Hasta La Gadget!

Nintendo’s “enhanced remake” of the legendary N64 launch title Super Mario 64 was a Nintendo DS port that added new characters, game modes and more. With his remake, YouTuber Aryoksini is going to improve at least one aspect of the game: its graphics.

Aryoksini is remaking Super Mario 64 using Blender, an open source 3D animation suite that has a built-in game engine. He has a long way to go – and that’s if Nintendo allows him to go on – and makes it clear that the video you see below shouldn’t reflect the finished game.

Keep an eye on Aryoksini’s YouTube channel for future updates. Nintendo’s lawyers You can also watch him work on the game on his Twitch channel.

[via CVG]

If there’s one thing that today’s flat-screen TVs have led to is a lack of the sort of unique designs that CRTs used to offer. I suppose this is a good thing, as HDTVs are designed to focus our attention on the image itself. That said, if you’re looking for a TV that looks different than all the others, check out this retro-style set from Seiki.

The bright red Seiki Digital SE22FR01 set is a full 1080p, 22-inch display, but it looks like an old TV from the late 1960s or early 1970s. The set offers all the modern conveniences, including inputs for HDMI, component, composite and VGA devices, and a remote control. And since the display has a chubby case, it’s got room inside for a better speaker than typical small HDTVs, with a built in 20-watt Yamaha subwoofer. Naturally, it’s got an old-school power switch and a volume dial.

You can get your hands on the Seiki retro-style HDTV from Amazon for $199.98(USD).

Netflix has enabled Super HD video for all of its streaming subscribers, having trialled the low-compression system earlier this year in an ISP-dependent test run. Then, Netflix only offered the service – which is 1080p Full HD, but using less compression for better quality visuals – to those viewers using an ISP with a direct […]

Ever since Netflix introduced its SuperHD streaming with higher quality 1080p video and 3D support at CES in January, it’s been restricted to only ISPs participating in its OpenConnect CDN program. Tonight, either there’s some kind of glitch or that participation has been expanded, because users with previously unsupported ISPs are seeing SuperHD buttons on Netflix as well. We’ve been able to confirm it and even stream SuperHD and 3D video on previously unsupported ISPs like Comcast and Verizon. There are several reports on Twitter of people suddenly seeing the option as well, and we’ve contacted Netflix to see what’s going on. So far the company has not responded, but if you’ve been waiting for some higher quality streaming options, hit the test page to see if you have the green light then try it out on a SuperHD-ready device (PS3, Roku, Apple TV, Wii U, Windows 8 and some others).

Update: And just like that, they were gone. We’re getting reports from readers and seeing ourselves that the green light has gone back to red and SuperHD streaming is no more on our Comcast connection. We have yet to hear from the company but right now a glitch or accident of some kind is the most likely explanation — luckily it lasted just long enough for us to get through a 3D highlight reel from Art of Flight.

[Thanks, Tim]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Netflix

If you’re yearning for a super high res HDTV and the usual suspects’ products are just a bit too pricey, there’s a new challenger about to join: China’s TCL. Its fall lineup of televisions leads with a 50-inch 4K model (shown above) due in September priced at just $999. It joins Seiki as a Chinese manufacturer bringing budget priced Ultra HD panels to the US with this 120Hz edge lit LED model that packs 4 HDMI inputs with MHL support. If the 7E504D’s 3,840 x 2,160 resolution screen isn’t a must-have for you, it does have some more traditional HDTVs on the way in the form of its 5510 series.

They include 40-, 46- and 55-inch 1080p models, priced at $399, $499 and $799, respectively. The largest one includes built-in WiFi with Smart TV features including Netflix, YouTube and Yahoo Apps, and all go on sale in August. So far, reviews of the Seiki UHDTVs have suggested resolution isn’t everything even at these prices (and especially at this screen size) — we’ll be waiting to see if TCL’s scaling, contrast, motion processing and other qualities can match up with the big guys.

Filed under: HD

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