Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: On the Box

103 Responses

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  • James Butler,

    It's really that old argument again - genre work (whether comics, TV, books, or films) cannot be Serious because it's genre.

    <soapbox>And the corollary, that if it's Serious then it's not Genre - and the further corollary that there is no Serious Genre... hence literary critics can scorn eg. science fiction novels, by defining the speculative works of eg. Doris Lessing, John Updike, Margaret Attwood as by definition not science fiction.</soapbox>

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Another advantage of the Dolby technology is that if you slipped a couple of the dichroic filters into the colour wheel of a Texas Instruments-based DLP projector you could show proper 3D movies on the wall of your living room. Bugger – I was hoping my 42in LCD panel would see me out....

    By this time next year there'll be HD-3D-stereodolbyphonic-100megainch-withEXPLOSIONS!!-TV.

    I'm waiting until technology stops improving before spending on anything new.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Oh, yeah! Forgot to mention (O/T, sorry), for anyone who might've missed it that, despite massive community opposition, McDonalds' application for consent for a Balmoral "restaurant" has, with minor restrictions, been granted.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    I'm waiting until technology stops improving before spending on anything new.

    For what definition of "stops improving"?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Oh, yeah! Forgot to mention (O/T, sorry), for anyone who might've missed it that, despite massive community opposition, McDonalds' application for consent for a Balmoral "restaurant" has, with minor restrictions, been granted.

    A savage servility slides by on grease...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    For what definition of "stops improving"?

    The singularity would suit me nicely.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Although I have to say I never cared for Chris Petit's stuff in Time Out much. I bet there's more people on the end credits of some of James Cameron's movies than turned up to form the audience for most of Petit's glum films.

    Well, better glum than dumb, I say!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    the great genius of MySky is that old folks can use it.

    Based on recent observations, I worry that it advances senility by allowing aging people to have something they want to watch on telly for the entirety of their waking hours, rather than forcing them (through a lack of acceptable telly) to read or enage with others.

    Perhaps there should be an upper age limit introduced, after minimal research of dubious scientific merit of course.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Again, apologies for the temporary threadjack, but it's important.

    Here's why having a McDonalds in a quiet suburban street is a really bad idea:

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Thanks for the summary, Geoff. I really should have gone... but hey, it was the weekend!
    Interesting times for 'the media' indeed. If PB is going to be the principle survivor in the TV world, New Zealand had better get some more! TVNZ is due for a lot more change- imagine One and 2 as 7 and 6.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    For what definition of "stops improving"?

    He'll be buying up big at the restaurant at the end of the universe.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I don't think it's real TV unless you can peek under the desk and see if the newsreader is wearing shorts and jandals

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    sorry "real 3D TV"

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • wasabicube,

    The problem I have with 3D movies is the constant want to focus on stuff that's out of the camera's focal plane. I like to swivel my eyes about the screen and absorb the details. In 2D this is fine - I can accept what the director deems to be in focus and that which is out - but in 3D you suffer from believing that you should be able to pull things into focus. This hurts my brain. It's a nice idea but until we get on the spot 3D renderings that respond to our direction I say it's a gimmick!

    Whangaparaoa • Since Nov 2006 • 15 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Here's why having a McDonalds in a quiet suburban street is a really bad idea:

    Is it too late for a petition for an appeal against this stupid decision?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    With regard to the extensive options available for incoming television broadcasts, can anyone point me in the direction of a reputable(?) commercial operation in Auckland that would be willing to visit our home and take readings of signal strength, etc and provide some decent advice on what componentry and in what configuarion would optimise our televisual entertainment?

    [No excuse for long sentences]

    We are in the Waitakeres with some dodgy signals, working off direct UHF for the 'main' channels and a soon-to-be-defunct Sky-UHF set-up.

    I am expecting to be told that it will be expensive and require digital/satellite broadcast reception, but not knowing what would work in situ means I don't really know where to start when considering an upgrade.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    what configuarion would optimise our televisual entertainment?

    I think you will find DVBT (uhf freeview) will be fine. Analogue suffers terribly from reflected signals but not so Digital. In the Waitax you are really close to the transmitter and may even need attenuation but if you can "borrow" a freeview box and just plug it in I think you will be pleasantly surprised .

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    By "borrow" I mean. Go to Dick Smiths and get one, if it don't work they have a 14 day no questions asked return policy. ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    Thanks for that info, Steve. I'll give it a go...

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Is it too late for a petition for an appeal against this stupid decision?

    Not quite. The Balmoral Says No group are, as I understand, planning to appeal to the Environment court.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Haven't followed the recent developments. Is it true that McD's managed to successfully claim that their site including drive through was only on the larger Balmoral Rd, not the quiet residential street parallel to it?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Sacha,
    I confess that I haven't either, but as I understand it, the official address must be listed as Balmoral Rd., though it will have an entrance/exit on both Balmoral Road and Wiremu Street. What bloody use that is, I don't know.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    The thing about DVB-T (and other digital broadcasts like ATSc and your cell phone too) is that basically either it works well or not at all - the packets carry FEC - extra bits to fix any noise related errors when you run our of error correction bits the noise takes over and ).5% errors in an mpeg stream can trash the screen completely.

    Signal strength is not everything - digital signals are just as susceptible to ghosting as analog - but it doesn't show up on the screen as a shifted image, it just causes noise and totally destroyed images as above

    So, as I said the other day - borrow a friend's decoder and try it on your TV to see what sort of signal you can get, if it's almost OK maybe get a better aerial - otherwise toss up a dish and get a signal off the satellite

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Lyth,

    We're not that far off the trigger-point for the minister declaring a digital switchover date, and at that point Sky will have to play sensibly.

    Does Drinnan lurk here? This week he not only fails to have a shot at Media7, he leads with a leak from Coleman that a Prime/Freeview announcement is imminent.

    And he goes on to muse on the Bennett story, asking why do the media fail to ask tough but obvious questions before running a story?

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Lyth,

    In case anyone was wondering, not that I am a schill for Drinnan.

    Just, you know, that some of his stuff is fascinating in the the same way as ew-yuk, I just stepped in some muck.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

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