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Shane Sturgeon

Shane Sturgeon

Publisher & Chief Technologist

Shane Sturgeon is the Co-Publisher and Chief Technologist of HDTV Magazine, an industry publication with HDTV roots going back to 1984, when Dale Cripps founded The HDTV Newsletter. Today, HDTV Magazine is a leading online resource for HDTV news and information and captures the eyes and imaginations of over 3 million visitors annually. Mr. Sturgeon has a background in information technology and has served in various consulting capacities for Fortune 500 companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Proctor & Gamble and Nationwide Insurance. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Wright State University.

14 Articles1 ColumnsRSS

Articles by Shane Sturgeon

A Comparison of Movie Download Services
Home Theater

A Comparison of Movie Download Services

This comparison of early internet movie download services evaluates Amazon Unbox, Apple TV, DishONLINE, Microsoft Xbox 360, and VUDU across usability, audio/video quality, selection, and cost. VUDU stands out by delivering 1080p/24 H.264 High Profile HD content via peer-to-peer distribution requiring only a 4 Mbps connection, while Apple TV tops out at 720p/24 and Xbox 360 HD downloads proved impractically slow in testing. For consumers choosing between these platforms, the gap in video quality and download speed is significant enough to meaningfully affect the viewing experience.

Articles
Showdown: Apple TV vs. VUDU
Streaming HD

Showdown: Apple TV vs. VUDU

Apple TV and VUDU compete as hardware-based HD movie rental platforms, with Apple TV capped at 720p/24fps source resolution versus VUDU's 1080p/24fps H.264 High Profile encoding for HD content. VUDU's peer-to-peer delivery enables near-instant playback on a 4 Mbps connection, while Apple TV requires roughly 15 minutes before a downloaded HD title can begin. Buyers prioritizing lower entry cost and HD rental pricing will favor Apple TV at $229, while those seeking better resolution, a 5,000-plus title library, and instant access will find VUDU the stronger choice.

Columns
Home TheaterHD DVDBlu-ray

CES 2008: New HDTV Products and Technology Overview

CES 2008 showcased a broad shift in HDTV development, with manufacturers emphasizing 120Hz panels, HDMI-CEC integration, and 1080p across LCD and plasma lineups from LG, Sony, Sharp, and others. The format war gained clarity as Warner Brothers announced Blu-ray exclusivity, while the WirelessHD Consortium revealed a 4Gbit/s wireless standard capable of sustaining full 1080p and supporting DTS HD Master Audio. For consumers, these developments signal a maturing HD ecosystem with clearer format choices and expanding HD content delivery options.

Articles
Home TheaterHD DVDBlu-ray

Which is More Consumer Friendly: HD DVD or Blu-ray?

HD DVD and Blu-ray both deliver 1080p resolution at bitrates exceeding 36Mbit/s, a dramatic improvement over standard DVD's 480-line picture and 11Mbit/s ceiling, with lossless audio codecs including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio on both formats. HD DVD holds a practical edge through mandatory player standardization, built-in internet firmware updates, region-free playback, and street prices near $99-$169 versus Blu-ray's $357 average. For consumers still undecided heading into the 2007 holiday season, these hardware and usability factors make HD DVD the more straightforward and cost-effective investment.

Articles
Satellite HD

DirecTV - The March to 100 National High Definition Channels

DirecTV's 2007 push to deliver 100 national HD channels is enabled by the launch of satellites DirecTV 10 and 11, which support a new transmission protocol and the more efficient MPEG-4/AVC codec to maximize available bandwidth. Of the 100 promised channels, roughly 70 to 80 are expected to be year-round offerings, with NFL Sunday Ticket multi-feed channels and East/West network simulcasts counting toward the total. Subscribers can expect no price increase beyond the existing $9.99 HD package fee, though final channel quality and the full lineup remain to be confirmed at launch.

Articles