Cartoons For Grown Ups - The Adult Swim Nation

When I was a kid, cartoons were just that, cartoons. They were semi-mindless drivel that served the purpose keeping kids under control for the few hours between school and dinner. Then came along a few enterprising geniuses who changed all that. Matt Groening and Mike Judge are two of the best examples, progenitors of the "adult cartoon". Now, the idea wasn't new at the time. The Flintstones and Jetsons were primetime offerings in their day, but face it, they're kids fare. It was men like Groening and Judge who recognized the flexibility of the medium and the endless potential (reliant only upon voice actor longevity and good writing) of a cartoon sitcom.

These days, the cartoon world is an entirely different place. The kids cartoons from our youth are bigger, badder, and cruder than they ever were. And the market for adult oriented animation has exploded. Not only is The Simpsons still around, but now we've got Family Guy, South Park, Futurama, and the whole Adult Swim phenomenon.

What is it then that creates this rabid demand by increasingly older generations for animated comedy. In part, nostalgia plays a huge role. Growing up in the 80s or 90s, every American youth had a keen eye on the Saturday morning and after school cartoon farms. It was part of life, and not something most enjoyed leaving behind when they grew up. But, the jokes are sophomoric, the plotlines ridiculous, and for the most part cheesy. The cartoons of childhood (and thank you DVD release for allowing us to relive and cringe through them) were a bit too goofy for the adult mentality. No wonder our parents were nowhere to be seen. But, the cathartic joy of hand drawn television still lingers and so the prospect of the more adult, more mature cartoon flourishes.

Of course, let us not forget the influx of yet another cultural force in the last 10 years or so, that of the Japanese cartoon. Japanese animation - anime - never dedicated itself to the notion of children's animation as much as their American counterparts. For the most part, they've been utilizing the medium for years with adult oriented, often times very much so, animation that just now is finding its way into the American consciousness. Films like Akira and the works of Hayao Miyazaki inched into the American marketplace in the 90s and then exploded in the new century, nearly taking over most US channels, including the previously brand loyal WB and Cartoon Networks. The idea that a compelling, serialized story could be told with animation was purely Japanese and the results are often times amazing.
Even now the American counterpart is mostly satire and poop jokes. But, then again, they sure are some poop jokes.

Desire Riviera Maya Resorts - Fulfills Your Sexual Yearn

"He who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence" - William Blake

Everyone has certain desires hidden in their heart and they hope to fulfill them at some point of time. Some people have financial and materialistic desires while some have sexual desires. However, now you can fulfill your sexual desires at the exotic locations of Desire Riviera Maya resorts. This swinger resort is specially meant for couples and individuals who wish to explore their sensuality in a sexually liberal environment.

Some people are highly romantic at heart and wish to experiment with their sexual prowess. Hence, they look for an environment that provides them with the liberty to profess their heartfelt sexual desires. The Desire Riviera Maya resort gives them the liberty to indulge into sexual acts with likeminded women, men or couples. These people enjoy various sexual activities like exhibitionism, voyeurism, homosexual activities, group sex, full and soft swap etc. Hence, you can explore different sexual avenues during your stay at the Desire Riviera Maya resorts.

Moreover, you'll be provided with some excellent services like:

King size rooms with neat and clean furniture, TV, DVD, mirrors, cupboards, spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers and Jacuzzis.

Several restaurants with Chinese, Japanese, Italian and continental delicacies. You can also get the meals delivered in your private cabin.

Fitness centers for ladies and men.

A beauty salon where you can pamper your body while indulging into a spa or body massage.

Bars and discotheque which serve you the most aphrodisiac drinks and cocktails.

Internet booth, shopping center etc.

Hence, these excellent facilities and sexually liberal vacation will add on to your swinger vacation at the Desire Riviera Maya Resorts. So, just bring your credit cards and book your ticket to the erotic location of Cancun beaches in order to enjoy an exhilarating vacation with your loved ones.

Anime Comics Has Increased in Popularity in America

Gen-X'ers and older Gen-Y's grew up in the 1980s, when comic book series cartoons like "The X-Men," "Justice League," "Captain America," "Teen Titans," "Spider-Man," "Batman," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "The Transformers." As these kids aged, they became adults in their 20s and 30s, creating comic book movie blockbusters to keep the legacy going. The next generation of younger Gen-Y's would look to Japan and China for their comic book series. They grew up with "Dragonball Z," "Pokemon" and "Sailor Moon." Anime comics came to America with surprising fervor and it's not likely to dissipate anytime soon.

The DC and Marvel Comic fans sometimes view anime fans as the ultimate nerds, the plot lines as "cheesy" and the characters as "daft" or "annoying." Older Americans often scratch their heads and ask, "Why are anime comics so popular among today's youth?" Some could argue it was a massive advertising campaign that came over from Japan, who saw America and Europe as large, untapped markets. The challenge was to rework their material into exportable goods with English sub-titles and over-dubs.

They farmed enthusiasm with several different products, with movies like "Ghost in the Shell" or "Akira" and cartoon series like "Dragonball Z," "Pokemon" and "Sailor Moon." The basic business model was to keep costs low, try a little of everything and see what works. Once their endeavors showed great success, the merchandise, the manga comics and the graphic novels made their way over as well. It was the basic economic edict of supply and demand. Give the fans what they want in every capacity, such as with figurines, costumes, backpacks, t-shirts, manga comics, DVDs, downloads and comic book series.

Moreover, the messages in anime comics reach today's youth at a level that traditional DC or Marvel comic books missed. Anime focuses more on emotions, relationship struggles, introspection, adventurous personal quests and the hero's journey; all in surreal, magical surroundings. Unlike cartoons for kids, anime characters will die and complex relationships are formed. Nothing is off-limits in the anime world, not even sex or violence.

