Jordyn Wieber Did Not Make it to the All Around Final

After a long day, as soon as I turned my LG Smart 3D TV on, the first thing I saw was a shot of Jordyn Wieber with hands on her face, crying.

The news said that the world champion Wieber was brokenhearted. She cried when she found out that she didn't qualify for the gymnastics all around final which she dominated for years. An error in her routine was a factor but it was not the main reason why she got ousted. There is a rule that only two gymnasts per country are allowed to compete in that event. Unfortunately, Raisman and Douglas scored better. I liked that she was so honest with her feelings yet she maintained to be graceful. She admitted that it was painful for her to see Raisman's routine but she was still able to wish them good luck.

Update: I wasn't able to see the floor exercises of Wieber so I searched for it from youtube on my LG Smart 3D TV. In this clip, you would see her routine and the error she made was impossible to notice. I can't embed the actual video but here's a link:

Watch it here.

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Samsung Smart TVs and Angry Birds

Last week, Samsung made Angry Birds available in some of their current TVs. Come to think of it two big names partnered to give consumers a great experience. However, I learned that this game is entirely gesture control, remote and touch interface would not work. I wonder if this will be as successful as the Angry Birds we used to know. I watched CNET's review of Samsung's gesture control and like they said, I agree that it's still in beta. This version has a great tendency to make kids cranky than entertain them. What do you think?

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3D Game Apps to be Available for LG Cinema 3D Smart TVs

LG announced a couple of days ago that they will make 3D games available as apps today. This is a great news for those who already own LG smart 3D TVs. The games are as follows:

Air Penguin

Frisbee Forever

Burn The City

Downhill Bowling 2 

Diversion from Unity Technology.

These games were chosen because LG believes they are fun, family friendly and of course highly playable in 3D. The games will be available on LG Smart World in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Russia, USA, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines and Korea. They also said that more games will be provided come August.

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Prescription Glasses and 3D

I know it's inconvenient to watch 3D for those who have prescription glasses but most of us still think that there is no other way but to wear the 3D glasses on top of the prescription glasses. Actually, this is not the case. Manufacturers have tried to solve this concern.

If you have a passive 3D TV, LG offers clip on 3D glasses. The idea might be similar to putting the 3D glasses on top of your prescription glasses but this is way more convenient. Plus, you won't feel
 awkward.

Samsung is well known for producing active 3D TVs. The problem of wearing the active 3D glasses on top of the prescription glasses has greater impact for the. Almost 2 years ago, Samsung tried to solve this problem by offering an active 3D prescription glasses but I don't think it was popular. I think the reason why it didn't become successful is the price. Imagine how much an active 3D glasses cost then add it to the usual price of prescription glasses (which also depends on how poor your eyesight is). To think that you can just use it for watching 3D.

Unless active 3D TV manufacturers provide real solution to this, passive 3D would still be the best choice for those who needs prescription glasses. What do you guys think?

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Jimmy Fallon: Olympic Thoughts

I'm joining the Olympic hype so if you noticed since last week, most of my posts are about the Olympics. Earlier, I used my LG Smart 3D TV to search youtube for videos of the opening ceremonies. I didn't succeed in finding one but I saw this clip from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It's really hilarious so enjoy!

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London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremonies

It was disappointing that NBC didn't live- stream the opening ceremonies of the Olympics but then again they're a business and they made use of the anticipated event to make more money by accommodating commercials. It was just supposed to be a 4-hour telecast but it took longer for us because of the advertisements.

I must say that Oscar winning director, Danny Boyle did a great job and for me aside from the parade of nations, one of the great highlight of that night is when Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth skydived. Of course, it was a stunt man who did that but the fact that the Queen allowed herself to be portrayed that way is something that doesn't happen all the time.

Earlier, I used my LG Smart 3D TV to look for a youtube video of the event's highlights. Unfortunately, as of the moment I didn't find any good video. So, for now I have pictures.

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Smart Thief Caught on Cam

As I continue my search for a new TV, I'm learning more and more about the industry. With the "slimmest TV" war going on among the manufacturers, I decided to google the slimmest tv. The search results I got are mostly talking about LG's OLED TV presented earlier this year during CES. It's described  as thick as three credit cards. I hope I can attend an expo showcasing this TV so I can personally see how thin it is.

One of the search results I got is this viral video which I think is really funny and effective in portraying the tv as the slimmest OLED. I can't believe that I didn't see this video before.

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London 2012 Olympics in Ultra High Definition TV

I got excited when I learned that the London Olympics, which is about to start in the next couple of days, will be shown in 3D. Today, I learned there's another reason to get excited. Well, at least for those who are or will be in London. BBC with the help of NHK, a Japanese broadcaster, will conduct Super Hi Vision trials during the Olympics.




Super High Vision is a digital video format developed by NHK. It's going to have a 7680x4320 pixels resolution and 22.2-multichannel surround sound. Super High Vision is also known as 8K, 4320p, and UHDTV.

