This is a followup to my previous post on this issue.
Toshiba Customer Service replied to my email request for information on this topic. I am not allowed to post it here but I will summarize it for you. Basically, since component cables do not provide a "secure" connection, it was suggested that I use the HDMI output from the device. However, I was not guaranteed to see upscaled versions of my regular DVD's because my HDTV does not accept HDMI, only the less secure DVI. Still, I wanted to try it out. So I purchased an HDMI/DVI cable from Radio Shack (item # 15-1087). So far, my regular DVD's upscale from 480p to 1080i (the best my HDTV allows). It looks awesome! Not bad for a $54.99 purchase. :) It's totally worth it.
A few days ago, I was given a Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD player for my birthday (thanks, DAD!). It's a great player and the sale price made the purchase a nice value. But this is not a review of the Toshiba HD-A3. It's about lessons learned...and shared with YOU here.
The one problem I have with the unit is one that is really a complaint with the movie industry. Like other units, this HD DVD player listed as one of features the ability to scale regular DVD (480p) movies to 1080i resolution. This is called UPSCALING or UPCONVERTING. I have tested over 150 DVD's so far and I made a shocking discovery. The reality of the situation is that only a SMALL NUMBER of DVD's in my library actually upscaled. When I attempted to play a DVD, the vast of majority of the movies produced a message that the upscaling feature had been disabled. DISABLED?? I might have expected this of movies from studios - like Disney- that have chosen the Blu-Ray camp, but what about the others? Apparently, the studios are sending us a message - "Buy the HD DVD or Blu-Ray version". Geez! Of course, these regular DVD's play just fine at 480p resolution, but if you want more pixels, you have to pay for the movie again.
I have, therefore, decided to list the DVD's here that WILL upscale to 1080i on my player. "You mileage may vary." I am not rating the quality of the upscale, just that they DO upscale. If you have discovered more, please note them in the comments to this post.
DVD's THAT ALLOW UPSCALING
- any Home movies burned to DVD (I expected that, at least)
- The Toy That Saved Christmas (VeggieTales) - Big Idea
- The Impossible Elephant - Feature Films for Families
- Sumo of the Opera (VeggieTales)
- The Legend of the Candy Cane - TCFHE , Distributed by 20th Century Fox
- Minnesota Cuke (VeggieTales) - Big Idea
- Snoodle's Tales (VeggieTales) - Big Idea
- An Easter Carol (VeggieTales) - Big Idea
- The Lion, the Witch & and Wardrobe (cartoon version) -Alpha Omega Publications
- Larryboy - The Cartoon Adventures (VeggieTales) - Big Idea
- Max Lucado's Hermie and Friends: Webster - Glue Works Entertainment
- The Christmas Shoes - Feature Films for Families
- Larryboy - The Cartoon Adventures: The Good, the Bad and the Eggly - Big Idea
- A Fairy Tale Christmas - Feature Films for Families
That it! Over 150 DVD's tested - 13 successes. If I discover more, I'll update this post.
The bottom line is that, for the most part, "upscaling" players just DON'T. It's a big lie and the HD player manufacturers don't want you know the truth -- at least not until AFTER you buy their product. If you are entering into such a purchase, simply ignore this feature and you will be much less disappointed with your purchase.
See additional comments on my Digg page...
UPDATE: I was using component cables. My TV only takes a DVI, not HDMI. Will HDMI output using an HDMI/DVI allow upscaling? Any feedback on this would be appreciated. Thanks.
UPDATE #2: This issue was resolved. Please see this post to find out how it got solved.
Screenshot taken with Dock app.
Hacked with AppTapp. It's amazingly easy! Notice the Installer button.
After Steve Jobs announced the release of iTunes 7.4, which would enable iPhone users to purchase ringtones, and hearing so much about the cool interface to create those ringtones, I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately, I ran into a few roadblocks and didn't figure it out for about an hour of persistent attempts. For the record, I was using ITunes 7.4.1 on Windows XP and have since upgraded to version 7.4.2. If you are confused by this process as well, here's how I did it.
I had read on several blogs that you would have to enable the "Ringtone" heading by going to View > View Options. At first the "Ringtone" heading option did not appear. After logging into the iTunes Music store, the "Ringtone" heading option DID appear. Great! One step completed!
I also knew that not all tracks were "ringtonable" so I sorted my library so that those with ringtones, indicated by the bell icon in the Ringtone heading, and found some for which another 99 cents (U.S. $.99) would get me a ringtone. I selected one and went to Store > Create Ringtone command but it was grayed out. What gives?!?