People are confronted with deep concepts and provoked to think about the meaning of life. In a way, it's the softer, psychological side of Marvel, blended with the magical, omniscient qualities of a DC superhero: the best of both worlds. For the male fans, some manga comics are adapted to show sexier heroines -- some in their coy school girl uniforms, others with more Westernized curves and futuristic apparel. Yet for the female fans, plots center on soap opera type stories of love, longing and character development. In fact, women make up half the attendees at the anime comics conventions.

Some of the most-viewed anime comics today include Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, Bleach, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Naruto, Death Note, FLCL, Princess Mononoke (movie), Trigun, Inyuasha and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The most critically acclaimed anime film of 2007 was "Paprika," where researchers developed a device that allowed them to go inside people's dreams for psychotherapeutic treatment purposes. Often the subject matter of anime graphic novels and series looks at science-fiction type materials or include evolved species, monsters and zombies in their series. The adult topics of sex and violence mature and grow with viewers, keeping them life-long fans.

Naruto Spoilers

Naruto Spoilers, you really do either love them or hate them and its the same with any other manga.

The worst thing ever is coming across a spoiler by accident, the day before you read the latest chapter. Actually, the worst thing ever might be for an anime watcher turned manga reader coming across a spoiler when you have only just started reading the manga, and the spoiler happens 400 chapters later! Been there.

On the other hand, it could be the best thing ever, if you're the type of person that cannot wait for the real thing to come out.

Manga spoilers these days are not readily available from a large number of sources. There may only actually be a handful of J-Citizens out there that inform the Western manga community of the ongoings, as the manga is released in stores weekly in Japan of course. When the actual thing is released, the chapter then gets thrown into the otaku production like, scanned by a faithful Japanese citizen and then uploaded to be translated into English by their Western colleagues. During this period, the 'professional' groups have different members assigned to different roles i.e. a scanner, a mopper and translator (or two). Collectively, this is known as a scanliation group, smart eh? The mopper by the way, edits the manga graphically so it appears whiter and cleaner than the original scan did.

Like it or love it, it is yet another fine example how things in this world are evolving with the Internet!

Samsung BD-P1400 Reviews of the Multi-Region Blu-Ray Disc Player Version

Region code Areas

The multi-region version plays all REGION A And B Blu-Ray Disc movies on any TV with HDMI input.

A/1North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.

B/2Europe, Greenland, French territories, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, plus all of Oceania.

C/3India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mainland China, Pakistan, Russia, Central, and South Asia.

Reviews of the BLU-RAY BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player (the is no difference in basic specifications for the
Region A version and the Region A and B Multi-region version so all reviews stand for both versions.):

It's good: Excellent image quality on Blu-ray movies; outstanding soundtrack support with onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD High Resolution and bitstream output for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio; relatively low price compared to other standalone Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player s; Ethernet port for updating firmware.
MDOJ,

My BD-P1400 arrived late yesterday! The firmware was updated last night via internet download and burning a CD. First impressions:

Video - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Audio - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

I have tried a regular DVD and one BRD so far and am very pleased. Load
times are very acceptable. No negatives from me on this unit so far. Will
report more later when I get some of the more seemingly problematic BRDs.

The BD-P1400 has classic Samsung style. The front of the unit is all glossy black, with a thin strip of silver along the bottom.

Got my Samsung BD-P1400 last night and boy was I excited!! Before this review, let me start by saying that this is the first and only Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player that I have owned and that I may not make some of the comparisons you are looking for. If I don't, just lemme know! I also want to say that I have NOT upgraded to the latest firmware yet as my modem is not near a TV.

Picture

Excellent, duh...... inky blacks, great contrast, detail, everything you expect from Blu

Design: Wonderful looking BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player , the best yet I think. Face is very open, not cluttered, and the piano gloss finish rocks. Good remote too.
Load Times Wonderful. I have 5 movies so far and they all loaded in approx. 15 seconds. Then there was the new F4 Silver Surfer.... This is a BD+ title from Fox and many have had complaints about its load time. The BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player gave me no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible. Let me say again that this is right out of the box, no firmware update yet!

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.
Sound

I have not played with the sound much as I don't have my Onkyo TX-SR705 yet. I did notice that there is an option to set the speakers from small to large in analog 5.1 out mode. There are other discussions and reports of people getting full DTS-MA bitstream from this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player (after firmware upgrade) on other threads and forums. I'm getting very anxious to try this out!

Others

The rest of the stuff is pretty standard. 128x max forward, unit resumes same position in the movie even after powered off, pretty good response times from remote keys, etc.

All in all, this is a dynamite BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player. With the firmware upgrade, this guy will do just about anything that you can expect from a blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player right now!!

In addition to Blu-ray discs, the Samsung BD-P1400 can play standard-definition DVDs and CDs.

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

The BD-PBD-P1400's high-resolution soundtrack support is excellent. It has onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD High Resolution, which means it can output these soundtracks either in PCM format over the HDMI output or via the analog outputs. For newer receivers, the BD-P1400 also offers bitstream output for high-resolution soundtracks. So if you have a newer receiver with onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, you can set the BD-P1400 to output audio over HDMI in encoded bitstream format--letting your receiver do the decoding, rather than the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

There should be absolutely no sound quality difference whether you let the receiver decode or the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player decode, but some AV fans just love seeing the "Dolby TrueHD" light on their new receiver. If you need a Code free Converting DVD Disc Player for .95 Planet Omni also has that and they come with 2 warranties. So far, I am really happy with this purchase. I was not sure I made the right deal because of the negative reviews I read but bought it anyway.

