Too bad they won’t live
29-Sep-2008Blade Runner, in any of its forms, is clearly one of the finest science fiction films ever made. While enjoying our new Apple TV last week, I succumbed to the temptation to buy the high definition Definitive Cut version and watch it.
I’ve seen pretty much all of the versions of Blade Runner multiple times — even the versions with reluctant Harrison Ford voice-overs. I didn’t expect much more than to be washed over by very leisurely-paced science fiction film noir nostalgia and marvel at how Admiral William Adama has grown.
I was struck by just how much nostalgia there was to be had.
Ridley Scott was prescient in his ability to select 1982-contemporary brands for prominent display that would encounter some serious trouble by the time history caught up with the movie. Each of the brands I recognised seems to have experienced a pre-2019 hiccup or two:
- RCA: Purchased by GE in 1986 and gutted.
- TDK: Not dead, but owned by Imation since 2007.
- Atari: A brand being revived post-1980s as the adopted name of Hasbro Interactive and Infogrames.
- Pan Am: Does not require explanation.
Apart from Atari, these brands don’t look terribly likely to method act their way to a triumphant resurgence in 2019.
Kubrick's 2001 also employed Pan Am, far more prominently as
Alastair | 1-Oct-2008Kubrick’s 2001 also employed Pan Am, far more prominently as I recall…
How are you enjoying the Apple TV?
We love ours, it probably gets more daily use than broadcast TV or DVD player. Especially after I handbraked our entire Futurama DVD collection onto it. Very handy.
By far the worst thing about the Apple TV though is the relatively low maximum video bitrate (~6MBits or so). Just not enough for really good HD.
We're in love. During September I overstepped my 30GB
Chris | 1-Oct-2008We’re in love.
During September I overstepped my 30GB quota in mostly iTunes downloads.
We indulged in a modestly-sized 66cm 720p LCD TV with so many inputs it bristles like the death star when viewed from the back. I ordered the Apple TV at about the same time. I have our Media Center PC hooked up too.
Over the last month I think I can count the times on one hand where we had it receiving those “terrestrial” television channels earthlings love so dearly.
So… why?
70% indulgence and gadget lust. 10% convenience over watching on the PC. 10% solving J’s yearning for easy access to our music collection now all of our CDs have been retired to storage. 10% being tired of hiring damaged DVDs.