Unfortunately, London Olympics in Super High Vision could only be available to public in three UK theaters: BBC Broadcasting House in London; BBC Pacific Quay in Glasgow; and National Media Museum in Bradford.

As for me, I'll be contented watching the Olympics from my LG Smart 3D TV.

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Stewart-Pattinson Scandal

Yesterday, the entertainment industry was surprised by People Magazine's and Us Weekly's features, Kristen Stewart cheating on her boyfriend of three years, Robert Pattinson. Who got in between them? Stewart's Snow White and Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders. A lot of fans were in disbelief claiming that the pictures might have been photo shopped but a public apology from Stewart was issued, thus, confirming that the reports were true.

My real concern with this issue is how it's going to affect the last installment of their Twilight movie. Will this scandal make or break Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2? What do you think?

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4K: Higher than High Definition

Many of you might be asking what 4k means. That's the same question I had before. I learned about 4k after CES, earlier this year. The highest resolution we used to know for both movies and television is 1080i/p (1,920x1,080 pixels) but now 4k (at least 3,840x2,160 pixels) is attempting to slowly take its place, especially after last week's announcement of LG's 84LM9600.

Based on my understanding of the online information I gathered about 4k, it works best on large screens which could be a possible reason for LG's 84-inch TV. Like 3D, the main criticism for 4k is the lack of 4k contents. It is also said that the main benefit of this higher definition would be the enhancement of passive 3D, which others criticized as not showing full 1080i/p resolution.

Last week, I saw a trailer for the first consumer 4k film and what can I say about it? Pure awesomeness!



TimeScapes: Rapture 4K from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.

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84-inch Ultra Definition TVs on Their Way to Korean Homes

Earlier this year at CES, LG showcased their 84-inch ultra definition HDTV and there were reports that it would be released this summer. I was skeptical with the speculations on when they would produce it for consumers, knowing that their google TV and OLED TV are also slated to be out this year. The announcement they made last week was a surprise for me.

 It was announced that they would be taking pre-orders (only in South Korea for the meantime) for 84 units of the 84LM9600,  priced at around 25 million Korean Won or around $22,000 each. Exclusivity comes with a very steep price! The TV is said to display a picture resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 UHDTV. 3D contents would still be displayed with 1080p resolution using passive technology. Of course it would still be equipped with Smart TV technology. It was also reported that those who would pre-order would  receive free 3D glasses and camcorders.

I've seen pictures of the TV like the one I posted above and I find myself imagining how immersive the viewing experience will be.

Should someone give you $50,000, will you spend a portion of it in buying this TV?

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Christian Bale: My Heart Goes Out to Them

Last Friday, The Dark Knight Rises made history and not because of ticket sales but because of a gruesome massacre which killed 12 people and left 58 injured. It was reported that the cast was deeply saddened of what happened and Christian Bale, who played Bruce Wayne/ Batman in the movie issued this statement:

"Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them."

Like what Christian Bale said, I may not know exactly how the people who lost their loved ones  feel but I extend my condolences to them. This nonsense massacre has truly saddened the whole America.

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Comic-Con International 2012

If you're into movies, video games or comic books I'm sure you know about the Comic-Con which happened last July 12-15 in San Diego.

There were a lot of announcements made and for me the highlights are from Marvel Studios and Legendary Pictures.

Marvel announced that there will be a third installment for Iron Man and is scheduled for the next summer. There would also be upcoming sequels for Thor and Captain America.

 Legendary Pictures and LG teamed up for this event. Legendary Pictures showcased their trailers using LG's latest HD Cinema 3D TVs namely LM6200 and LM7600

But the real shocker was announced by Legendary Pictures. There had been ongoing rumors that there will be another Godzilla movie and they put an end to all the speculations by showing a teaser trailer and a poster for it. I don't know how to describe the trailer but based on what I saw it's going to be more like the Godzilla we used to know. The new Godzilla movie would be directed by Gareth Edward who promised that they will take it seriously. Unfortunately, they didn't announce possible showing date yet.

How about you? What do you think are the highlights for this years Comic-Con?

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Olympic Uniforms for Team USA Made in China

A few weeks before the Olympics start and here we are arguing about Team USA's uniform. Americans have different opinions about the issue and as for me I agree that it should have been made here in the US. After all, the opening ceremonies is a chance to showcase what makes us proud as Americans. It doesn't feel right that while we are proud to be Americans, we're showing off products of another country. Indeed, outsourcing can't be stopped and we're not really asking Ralph Lauren to bring back all their production here. We understand that they are also thriving but they should have made an exception.

 As for the politicians, although I share the same sentiment, I think they should not put all the blame to the Olympic Committee. Come to think of it, the committee is privately funded. They are not really in the position to demand from the sponsors.

This argument should end soon because it will definitely affect Team USA. We don't want out team to lose focus, do we?

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Are you Ready for a Continental Drift?

Tomorrow we will know if Spidey will remain in the number 1 spot or if he will be ousted by Manny, Sid, Diego and Scrat.

