The other day my wife showed me an article in Martha Stewart Living magazine about how to hide home electronics. Fundamentally, I have issues with that since I love seeing my home electronics. We have been debating about whether or not we should have a TV in the bedroom (we do have a 22" LCD in the bathroom). Ascetically, TV's don't look great in bedroom's, so having one popup from a little cabinet is a pretty cool idea. I'm all about building my own furniture (here and here) and love the idea of getting a lift -- more gadgets and mechanics -- problem, cost!

Draper has released their FSL-F-50 Flatscreen Lift that can accommodate virtually any available model of display up to 50" diagonal. The unit is an easy “drop-in” installation into your cabinetry or furniture so you don't need to engineer anything special. In addition, it features a unique secondary shelf beneath the display itself, allowing you to attach a matching trim piece to fill the opening left by the open cabinet lid for a clean, finished appearance when raised.

Here are a few more specs:
- Lifting capacity is 210 lbs.
- No display width limitation
- Vertical extension up to 148% of its stored height
- depth is 4" Overall height is 29.75"
- Optional cable management system
- Optional RS232 control
- Travel Speed is 13/8" per second
- Deployment time (without load) is 33 seconds
- Universal Mounting Bracket is included

The FSL-F-50 retails for $3325 with options adding $57 - $215 -- making this flatscreen lift idea a pretty expensive one.

I just came across a cool way to rack your iPod (all models) and iPhone. The Raxxess iRDS in-rack iPod docking station comes in two models. The iRDS-1 which racks a single iPod and the iRDS-2 which racks a two iPods. The in-rack iPod docking station provides Firewire, and USB and audio outputs and when not in use, the dock pushes back into the rack leaving you a clean flat panel. The iRDS is available now and retails for $168.00 and $336 respectively.

I just got a Viewsonic Precision PRO8100 in for review. This unit will only be available through custom installers and select retailers (not available online).

The specs on this projector look great on paper and I will be doing a full video review of this unit. My reference point will be an ISF calibrated NEC XG CRT projector and sources will include HD DVD, Blu-ray and DVD via a Windows Media Center PC using HDMI connectivity. For fun, I will even check out my old LaserDisc collection's quality connected to the analog output from my reference Pioneer CLD-97.

If you have any specific requests you'd like me to include in the review, please post it in the comments. This projector is aimed at competing with the JVC RS-2 (my current favorite) and the Sony VPL-VW60. This may just be the hottest projector to date!

I was a huge supporter of HD DVD from the beginning but quickly sensed that business would win over what's good for consumers. I have a feeling both platforms participated in a little "payola" when it comes to getting studios on board, ultimately Blu-ray throwing the most cash. There is no way studios would pick one format over another if there wasn't -- we're not seeing them support only iTunes.

When it came to technological disadvantages, HD DVD lost on space -- some might even argue the discs also scratched easier than Blu-ray. I felt that the space thing really was a non-issue, but apparently we do look at size vs. features. HD DVD was built around extensibility, it supported XML as the interactive layer which, I feel is better than clunky JAVA. It also seems like HD DVD was better thought out, I liked the constancy of the menus and how easy and seamless the interactive content worked. HD DVD also supported managed copies and was more affordable than Blu-ray. HD DVD also had network connectivity from the beginning. I don't see how Blu-ray's "player profile" are consumer friendly... now buyers need to know what player profiles their player is so they know what kind of interactivity and features they can or cannot view. The only Blu-ray player that has the hardware to support future profiles is the PS3. HD DVD never had this issue, it was all planned and designed at the beginning... how does this make Blu-ray more consumer friendly?

My feeling was that HD DVD was closer to getting us away from polycarbonate discs and to a download or IP distribution model given Microsoft's involvment. The interactive model supported it and it was a more evolved WMV HD discs Microsoft released years ago where you could distribute on disc or online depending on the licensing model that was chosen. Blu-ray is designed to keep stamping discs for years to come -- maybe that's why studios supported this format -- gives them more security and is not disruptive. I really hope we're not still using discs in five years.

Towards the end of the format war, I supported both with my LG dual format PC drive. I am interested to see how Blu-ray support will be incorporated into Media Center/XBOX 360 and if Microsoft will decide to just support an IP distribution model. Until then, I will keep buying and watching any HD format the movies I want to see are on. R.I.P HD DVD.