I really don't know why people get upset when it only takes two minutes to get ready to play. I have used it several times with Blu-Ray disks rented from Netflix with no problems. I am still waiting for the eight free movies.

Connectivity is also solid. There's an HDMI output capable of carrying both 1080p video signals and high-resolution audio.

For high-def analog video, there's a component video output (limited to 1080i), and there's an S-Video output and a composite output for standard-def output. (As with all DVD BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player s, there is no DVD upscaling available via component video). On the audio side, there's the aforementioned HDMI output, along with 5.1-channel analog outputs, both optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, and stereo analog outputs.

Rounding out the connectivity is an Ethernet port, which enables you to upgrade the firmware from the Internet--a feature that's been common to HD DVD Players, but very rare among Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Players.

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

The BD-P1400 did a good job of rendering the opening sequence of Star Trek: Insurrection, demonstrating its 2:3 pull-down prowess. Next up was Seabiscuit, and the BD-P1400 did a solid job with the difficult introduction, with few to no jaggies on the black and white photos.

MDOJ,

Just a quick update on the Samy BD-P1400. I have rented some BR's from Netflix and have really been enjoying the BD-P1400 - how about you? All the techno mumbo jumbo aside, as far as I'm concerned this is a great BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

I hope that the head dudes in charge of this forum will make a sticky for the Samsung BD-P1400 - hint - hint! watching home movies here...not saving lives.

The Samsung is a REALLY good unit for the price. The multi-region version is just 9.95 from Planet Omni and considering they use a double motherboard specially imported which must cost a fortune plus the intensive labor it's a real great bargain, IMHO.

I was able to plug my unit directly into my modem with a network cable (as per Samsungs directions in the user manual) and the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player found it's new firmware and loaded it up without the need for me to get on the computer, burn disks...etc. Very cool.

The Samsung has a great image and with the current update I can listen to DTS-HD Master Audio (Sony can't say that for twice the price!).

With the pace at which the technology is moving I think it is very difficult for a manufacturer to manufacture these units, get them to market and have them totally "current" with the new disk technology, (which is changing daily), but Samsung has provided me with a unit that I can just plug into my modem and get an update when they have it available. I think that is AMAZING.

A little patience and understanding can go a long way. After all...it wasn't that long ago that when you bought an electronic component, you couldn't update it at all. I am sure Samsung will come thru with an update soon. I have not run into any disks I could not play as of yet.

Having never seen a 1200 in action, I can't help you - but the BD-P1400 PQ is excellent, but that's what Blu is all about - right?

I have tried several BD's from Netflix as well as a few standard def DVD's. All were great. As far as the handshake issue, I'm not really sure what that is.... and for the off, then play thing... why would you want to do that in a movie anyways?

Great BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player, I couldn't be more happy I got the new BD-P1400 last week. returned the 1200 to get it. (plus 100 price difference in my favor. PROS= the pic quality is by far the best I've seen, even better then the panny I had.

Controls are easy and setup just the same. I don't like it loses the signal at the beginning of the discs.
AUDIO= I am not able to use all the audio features due to my ONKYO being a few years old. I have it setup with a digital optical cable, the sound is really excellent except for the POPS I get every now and then.

As for the BD discs, POTC about 2 minutes, have had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, with any other BD movies. I did notice that after I hit pause and went to hit play, the movie would play for a minute and then stop. I had to hit play again. No big deal.

Used the Ethernet port to download new firmware, can't tell the difference though. I am sorry I am not that technical but this is my blue collar review. any??????s I will answer the best I can

Just finished watching Casino Royale - spectacular!

I have a Playstation 3 that has awesome picture quality for both Blu-Ray and upscaling of Standard DVD's since a software upgrade. We use this for our main HD TV in the family room. I needed another BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player for a second HD TV we just had hung in our bedroom.

I waited for the BD-P1400 to become available since I already committed to the Blu-Ray format and wanted the latest technology available. I cannot say enough about the sound quality that this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player offers, it is unbelievable. The picture quality is excellent and on par with the Playstation 3. I am seriously considering purchasing a second BD-P1400 for our main set because of the outstanding sound. Great BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player especially for the money.

By far the best Blu-ray I ever tested. Never watch cartoons but now I'm spending a lot of time watching with my kids.

This is a great Blue Ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player. DTS HD MA bitstream finally. I have owned this product for about two months and am thrilled with it; it is really a good deal. I only use my Blu Ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player to play Blu Ray movies, since the sound is piped into a Samsung 5-disc receiver. The picture quality is amazing. I own four Blu Ray discs (which I purchased on Amazon at .99 each) and they all play beautifully, with no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, and a crystal clear picture.

I bought this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player in December. I hooked it up with an HDMI cable to a Sony Receiver. The Cable Box from Comcast is also hooked up to the receiver. The receiver is connected to a 42 inch Panasonic 1080P Plasma. Three HDMI cables, that is it.

It has worked flawlessly from the beginning with every Blu-Ray disc we have tried. We get about one a week from Netflix. I can play Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Not sure why the other reviewer could not.

The picture quality is stunning with Planet Earth. I guess I can credit the Panasonic TV mostly for that.

I did the version 1.2 firmware upgrade in December. I just did the version 1.5 firmware upgrade yesterday Feb 5th. I downloaded both and created the ISO CD.

To me it works fast. So you have to wait a few seconds for it to boot up, so what? Go get the DVD while you are waiting.

Most computers nowadays take minutes to boot. I imagine it will never get better, likely probably worse over time since these are in essence computers, and the more technology advances the slower these machines are to turn on and load up.

After doing the firmware upgrade, I checked my settings and noticed they had been reset. If you have a digital receiver, you should make sure that the audio is set to 'bit rate' and not PCM if you want surround sound.

