Plot: Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Would sir like a $200 cable with his new plasma?
By Louisa Hearn November 13, 2008 - 1:23PM
Australian shoppers are being duped into spending hundreds of dollars on so-called "high performance" HDMI cables when they are buying new home entertainment equipment.
HDMI cables are commonly sold as an add-on to flatscreen television sets at all major electronic outlets, where salespeople generally link a higher price tag to superior visual performance.
However some technical experts argue that there is very little to distinguish a cable priced at hundreds of dollars from one that costs $20, and urge buyers to be on their guard against slick sales pitches that claim otherwise.
Robin Braun, a professor of telecommunications at UTS says that, because the HDMI cable carries a digital signal, most of the built-up "noise" that affects more traditional analogue cable images is absent, meaning that most short-range HDMI cables will give a perfect image every time, regardless of their price.
Although an HDMI cable forms a crucial link between a television set and other digital devices such as set-top boxes, few shoppers expect to fork out hundreds for a simple connection and therefore fail to research their purchase before hitting the shops.
Not only are many customers taking home products that far surpass their needs, but many retailers are profiting from generous mark-ups, which Mr Braun believes could be as much as 10 times the wholesale price.
"The range in price is all to do with market factors and what shops feel they can charge. I would strongly advise anyone buying to shop around," he said.
But those who do shop around will find little comparative performance data.
Australian shoppers are being duped into spending hundreds of dollars on so-called "high performance" HDMI cables when they are buying new home entertainment equipment.
HDMI cables are commonly sold as an add-on to flatscreen television sets at all major electronic outlets, where salespeople generally link a higher price tag to superior visual performance.
However some technical experts argue that there is very little to distinguish a cable priced at hundreds of dollars from one that costs $20, and urge buyers to be on their guard against slick sales pitches that claim otherwise.
Robin Braun, a professor of telecommunications at UTS says that, because the HDMI cable carries a digital signal, most of the built-up "noise" that affects more traditional analogue cable images is absent, meaning that most short-range HDMI cables will give a perfect image every time, regardless of their price.
Although an HDMI cable forms a crucial link between a television set and other digital devices such as set-top boxes, few shoppers expect to fork out hundreds for a simple connection and therefore fail to research their purchase before hitting the shops.
Not only are many customers taking home products that far surpass their needs, but many retailers are profiting from generous mark-ups, which Mr Braun believes could be as much as 10 times the wholesale price.
"The range in price is all to do with market factors and what shops feel they can charge. I would strongly advise anyone buying to shop around," he said.
But those who do shop around will find little comparative performance data.
Consumer magazine Choice is planning to fill this void soon by conducting a range of tests for HDMI cable products across different price points.
"We found cables of the same length varying in price from $30 to $600 and we are really not expecting to find any significant difference in their performance," Choice media spokesman Christopher Zinn said.
"Thirty dollars might not be an unreasonable spend but $600 may be stretching credulity. Retailers always look for other avenues for profit. Often accessories and other things they can on-sell to you can be a very profitable part of their business.
"They will say their products are superior than less costly ones but from our background knowledge and preliminary work we would find that stretching credulity for most people most of the time," he said.
Many shoppers have flocked to cut-price online retailers who offer unbranded HDMI cables in the sub-$30 price range.
"I'm selling bucketloads of HDMI cables every day," said Keith Collier, who is a partner in the EzyHD online store.
But John Kranitis, managing director of upscale home entertainment specialist, Life Style Store, said that, when it came to cheap cable, you only get what you pay for.
His high-end HDMI cables can cost about $400 a metre, and for your money you get "better shielding, termination, less resistance and less interference", he said.
"You can buy the best TV in the world or the best DVD but if you put in the cheapest cable you do not get best image."
Although his views differ from those of other specialists interviewed, most agree that, when it comes to longer cables, premium products may genuinely prove a better purchase.
"If you are wanting ultimate screen size and definition, and have any significant cable length, then you are likely to need a higher quality cable," Mr Braun said.
Clint DeBoer, editor of audio visual magazine, Audioholics, conducted performance testing of a range of HDMI cables this year, and concluded: "At lengths less than four metres you can just about use silly string (OK, not really) and get HDMI to pass at any current resolution. Don't spend a lot on these cables and if you want to save money you won't let anyone at a big box store talk you into buying from them.
"For cables over five metres it's a good bet that you'll want to stick with trusted manufacturers who deliver on their specs."
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/11/13/1226318809887.html
"We found cables of the same length varying in price from $30 to $600 and we are really not expecting to find any significant difference in their performance," Choice media spokesman Christopher Zinn said.
