mellencamp's latest album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom is coming out in an interesting format included with the usual CD release. (And downloads available from hearmusic.com. Use the code LDLF8 for two free cuts.) The new release will come as a CD and DVD package.  What's the big deal?

Colorizing Still Around -- "Forbidden Zone" on DVD

How come we don't know about this cult classic? Legend films is releasing Forbidden Zone on DVD and on-demand digital download — now in color!  Who knew they were still colorizing films?  How fun is that?

Forbidden Zone was directed by Richard Elfman, and the music is by Danny Elfman, with the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo — Danny also has a star billing.  Hmmm.  Directed by Elfman, music by and starring Elfman. Interesting . . .