I also had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, playing regular DVDs or CDs either. So when it becomes obsolete, it will replace my other DVD BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player and improve the quality of the regular DVDs with my other older 720P Samsung set.

I don't think anyone should delay buying because of the format war. The minute you buy anything nowadays, it becomes obsolete and is eventually a throw away. So you at least enjoy it while you can, life is too short. At the prices today what the heck, it is cheap, buy now before the dollar becomes worthless! You can get an entire home theatre 1080P HDMI based system with speakers for less than $[...] right now. Thank you China! I got my HDMI cables from Planet Omni, .95 for 2 meter length, superb images and sound!

Before I hooked this up, I updated the firmware via the Ethernet port. Once that was done I have had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, with the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player at all. I debated whether or not to buy this due to some negative reviews, but the deal was just too good to pass up for a stand alone. Those of you that have had problems with this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player have every right to complain about them here, that's what these reviews are for.

However, the people complaining it isn't 1.1 or 2.0 (no BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is 2.0 yet) should stop. Nowhere in the description does it say this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is supposed to be 1.1. If you want to inform people there are updates coming and this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player will not be able to benefit, go ahead, but to say it is horrible and obsolete because of it being 1.0 is misleading. I have a feeling most people want to just watch the movie and would rarely use the features of 1.1 (like picture in picture commentary).

If that's you, this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is perfect. If you need a 1.1 BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player, get the panasonic. For me this one will work fine for the next couple of years while Blu-ray gets its act together and finalizes an emerging product. I hope those of you that have had problems were able to get them resolved and can now enjoy the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player as I do.

I have had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible with the Samsung BD-PBD-P1400. I just plugged it in, connected it to the internet and started the firmware upgrade utility. After about 20 minutes, the firmware upgrade was successful and I played my first movie without a glitch. Every movie I've played since has also played flawlessly. You can also upgrade the firmware by burning a CD or if you don't have internet, Samsung will send it to you.

This product works just fine on blu-ray disks, also on non-European format DVDs, and on music CD-ROMs. I have found no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible with it. It even does a superior job of showing plain DVDs on my 40" TV, where my previous DVD BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player only would take up part of the screen.

One clever and undocumented touch is that it seeks out the right TV input choice once a disk is inserted. It may help that the TV is also a Samsung.
I got this on Nov.30, 2007, and unlike what other reviewers have said, the BD-P1400 does start back where you stopped. Everything else looks and works great.

I'm editing this review on March 13, 2008, to reflect my experience with the machine. It appears to me that whether a DVD will start back where it stopped depends on how the DVD was manufactured, NOT on the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player . Some DVDs, such as "LOST, Season 3", don't even have chapter/scene makers on them, much less the ability to restart after a stop.

Some DVDs, such as "3:10 to Yuma", actually have their own system for marking where you stop or where you may want to go back to, but otherwise require a restart from scratch. But some DVDs do restart where stopped.

My chief complaint with Blu-Ray (not necessarily with this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player in particular) is that it takes FOREVER for a DVD to start up, then if you do have a DVD that won't restart from where it stopped, you have to go through the painfully long start-up again.

I've learned to NEVER PAUSE a DVD, which causes it to shut down the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player after a few minutes. Instead, I keep it going at 1/8 speed, then when I come back, I can easily back up to where I was -- a lot faster than a restart.

If there is a better BR BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player anywhere near this price range, I haven't heard of it. Now that HD DVD has died, I hope that DVD makers will focus their attention on making BR DVDs work more easily and FASTER.

This is a great player. The only issue is the firmware upgrade. I used CD-R/RW burning method...easiest and fastest. Burn *.iso image using nero burning rom software. The instructions are in [...]/support. I have both HD-DVD and blu-ray. so far blu-ray is better. HD looks like upconverted DVD. Read the instructions carefully i.e. the new Blu-ray "Live Free Die Hard" contains a note letting you know the software upgrade may be needed.

Lastly, remember this is HDMI 1.3 compatible...so in order to use 1.3 capabilities, you need a cable and TV which is HDMI 1.3 compatible also....the picture is great. Buy this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player and upgrade the software right away.

I have read and continue to see many complaints about different blu-ray and hd-dvd BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player s not working like people hoped. I can say that with this model I have had absolutely zero issues.

I am sure some people will write that it doesn't load this or doesn't do that, but it hasn't affected me. I have not found a single disc that has not played perfectly. What people have to remember is that in this day and age everything is like a computer, you may have to update, it is part of life now, get over it.

Will the manufacturers eventually get this flawless, probably so but in the mean time I will be enjoying my movies now. If you are an early adopter like I am on technology then any issues you might run into will be no big deal. The BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is easy to setup, easy to play and loads reasonably fast. Glad I bought it and already thinking about a second one for different room.

Complete satisfaction with this product. Greatly enhances my regular dvd's. I was really surprised about this claim, but the Samsung does as advertised. The blu-ray disc audio is very good. Can't wait until hooking this up with my new surround system.

This product is money well spent for the viewing pleasure it gives. I highly recommend this product.

For its price this is a steal. The audio and video quality here is great, the quality and selection of Blu-ray is top notch and you can be fairly confident you'll be getting blu-ray format movies made for you for years to come. One of the better options for a dedicated BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player if you're not interested in the PS3.

Before deciding to purchase my Samsung BD-P1400 I studied many of these customer reviews and they were very useful. I also read a dedicated AV Science forum online concerning this model BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player. First, all of the information and customer reviews highlight the endemic problem that implementation of newer Blu-Ray standards is occurring gradually. Moreover, features are evolving, meaning that we are all taking some chances when we purchase any Blu-Ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player (that is not a PS3).