After another half-hour of searching for answers on the iTunes Support page and other blogs, I came up empty. They all indicated that I should be able to do this but I got nothing.
Eureka! As it turns out, the Create Ringtone command was also available by right-clicking the "ringtonable" track and accessing the command from the context-sensitive menu. Clicking it, however, brought up a message that I could not create ringtones until I accepted the new End User License Agreement. Didn't I do that when I installed the new version. I thought so! Anyway, luckily this message immediately brought up the EULA and I could accept in right then and there. Now, the ringtone feature was unlocked and I was away on my journey to create my own customized ringtones.
The interface is every bit as cool as I had read and the ability to pick your own clip (up to 30 seconds) with fade-ins and fade-outs really lets you get creative. This is a big plus and I would gladly pay the $.99 for the song PLUS another $.99 for the ringtone for the privilege. All iPhone users should try it out at least once or twice. It's great fun!!
I don't know if this problem exits on the Mac version of iTunes but I would have expected a clearer method for activating the Create Ringtones feature. I have been accused by some as being a Mac fanboy, but Apple could have done this better. The hour it took me to just TURN ON the feature is an hour that I will never get back. Apple, you get an "F" in Ringtone Integration.
We got up the next day and ordered one last breakfast in the room. After a little shopping, we headed home through the HOT desert. It was nice to get home and unpack for the sun set.
This is the last post for our trip. We sincerely hope that you have enjoyed this blog of our trip. I make no guarantees of future posts but I will write when I have the time.
Special thanks to all who hosted us on this trip and made sure we had a great time. God Bless!
We awoke on C-Day (i.e. "Celine Day') and ordered a full breakfast delivered to our room. They do a wonderful spread. We all enjoyed the royal treatment.
We then took a bus called "The Duece" down The Strip and got off at Circus Circus where we enjoyed some carnival-style games and circus acts with the kids.
We then rode the bus back to to Caesar's Palace and got dinner at one of the restaurants there. Then up to the hotel room we went to get dressed for the concert.
The concert was INCREDIBLE with wonderful lighting
After a late night stop for some ice cream, we headed back to the hotel for a good night's rest.
Rebecca worked some Internet magic and got a great price on a great room (pictures to follow) at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. When in Rome....
Ashley and Jordan have been on a quest to collect a souvenir (e.g. key chain) from each state we visit. As it turned out, we passed through Arizona very briefly at Beaver Dam on the Northwest TIP of the state, our SEVENTH state visited. We stopped at the store at Beaver Dam and Madeline and Rebecca walked through door to encounter the Dam Deli and Dam Store on their way to the Dam toilets. Rebecca reports that it was a DAM unforgettable experience. They were able to purchased the needed souvenirs as well. :)
We arrived about dinner time and got checked in. Valet parking took care of the car and a bell hop got our bags up to the 11th floor of the Palace Towers. We had a nice dinner downstairs at the casino and then took a short walk outside to see the lights of Vegas. Jordy had been reading in one of his books about how neon lights work and Vegas is considered the neon capital of the World. Here's a gallery of signs on the strip, although is it 5 years old.
Another late night to bed and the chance to sleep in the next morning...
After some errands (I thought they would never end) and a stop for oil for Laurie's car, we drove to the Condo. It's a beautiful place and not very far from Laurie's house. This proves that it's not important WHERE you go as long as you change your point of view. The kids enjoyed the pool and it was good to see Terrell and the two younger kids. Rebecca, Madeline, and I enjoyed some quiet reading time. Aaahh!!
(Sorry, no pictures.)
Last summer, I introduced my kids and my Utah nieces to geocaching. It's sort of a high-tech treasure hunt. It's been an "Uncle George activity" ever since. I had previously found 6 or 7 caches and loaded them into the four GPS receiver units I borrowed from my school. So we went out and were able to find most of them. Even Laurie found two of them, including a cache rated 4.5/5 in difficulty. We had a great time with it. We found 5 caches. The 2 or 3 that we didn't find will wait until our next visit.
We had dinner with Laurie and family at a local buffet restaurant. The food was good and everyone left happy with their dinner selection. Upon returning to Laurie's house, we hooked up their desktop computer to the wireless network, installed 83 system updates, and installed and scanned it with antivirus/antispyware software. I can't help it, I guess. I'm just a geek. :)
We then got packed for trip to condo with Laurie and her family. Terrell, Tyler and Terra were already there because they had the timeshare for the week. After a relatively short one-hour drive, we were able to join them.