The three other installment of the Ice Age Series have been very successful so there is a big chance that the fourth installment, which is a 3D computer animation, will reign this weekend.

Based on the trailers I've seen, the story would focus on family (which makes sense because families are their target audience) but they also added some spice to it by showing that Diego is bound to have a love life.

I will definitely watch this and there is a big possibility that this will be one of the movies I would want to have in blu ray. Judging by the scenes and angle shots this would look great in our LG Smart 3D TV, of course in 3D. I can imagine the kids asking me to play it over and over.

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Lord of the Rings Trilogy Converted to 3D

If there's one movie that I would really want to see in 3D that would be The Lord of the Rings.

I think the scenes are perfect for a 3D experience. Watch this trailer and try to imagine what I'm saying.




I looked for a blu ray 3D version but I didn't find any. But because I was really eager to see it in 3D, I tried converting it from 2D to 3D. No, I'm not a tech whiz but it was simple for me because my LG Smart 3D TV can convert 2D images to 3D. It's just one of the nice features of my TV even if it's an older model. I wasn't expecting that much mainly because it wasn't really a 3D movie but my TV did a great job in converting it. The 2D to 3D conversion feature of my TV is not perfect. Those filmed as 3D are definitely still better. I've tried this feature a couple of times for various programs and sometimes it really works great and sometimes not so great. The conversion doesn't depend on the TV alone. In fact it depends a lot on how the movie or show was shot or made. Bottom line is: 2D to 3D conversion in my TV works.

I really wish someone would initiate producing a 3D copy of this trilogy and I'm very sure it would be a massive hit.

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Talking to Your Future Self

Have you ever imagined doing that?

These past few weeks aside from my tv hunting I've also been VERY BUSY (I really have to emphasize that) with viral video hunting. I'm really amazed how these videos can make people very emotional. Last week,  some friends in facebook posted the same youtube link, I got curious and watched it. It's really well though out and it's hilarious for me. So, for those who didn't see it yet, here it is:

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Smart TV Alliance Consortium

LG and TP Vision, representing Philips TVs, have announced the formation of a Smart TV Alliance. 

What an exciting news for all the smart TV users. LG claimed the purpose is to simplify the User Interface and let the applications run on any smart TVs no matter what platform it uses.

Lots of other smart TV producers like Samsung, Sony also showed their willingness to join the alliance if it’s possible.

These year, LG came out with many outstanding tech invents. This time, LG will continue to represent leadership and prove this dream possible.  

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Make your own 3D contents

The other day, a friend of mine organized a 3D movie night to show off his new LG LM9600. All the old friends got together was really nice. We watched movies, we drank, and we talked but all of a sudden, my friend popped out a question. “Is there any way to make my own 3D content? Such a nice get-together night, I would like to document this kind of wonderful moment in 3D.”

I started to search. It’s actually not that difficult. Here we go.

First step: shooting

Items we need:

A 3D video camera or certain mobile phones, tablets come equipped with 3D cameras.

Second step: editing

Items we need:

Editing suite such as Roxio Creator or Magix Movie Edit Pro

Third step: sharing or viewing

Items we need: Youtube

(YouTube 3D works best with the following formats:

• H264 AVC 1920x1080 Side by Side L/R with SEI Frame Packing Arrangement metadata.
• Tip: You can use x264 to encode SEI FPA information.
• WebM 1920x1080 Side by Side L/R with StereoMode information.)

A 3D TV

• active 3D TV brands: Samsung, Sony, Panasonic
• Passive 3D TV brands: LG, Toshiba, Vizio

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Amazon's Best Deals

I visited a couple of online retailers to see what they have for fourth of July. I still didn't upgrade my TV. When I went to Amazon, I checked their today's deals and under their best deals I found this:

 

I checked the available TVs but they don't show the price. They can't because they said it's lower than the suggested retail price. You have to add it on your cart  first before they could show you the price. Out of curiosity, I added LG 47LM6200 because I have another post about it and at that time it costs a grand. Now, here's their price:

I haven't decided which LG TV model I like yet but it says I have until the 28th to take advantage of the discount. For those who are planning to get a new TV, Amazon's deals are really better compared to other online retailers.

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The Amazing Spider Man: The Long Wait is about to End

More than a month ago, I posted about the movie's release date together with its trailer. I still can't understand why it has to be released in some part of Europe and Asia 5 days earlier than here in the US. Anyway, two more sleeps and I would see it in IMAX.

I'm excited to see it in 3D because according to Wikipedia, 3ality technology made it possible not to be post converted to 3D. It is said that it is the first to be filmed in 3D using 3ality Digital's TS-5 wireless and handheld beamsplitter mirror rig. In short, it is not up-converted.

I watched several trailers and I know it would really look cool in 3D. Thanks to the scenes with sweeping camera effects. Looks like this would be included in my collection of movies which I watch over and over in my LG Smart 3D TV. I would definitely look forward for its 3D blu ray version.

Here's another trailer for The Amazing Spider Man:

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