The Neuros OSD connects

The Neuros OSD connects to your TV or home theater system and allows you to archive all of your DVD and video content.

Plug the Neuros OSD into your TV, connect your DVD Player or VCR, and hit play. Your movie will be safely and legally transferred into a digital library! It works with home movies too. Just plug your video camera into the OSD, push play, and your memories are digitized.

With the Neuros OSD, you can store hundreds of hours of video in one location (like an external hard drive), get rid of those bulky cases, put an end to DVD damage, and instantly access any of your videos with the push of a button on a remote. You can even transfer your video content to a portable device (video iPod, PSP, mobile phone, etc.) to watch on the go, or email your home movies to friends and family.

Open Recording

MEET THE NEUROS OSD, an Open Source Device that uses a memory card or a USB storage device to save copies of anything that plays on your TV screen. Without the hassle of a Media Center's DRM, the Neuros OSD can rip from DVD, VHS, cable, satellite, or mobile phones connected via line-in. The OSD saves recordings in MPEG-4 format, which means the video will play on my iPod and W910i Walkman phone. You can get yourself a Neuros OSD in the States at Fry’s, Micro Center, J&R Electronics and online through several resellers. It costs less than €200 if you walk into a shop in the States and just under €240 if you buy it from Maplin Electronics.

According to the New York Times, "The OSD has not only open hardware, but also open software: it is based on the Linux operating system. Neuros Technology encourages hacking of the device; it has contests with cash rewards for new applications for the OSD. One winner, for instance, designed a program that lets people use it to watch YouTube on their televisions."

Using the OSD for daily video recording demands no special technical background, and no PC is required. It installs quickly. Just plug in any form of USB memory (a hard drive or gig card) in one slot, plug the television into another slot and you're off. If you watch a DVD on your TV, your Neuros can record it directly to your memory stick. This means I could slot in an M2 memory card and record directly from DVD to my Walkman W910i.

You get all the menu items for recording directly onto the TV screen and use the Neuros remote control to select your options. You can also link the Neuros directly onto your home network and record to a network device.

I like the idea of recording educational videos, viewing them on a monitor, and knowing they are recording directly onto a takeaway storage device. That's real innovation.

Original article source: http://www.neurostechnology.com/

http://www.insideview.ie/irisheyes/2008/01/open-recording.html

King of California soon on HD DVD and Blu-ray

King of California on HD DVD and Blu-ray.

What's New
By Henning Molbaek
FIRST ONLINE Jan 4, 2008

First Look will release "King of California" on HD DVD and Blu-ray this January 29th. The film stars Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood.

Extras will include: a "Making-of Featurette," "Outtakes," and "Previews."

Be sure to check under Related Releases below for more details.

Synopsis:
At age sixteen, Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood) has already been abandoned by her mother, dropped out of school and has been supporting herself as an employee at McDonald's while her father Charlie (Michael Douglas) resides in a mental institution.

When Charlie is released and sent back to their home, the relatively peaceful existence Miranda´s built for herself becomes completely disrupted. Charlie has become obsessed with the notion that a long-lost Spanish treasure is buried underneath their local suburban California Costco.

Initially sceptical, Miranda soon finds herself joining in Charlie´s questionable antics in an effort to give him one last shot at accomplishing his dreams in this darkly funny, exciting and surprisingly hopeful take on the modern family and the American dream.

Original article source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/king-of-california-soon-on-hd-dvd-and-blu-ray/5057

Humoresque - Movies on this week

Overview for Humoresque (1947)
Brief Synopsis:
Helen Wright, a neurotic society woman, sets her sights on ambitious young violinist Paul Boray, who returns her love, but is undeterred from his music. She becomes his patron, helping him to great success, but cannot abide being of secondary importance ("second fiddle?") in his life. Tragedy ensues. MPAA rating: Runtime Listing: 123-124 or 126 mins. Color/BW: Black and White Sound: Mono (RCA Sound System)

Cast/Crew Click for TCM Bio Joan Crawford (Helen Wright) John Garfield (Paul Boray) Oscar Levant (Sid Jeffers) J. Carrol Naish (Rudy Boray) Joan Chandler (Gina) Tom D'Andrea (Phil Boray) Peggy Knudson (Florence [Boray]) Ruth Nelson (Esther Boray) Craig Stevens (Monte Loeffler) Paul Cavanagh (Victor Wright) Richard Gaines ([Frederick] Bauer) >>Complete Cast and Crew	Director: Jean Negulesco Release Date: 25 Jan 1947 Premiere Information: New York opening: 25 Dec 1946 Production Date: mid-Dec 1945--mid-Apr 1946 Duration (in mins): 123-124 or 126 Duration (in feet): 11,210 Production Company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. Distribution Company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. Country: United States

Synopsis

After renowned violinist Paul Boray cancels his New York City performance, he tells Frederick Bauer, his manager, how much he wishes he were still the simple, happy child that he used to be: Paul first becomes interested in the violin as a child on New York's East Side in 1920 and chooses the instrument, rather than a toy, for a birthday present. Encouraged by his mother Esther, Paul becomes proficient and attends music school. During the Depression of the 1930s, the family grocery store suffers. Phil, Paul's older brother, who is out of work, resents the fact that Paul spends his time practicing instead of working. Wounded by his brother's comments, Paul gets a job with a radio orchestra with the help of his friend, pianist Sid Jeffers, but is fired when he objects to the station's policy of cutting compositions to fit into an allotted time. Paul then decides that he is ready to make his concert debut. Sid suggests that he attend a party at the home of socialites Helen and Victor Wright, where he might meet people who will help him financially. Despite Paul's surly attitude, Helen is intrigued by his talent and offers to help him become established as an artist. She introduces him to Bauer and pays for his first public recital. Afterward, Paul's family has a small party in his honor, which he misses because he is celebrating with the Wrights. Esther warns Paul not to become involved with Helen and reminds him about Gina, a fellow student, who loves him. With Helen's aid, Paul becomes a successful performer, and eventually, he and Helen fall in love. When Victor offers Helen a divorce, she hurries to the hall where Paul is rehearsing to tell him, but he refuses to interrupt the rehearsal to talk to her. Helen feels that his dedication is a rejection and, as she often does, eases her pain by drinking. Later, Paul and Helen are reconciled and make plans to marry. Helen then attempts to make peace with Esther, who reminds Helen about her three previous marriages and begs her to consider the effect her drinking and need for attention will have on Paul's career. One night, while Paul performs on the radio, a drunken Helen realizes that she will never mean as much to Paul as his music and walks into the ocean to her death. Paul is devastated and cancels his concert appearances, but now knows that he must go on with his music.

Original article source: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/title.jsp?stid=619