I personally have no interest whatsoever in owning a game console. Second, many of these reviews describe in conscientious detail the kinds of problems that people are having, as well as whether and how the problems have been overcome. This review adds data to that second category - practical problems.

When my BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player arrived the very first thing I did was install the latest firmware downloaded from the Samsung web site. I suggest the method that uses a cd rather than a direct network connection; in either case the manuals and web site offer complete directions. Be sure to *confirm that the update was successful* by restarting the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player , re-inserting the firmware cd, and comparing the disk version to the installed version.

What problems have I had? In a month of watching Netflix discs I have had not one single hiccup, not a single blue screen, no refusals to play any of the BDs or SD-DVDs that others have had problems with - I have had *nothing but perfect performance*! True, some of the other criticisms like slower controls are inherent to the technology. But my BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player has been flawless and my expectations have been significantly exceeded. Without hesitation, I give my BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player five stars.

Pros: My favorite feature, by far, is the 24 frame per second output mode. Movies display exactly as they were intended - be that good or bad - and 'judder' in slowly-panned scenes is significantly improved compared to 30 FPS. This alone, in my opinion, warrants the relatively modest price tag. [In direct comparisons using my 50" plasma TV, the video quality of movies from the BD-P1400 at 24 FPS is clearly superior to the same discs when played through advanced computer video cards that cost the same!] I also like the features and layout of the remote control, which doubles up to control my Samsung TV. Yes, these are basic features within the realm of Blu-Ray, but they have been very capably implemented.

Cons: My only nit-pick is that I would like a set-up feature that allowed the audio and video outputs to be delayed relative to each other by a selectable increment. This would allow perfect lip-sync when using older (i.e. slower) audio decoders/receivers that are not HDMI 1.3 compliant. However, to my knowledge this feature is not offered on *any* new Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player , since the HDMI 1.3 standard incorporates an automatic synchronization feature if all the components are HDMI 1.3 compatible.

Maybe I've been lucky, but I have not had a single 'playability' issue using the latest build of the latest firmware. Based on this - 5 stars.

Let's hope that Samsung will support this model well into the future by further optimizing the operating firmware, as needed.
In brief: Outstanding picture quality---my wife and I say, even for stills, "Polaroid picture!", breathtaking.

The unit has all the requisite connections. I play it through a Yamaha av-tuner with 7.1 channels, via HDMI, but other connections are available.

There is a simple blue-ringed on-off button, and a tray open-close button; that's it on on-board controls. The remote has several levels of sophistication: It is easy to find and use the power, pause-play-rewind-fast/slow controls, those you will use 99% of the time. The remote also provides movie menu controls (e.g., language), player menu controls, and options for controlling other devices---learn to use them only if/when you need them. There was absolutely no setting up to do---plug and play! Great neuro-ergonomics, i.e., intuitive ease of use.

In over three weeks of regular usage, we have noted some glitches, but it's not clear if it is the player itself or the emerging technology. Several times, the unit went into "Stop" mode as if the button had been pushed; I had to hit "Play" to get the movie started again. Mildly distracting.

What would I also like? Perhaps controls for the av amplifier as well, although that unit has all the buttons needed for TV, player, and amp. Maybe better backlighting on all buttons. This is one heck of a deal, recommended to anyone wanting to get into blu-ray.
Good BluRay DVD. Easy to use. High definition DVD's look great but regular DVD's look better too.

No problems found yet.

the Samsung 1400 is significantly superior to the Toshiba HD-A3. The BD-P1400 supports not only TrueHD, but DTS-HD MA bitstream output over HDMI. The A3 can only extract the DTS 'core' and cannot send bitstream DTS-HD MA out. Only the HD-A35 and the XA2 can do that, but both are significantly costlier than this player. The BD-P1400 can also output full 1080p/24 video, while the A3 can only send out 1080i and does not support 24fps output.

Both are slow to load up, but the A3 is significantly slower, taking almost 2 full minutes to warm up the player and display video on your monitor/screen. The PS3 takes less than 30 seconds btw. The A3 is also very noisy, distractingly so especially because it is a high pitched noise that is hard to ignore.

Overall, the BD-P1400 is a high functioning blu-ray stand alone player, that supports lossless audio output (PCM, TrueHD, and DTS-HD MA) and 1080p/24. I would still recommend a four hundred dollar PS3 over the BD-P1400, but if you really want a standalone player, you can't go wrong with the BD-P1400.
I don't actually own this player, but I have a friend who bought one and he loves it.

This is a excellent blu ray and I am very happy with my purchase, I recommend this player to everyone and the price is great.

It did NOT disappoint in the slightest. I have not had any problems playing any DVD Blu-ray or not. I have not had to download any firm-ware to solve ANY issues. The BD-P1400 worked straight out of the box. The only thing that comes close to a con is that it's slow on start-up and loading.

I am very satisfied with this player and I'm happy. All I can report is that mine works perfectly so far, and I have recommended it to many of my friends when asked for an opinion.

Works wonderfully with my new Samsung plasma... Haven't experienced any issues expressed by other reviewers. Connected with an HDMI to TV and optical audio to Home Theater... Breathtaking PQ and sound.

This Blu-Ray player is first-class. Easy setup. This is my first Hi-Def player, and I am very happy with my purchase. I did the latest firmware update per the instructions in the manual, and it has functioned flawlessly. The player has a modern, slick, glossy appearance. The sounds are incredible, and the images are too beautiful to be described. Very easy to install and use. I never knew the difference that a Blu-ray player can make in the movie watching experience. I am not an expert, just a regular mom that purchased the blu-ray player for family viewing.

I have had this player for about a month now...After updating the firmware, it has been flawless. Amazing picture, quiet unit, looks great in the entertainment rack along with my HD DVD player.