"Thirty dollars might not be an unreasonable spend but $600 may be stretching credulity. Retailers always look for other avenues for profit. Often accessories and other things they can on-sell to you can be a very profitable part of their business.
"They will say their products are superior than less costly ones but from our background knowledge and preliminary work we would find that stretching credulity for most people most of the time," he said.
Many shoppers have flocked to cut-price online retailers who offer unbranded HDMI cables in the sub-$30 price range.
"I'm selling bucketloads of HDMI cables every day," said Keith Collier, who is a partner in the EzyHD online store.
But John Kranitis, managing director of upscale home entertainment specialist, Life Style Store, said that, when it came to cheap cable, you only get what you pay for.
His high-end HDMI cables can cost about $400 a metre, and for your money you get "better shielding, termination, less resistance and less interference", he said.
"You can buy the best TV in the world or the best DVD but if you put in the cheapest cable you do not get best image."
Although his views differ from those of other specialists interviewed, most agree that, when it comes to longer cables, premium products may genuinely prove a better purchase.
"If you are wanting ultimate screen size and definition, and have any significant cable length, then you are likely to need a higher quality cable," Mr Braun said.
Clint DeBoer, editor of audio visual magazine, Audioholics, conducted performance testing of a range of HDMI cables this year, and concluded: "At lengths less than four metres you can just about use silly string (OK, not really) and get HDMI to pass at any current resolution. Don't spend a lot on these cables and if you want to save money you won't let anyone at a big box store talk you into buying from them.
"For cables over five metres it's a good bet that you'll want to stick with trusted manufacturers who deliver on their specs."
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/11/13/1226318809887.html
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
DragonBall Z
A monkey-tailed boy named Goku is found by an old martial arts expert who raises him as his grandson. One day Goku meets a girl named Bulma and together they go on a quest to retrieve the seven Dragon Balls, mythical objects that can summon a dragon who will grant any wish. Along the way, they meet and befriend a plethora of martial artists. They also undergo rigorous training regimes and educational programs in order to fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament, a tournament in which the most powerful fighters in the world compete. Outside the tournaments, Goku faces diverse villains such as Emperor Pilaf, the Red Ribbon Army, a demon known as Piccolo Daimao and his offspring of the same name.
As a young adult, Goku meets his older brother, Raditz, who tells him that they come from a fictional race of extraterrestrials called Saiyans. The Saiyans had sent Goku to Earth to destroy it, but his ship crashes upon arrival. Goku fell into a deep ravine and lost all memory of his mission. Goku refuses to help Raditz continue the mission, after which he begins to encounter others who want to battle him, such as the Saiyan prince Vegeta. He also encounters Frieza, who is considered to be one of the strongest beings in the universe, after which Goku begins training his first child, Son Gohan, to be his successor. Years later, a group of soldiers from the Red Ribbon army known as androids appear to kill Goku. Another android, Cell, absorbs Androids #17 and #18 from the Red Ribbon army to increase his power, then fights Goku and Gohan, resulting in the former's death. Goku is capable of returning to life, but decides to stay dead for seven years to train in the Other World. When he returns, he is drawn into a battle for the universe against an extraterrestrial named Majin Buu. Joined by Vegeta and Gohan, Buu is destroyed and Goku dies again. He is later revived by one of the gods from the Other World. Ten years later at a martial arts tournament, Goku meets Buu's human reincarnation, Uub. At the end of the manga, Goku takes Uub away on a journey to train him as another successor.
Bangkok Danderous (2008)
Plot:
A professional hit man, who picks someone of the street to do his errands, and kills that person after he has finished . His next assignment takes him to Bangkok, and as usual, he finds a street kid named Kong to help him. After Kong has a close call and learns who he is, asks him to train him and he does. He also meets a local girl who is deaf and spends time with her. However, has a hard keeping his other life from her, and it also appears, the person who hired him, breaks his rule of complete anonymity and tries to find him.
Max Payne (2008)
Plot:
Coming together to solve a series of murders in New York City are a DEA agent whose family was slain as part of a conspiracy and an assassin out to avenge her sister's death. The duo will be hunted by the police, the mob, and a ruthless corporation.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Eden Lake - Thriller of the Year
It was claimed to be one of the most terrifying thrillers of the year...
Someone said it wasn't that terrifying but just disgusting...
Maybe it disclosed what human nature is...
The Hive (2008)
When ants, displaying never-before-seen behavior, seize an island, the controversial Thorax Team is called to stop the massive threat only to discover that the ants are controlled by something beyond this world.
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