The upconversion is wonderful! Best part is I can use optical and take advantage of the new audio codecs.

I give this player 5 stars!

Not a single problem. I even have it in a tight spot with 2" clearance above top and open back with No overheating problems. None of my movies have locked up or have been unable to play. I have tried Live Free or Die Hard, all the Harry Potters, Planet Earth and others. Firmware 1.5 arrived on Jan 24th and it has seemed to fix all the problems others were having. I would definitely recommend this player to others.

I have a PS3 and a Sony 300 S Blu-ray player, and they are both excellent blu-ray players. However, I love my new Samsung 1400 BD it can decode DTS HD sound, and it makes for a wonderful movie watching experience. The first thing a new owner should do is go to samusung.com and download the latest firmware update (it is a fast simple process). There are also instructions on the owner's manual that explains how to update the player. I have watched the latest Blu-ray releases from Fox, Disney, Sony, etc. and the picture/sound quality is outstanding. Very pleased with the product.

How to Use a Karaoke System

As an avid bathroom singer you want to get out of the bathroom and exercise your vocal chords. Well the karaoke system makes for just that. You can sing your song in the confines of your home. No one to poke fun at you and you can feel like a star.

Now that you have made up your mind to purchase a Karaoke System, begin to see what best fits your budget and that is technically advanced. Once you have brought your system home, think of a place you are going to keep it. Avoid a corner or an area that has too many hard surfaces as the sound echoes and cause more of cacophony than music.

If you want to know how to use a Karaoke system, well it's quite simple. You will need basic tools like a screwdriver, tester and some nails to fit the system on your stand or table. Open the box of the system and run through the manual. Then plug in all the wires in the desired extensions. A Karaoke DVD will appear on your monitor.

Adjust the volume with the main volume control of the video and the microphone. Adjust the video screen to the microphone stand and start a sample song. Allow your kids to have the first sample song. So they too feel involved in the new setup.

Although Karaoke is world famous it has its roots in Japan. Daisuke Inoue was a Japanese musician who invented the system. After gaining much deserved popularity it travelled to Southeast Asia in the 80s and then to the world.

Once you set-up the karaoke get friends and family over to have a ball of a time. It is a simple way to bond with your kids too. Time off at home could be a song at the Karaoke. Or give points to the one who finished homework faster so he or she gets the first song at the Karaoke.

You could even make money out of it by setting up a Karaoke in a room you do not use. Set it up carefully reading the manual or call the company which will set it up for you. Rent it out to people who would love to use it for a few hours. This set up works because as against a restaurant where there is perennial noise, here the room is quite and for their use only.

Download Anime Videos - Do Free Anime Videos Exist?

People love free stuff. This is why there are many folks who wish to download anime videos for free. The question is whether they do exist and what are the implications of getting hold of these videos? We will answer these questions as we explore the whole arena of downloading anime videos for free.

In a sentence, free videos for anime do exist. There are probably a handful of English anime fansubs available online for free. Basically, fansubs are the translated version of original Japanese cartoon videos. These are produced by fan groups and distributed for downloading. Be careful when you download anime videos at such sites. I will explain why.

Firstly, while it is free, you really have no idea if these are licensed copies. If they are not which I often suspect at those self-run sites put up by a few anime enthusiasts, you can get into tons of trouble especially with the law. Another issue that often plagues these free download sites is the lack of a secured downloading environment.

It is quite common for your computer to be exposed to a host of viruses, adware, spyware and other forms of malware. In minor cases, your computers only suffer a slow down. In serious cases, your hard drive may just die on you and you lose all your important documents. When these happen, you got to spend money getting a professional computer technician or replace your hard drive. All the reformatting and loss of confidential and personal documents make it not worthwhile to download anime videos at these free fan sites.

Since there are paid anime sites that are offering you unlimited access to the latest and even oldest anime videos for less than the price of a 4-episode Anime DVD, why go through the trouble and risk? These download services contain huge databases, often with more than a few hundred complete Japanese cartoon series with English subtitles and multi-language features available for downloading. Anyone can find anything from the old classics to the latest release. There are also multi-genres of videos available.

Anyone who is keen to find out a thing or two about where you can download anime videos of the latest and complete editions can check out my anime blog.

Evanescence the Little Rock Band With Huge Sound is First Class

Founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, by Amy Lee and former band member and co-founder Ben Moody at a youth camp in 1994, the band entered its early stages of musical endeavors. The first songs written by Moody and Lee were "Solitude", "Give Unto Me", "Understanding", and "My Immortal". At first only two of the songs were played on the radio but this helped the band gain recognition in the area. Soon after the band performed live for the first time and gained huge popularity in the area.

The first demo CD, Origin, was released in 2000.Two EPs were released by the band, titled Evanescence EP (only 100 copies were released) and Sound Asleep EP (only 50 copies were reeased). The demos of songs on the band's first album, Fallen, were seen on the two EPs. As a result of only 2500 copies of Origin being released, Lee and Moody told fans to download their older songs from the internet. Cool, right? The CD is virtually unknown.

Fallen, the bands next album, was completed with the lineup of John LeCompt, Rocky Gray, and Will Boyd. All three were friends of Lee and Moody and worked on the earlier songs put out by the band as well. The band signed on Wind-up Records, their first major label. They began to work on their next album and accepted an offer from Nintendo to perform in the Nintendo Fusion Tour.

The album Fallen was in the Billboard Top 10 for 43 weeks, then listed in the Billboard Top 200 for 104 weeks, selling 15 million copies worldwide. It becaome one of the eight albums in history to spend at least a year on the Billboard Top 50! The album was also certified 6 times Platinum in the US, selling 6.6 million copies in the US alone. The band was, needless to say, ecstatic.

The singles from the album include the major single, 'Bring Me to Life' (featuring guest vocals from Paul McCoy from 12 Stones) , which hit #5 on the American Billboard Hot 100 and 'My Immortal', which was #7 in US and UK charts and brought on the band's Grammys for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best New Artist. Both songs were on the Daredevil movie soundtrack. 'Going Under', which got #5 in the US Modern Rock Tracks and #8 in the UK charts and 'Everybody's Fool', which was #36 in the US Modern Rock Tracks and #23 on the UK charts were two other singles from the album. All of the singles had music videos to go with.

2004 brought a DVD/CD set called Anywhere But Home for Evanescence and their fans. The DVD has live footage from a concert in Paris and the classic behind-the-scenes look at backstage autographing and warm up sessions. The CD has the internationally released single 'Missing', which hit #1 in Spain. The live songs 'Breathe No More', 'Farther Away', and a cover of Korn's song 'Thoughtless' were also on the CD.

The Open Door, released in 2006, is the second studio album by Evanescence. Amy Lee and John LeCompt toured cities in Europe to promote the album. Fans who won competitions at the previews were treated to hearing the new album while Lee and LeCompt performed, answered questions, and signed autographs. Evanescence appeared on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien show and performed the single 'Call Me When You're Sober'. While in New York, the band did a photo shoot for the magazine Metal Edge.

Featuring 13 tracks, the album was released to Australia on September 30, 2006, the UK on October 2, 2006, and on October 3, 2006 to Canada and the US. The album was, of course, a bit hit and sold 447,000 copies in the US within its first week of sales and got the band their first #1 rank on the Billboard 200. This made it the 700th #1 album since the frequent feature of the chart in 1956.

The album took the band a lot of time to produce because of Lee's want to expand the creative process and not wanting to rush the production. In addition, the other band members had side projects that took up time, the guitarist Terry Balsamo suffering a stroke and the loss of the manager. Lee wrote on the band's fan forum that the new album would be done in March of 2006 but the release was changed to October because of Wind-Up records wanting to make changes to the single 'Call Me When You're Sober'. Interestingly, the video for the single was based on the story Little Red Riding Hood.

Evanescence began the tour for The Open Door in October of 2006 with stops in Canada, the US, Europe, Japan and Australia. The band returned to the US for a second tour with performances in the Argentinan fest Quilmes Rock in 2007 with Aerosmith, Velvet Revolver and other bands. The band also co-headlined in the Family Values Tour 2007 with bands including Korn. Evanescence closed the Europe tour in Ra'anana, Israel with a sell-out on June 26, 2007. The album tour was finished in December of 2007.

During the bands existance, it suffered lineup changes left and right. Moody, the co-founder and original lead guitarist, left during the Europe tour of Fallen in 2003 because of "creative differences". Lee has stated that it was a bit of a relief that he quit because there was tension within the band. Terry Balsamo replaced him.

In July of 2006, the band's bass guitarist Will Boyd left to be closer to his family and because of a desire not to do another big tour. Lee said that Tim McCord would switch instruments and play bass in Boyd's place. She also told fans about Boyd's departure on an unofficial fansite on August 10th of 2006.

As if things weren't already torn up, John LeCompt was apparently "fired" from Evanescence over the phone by Amy Lee. According to his Myspace blog, LeCompt had no warning to this and was given no negotiations. In addition the band's drummer, Rocky Gray, decided to quit but the reasons are unknown due to a gag order initiated by Win-up Records. Thankfully Lee stated that the band was alive and the upcoming events for tours had not been canceled or changed.

Two members from a band called Dark new Day joined Evanescence for a while, not leaving their band but touring with Evanescence until the end of the Family Values Tour in 2007 and continuing through The Open Door tour. These members are drummer Will Hunt and guitarist Troy McLawhorn. Currently the band is on a break and no information of any new albums or tours has been released.

Evanescence, despite the lineup changes and difficulties ensuing, has held their own. Amy Lee is currently the only original member left of the band and we all hope she continues to produce with the band, no matter how many lineup changes have to be made. Evanescence is definitely a first class band!

Know How to Defend Yourself Against a Bigger Attacker - 1 Secret Makes it Easier to Defend Yourself!

Do you want to able to defend yourself against a bigger, stronger attacker?

I know how you feel. I have always been short and, even though I have been involved in the martial arts and self defense since my teen years, when I became a police officer I found it nearly impossible to use what I learned in conventional martial arts against bigger attackers - let alone guys my own size!

I'm sure you can imagine just how confused and frustrated I was. All that time, effort, and training - for what? So I fully understand your own uncertainty at being able to defend yourself in a real self-defense street fight.

But, I have a secret for you... and here it is:

I learned what it takes to protect myself against a violent attacker who was bigger and stronger than me, and you can learn to defend yourself too!

Get this, almost 90% of attacks can be handled with basic skills because most attackers are opportunists. That means that if you make it difficult for them, they will go look for an easier target!

So, this is excellent news for you and I - especially since we want to know how to defend yourself quickly, easily and, more importantly, effectively! And, we can use this fact to our advantage.

I want you to think about a time when someone startled you or you were nervous or scared of something. Your body didn't charge in or stand still like an emotionless robot did it?

Typically, martial arts and self defense training classes that you could take to learn how to defend yourself take up this static positioning from which to defend. And I understand why. It's easy to learn the moves this way. But your body just doesn't work this way in a real-world, violent attack - especially when you're trying to defend yourself against someone bigger than you.

So instead, let's use this secret strategy from the martial art of ninjutsu - Japan's ancient Ninja - to defend yourself!

What is this secret? It's this:

Strategic Distancing

And, all strategic distancing is, is using proper distancing to control the attacker's ability to get at you while you're defending yourself. You can do this is by...

1. Being too far away so the assailant has to make up the distance before his attacks will land, or... 2. Getting in too close so that he doesn't have the room he needs to do what he's good at.

Warning: Do not neglect the above strategies! Be sure to take this critical, life-saving skill seriously and add it to your self defense training if you're serious about being able to defend yourself against a violent attacker who's larger than you.

Japan: Devastating Earthquake or Marketing Opportunity?

On Friday 12th March 2011, at 2.46pm local time, an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale shocked the north-east shore of Japan. The movement of the tectonic plates triggered a tsunami, which overwhelmed coastal towns and potentially claimed over 10,000 lives. In the wake of these natural disasters, Japan declared a 'nuclear emergency' as they struggled to cool a reactor at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Those who survived the earthquake and the tsunami are now being tested for radiation and have been evacuated from their homes. Humankind has watched the scenes in disbelief, unable to rationalise that these images are not the work of Cgi but painfully real - part of our world.

Less than 3 days after the incident, British corporate merchandise suppliers were lamenting that the Japanese earthquake had affected Usb Flash Drive production. As survivors in Sendai queue for heavily-rationed supplies of food and water, customers were advised to "be patient" and assured there had been "minimal immediate impact" on SanDisc's "chip fabrication facilities". The suppliers even offered a helpful alternative to Usb drives in the form of Cd/Dvd production. Of course, Usb drives were still available if you were willing to pay: The unit cost of a 2 Gb Usb sold at a quantity of 50 rose from £7.35 to £9.17 in less than 72 hours.

Or not, since thousands of mothers, fathers, daughters and sons - human beings - are still missing and Hope is retreating.

No one is naive, the economic cost of the disaster will be far-reaching and enduring; Japan is the world's third largest cheaper and its infrastructure will only recover gradually and with a necessary injection of financial support. Indeed, it is foremost that Japan's fall in the stock market has been well documented by the world's media and the pejorative sway the earthquake will have on firm worldwide is not in dispute. However, one could be unsettled by the chance this supplier has leapt upon - the chance to market an additional one side of their firm and to raise the unit cost of their products. It was right the firm should suggest its customers of an issue with supply. It should not however have used this humanitarian urgency as a car for promotion, particularly not in its immediate aftermath.

It should be noted that the traditional source was a transportation from firm to business. Other efforts to seize a marketing chance have been far more patent and public. Microsoft was forced to apologise this week after they offered to donate to "Japan quake victims" for every retweet @bing received, "up to 0K". Critics immediately accused Microsoft of securing cheap and common advertising for their crusade engine.

Microsoft's approach to donation was misguided. Other corporations have struck a finer balance between concern for their own production levels and the Japanese people. Toyota for example, has temporarily accomplished its Japanese plants for the safety of their workforce though they could have continued to produce on Friday. Further, while Toyota is investigating the damage that may have occurred in their Japanese factories, which are responsible for 38% of the company's total production, they have made it clear that their concern is primarily with the nation itself and donated 3.8 million to relief efforts. Altruism is a involved belief and whether an act can ever be truly selfless is an issue philosophers will continue to debate. However, Microsoft's high-profile fundraising error should encourage caution and sensitivity to other organizations.

The Usb Flash Drive suppliers promise to "help as much as humanly possible" should the shortage be inconvenient. Right now, possibly this aim at 'human' attempt would be good placed considering those humans that have lost their loved ones, their homes; their country as they knew it.

The Japanese Bushido Code

The term bushido is one that derives from a legendary duration of Japanese antiquity. Most are well aware of the fact that bushido refers to the code of the samurai. Or, more accurately, they know what the term refers to in the most normal of descriptions. The might not be fully aware of how serious and impactful bushido was to the improvement of contemporary Japanese society. They might also not be aware of how the impact of bushido still resonates with population all throughout the globe to the contemporary day.

So, what exactly was/is the plan of bushido?

The word bushido can be loosely described as "The Way of the Warrior" which most population will erroneously assume exclusively means the study of the martial arts and fighting systems. While martial arts - particularly the study of jujitsu and swordsmanship were very leading to the samurai, they were not heartless mercenaries. Rather, they adhered to a code of honor that greatly set them apart from others known for their war-faring abilities.

Ultimately, the goal of bushido was not to wage war or conduct battles. Rather, the goals were to reserve the peace. Bushido was not about conquest. It was about establishing an orderly society in servitude to the feudal lords that controlled localities in Japan at the time.

The origins of bushido really predate the era of feudal Japan. To a great extent, much of bushido ideas can trace its origins to Zen Buddhism which it shares much in common. The relationship between the two is often rooted in the plan of non-attachment. Attachment can be considered a disease of the mind because it frequently revolves colse to desires that may not be helpful to the individual. The goal of the samurai was to serve his lord and not to be attached to earthly things. A samurai was required to serve his lord honorably and to never act in a way that would bring disgrace. Doing so often resulted in the samurai committing ritual suicide. This was done to restore lost honor and institute piety and duty to the lord the samurai served. For many samurai, death was never something to be feared. To many, the noblest death would be to die in battle in service of a master.

While considerable warriors samurai were humble and pious since such behavior - and not arrogance - were considered needful qualities the samurai should possess.

Obviously, the days of the samurai are long gone. What we are left with is the legacy of the samurai and the code of bushido. While no one lives a literal bushido-samurai lifestyle, many do possess lifestyles that are extremely influenced by the legacy of bushido. This should not be surprising. There is much value found in the noble and moral life the samurai were known to embody. contemporary martial artists often pattern their certain thinking attitudes and honest nature after that of the code of the samurai. This is a good thing because most vices and improper behavioral choices would be considered abhorrent from the perspective of a samurai.