What we're watching tonight:

• CW (1080i) has Smallville at 8 p.m.
• CBS (1080i) brings Ghost Whisperer at 8 p.m., Medium at 9 p.m. and Numb3rs at 10 p.m.
• USA (1080i) has Monk at 9 p.m. and White Collar at 10 p.m.
• ABC (720p) has Ugly Betty at 9 p.m.
• NBC (1080i) has Law & Order at 8 p.m.
• MyNetworkTV (1080i) has WWE: Smackdown at 9 p.m
• Syfy (1080i) airs Stargate Universe at 9 p.m. and Sanctuary at 10 p.m.
• Discovery (1080i) has Lobstermen at 9 p.m.
• TLC (1080i) has Say Yes to the Dress at 9 p.m. and the series premiere of Happily Ever Faster at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
• ESPN (720p) has an NBA doubleheader with Magic/Celtics at 8 p.m. and Nuggets/Clippers at 10:30 p.m.
• ESPN2 (720p) has Boise State/Utah State college football at 9:30 p.m.

Hope you weren't enjoying watching YouTube on the television screen via Popcorn Hour and other set-top boxes, as they have been given notice by the newly 1080p and network TV-friendly website that they are no longer welcome to access its content. The new Hulu-ish Terms of Service (section II, item 10) restricts API clients from the ability to "use the YouTube API in connection with any API Client created for use on television set top boxes, television game consoles, or video screens packaged and marketed as television sets;" according to Popcorn Hour COO Alex Limberis this applies to all with the exception of "a few strategic partner's Google has singled out" -- PlayStation 3, Wii, TiVo, Panasonic, Samsung and other licensed hardware is safe.

Update: After speaking with Alex we've got a better view of the situation -- as is clear from the TOS, manufacturers streaming directly via the API as Popcorn Hour did are no longer welcome without cutting a seven figure check to license access. Google did offer to allow continued access via its YouTube XL interface, but for devices like theirs not built around Flash, that possible solution proved to be technologically unfeasible. Obviously these changes apply to all, but as of yet we're not aware of anyone other than Popcorn Hour that has been contacted directly about it.

Update v2: After the break is Google's response, stating Popcorn Hour and the like have been in violation of the above TOS for over a year, from its perspective, this is a simple matter of defending its rights from "video scraping technology." As we mentioned above that means most are in no danger of losing access, but fans of these media streamers will have to live without it, until either YouTube can control the experience or the manufacturer pays up.

There's been an unbelievable amount of internet chatter about the MPAA's petition to the FCC to allow cable companies to turn off the component inputs on cable boxes on certain content. And while we don't think this is a good idea on so many levels, we aren't willing to lie to garner support. But evidently others are, as you see headlines and online petitions with subjects like, don't let the MPAA turn off your home theater. We really aren't that surprised, but the facts are that Hollywood wants to use this to offer new programming and the plan is to not change existing offerings, so for those out there using analog, nothing would change, nothing. So you wouldn't be able to watch these new release movies that you can't watch now, big deal. Many times we give the FCC a hard time for caving to corporate interests -- encrypted basic cable, CableCARD's, tru2way, we could go on -- but in this case if you don't like it, just don't watch the movies. And before you post a comment saying how this is only the beginning and it will lead to the end of the world as we know it, then perhaps you should go back and review our favorite of the logical fallacies: Slippery Slope.

Contrary to popular belief, this economy and the digital transition have actually motivated more people to subscribe to pay TV. You often hear those in the "future is now" camp say that people are looking for ways to save money and so they're looking to free internet TV alternatives and over-the-air TV, but it just isn't true. Our first indication of this was a few weeks ago when Nielsen released a study that showed that about 25 percent of those who relied on antennas for TV, just switched to cable or satellite instead of getting a free converter box; and now the NPD group is reporting that the monthly per-capita spending on entertainment subscriptions is now up to $115 a month. At this point the internet video movement isn't looking that disruptive after all, but with all the technology out there, we just have to believe that something is going to disrupt the existing archaic model.

That new HDTV of yours? It may be thin and light and lovely, but it ain't saving you any money. The state of California knows this and has created new energy efficiency standards applying to any sets sold after January of 2011. The initial regs state a maximum of 1 watt of consumption when "off" and, when on, a maximum of .2 watts per inch of screen area plus an arbitrary 32 watts. Two years later, in 2013, things get even tougher, that formula dropping to .12 per inch with a 25 watt base modifier. There are plenty of TVs that already meet the 2013 criteria, most of them smallish LCDs, so it's not an impossible dream. The bad news? An inability to sell non-compliant sets in CA could result in lost tax revenue. The good news? Reduced energy bills and a smaller hit to our fragile environment. The really good news? Any set greater than 58-inches is exempt, so go big, broheim.

Look, we get the whole drive behind this 3D thing. For some, there's no better way to experience sports, films, or console game play and consumer electronics companies are desperate for a source of new revenue. But creating a 280-inch 3D LED display meant for public areas doesn't make a lot of sense long-term unless we're expected to carry those swank, polarized glasses everywhere we go. Nevertheless, Sony was demonstrating the 6.4 x 3.4-meter behemoth at the International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition 2009 in Japan. The panel combines 70 LED displays into a single monstrosity of overlapping images. If nothing else this "3D LED Wall" demonstrates Sony's rabid commitment to 3D for 2010 and an ominous future for our friends working in Times Square. See it in action after the break if you care.

After baptizing the remaining HD DVD faithful, Warner has moved on to teaching new Blu-ray converts the five pillars of faith with a trade-up program. Send in your old DVDs (just the box art won't cut it this time around, better buy some blanks and get to ripping if you still enjoy Training Day on long car trips), $7.95 - $9.95 per movie plus $4.95 for s&h (orders over $25 ship for free) and expect HD versions back in 4 - 5 weeks. Is it worth it? Depends on how many of the 55 flicks on the approved list you own (included after the break) but for most you're probably better off keeping the ones you have and eyeing budget bins carefully, nabbing catalog flicks like Harold & Kumar for less than $15 without any mail-in shenanigans shouldn't be too hard for the truly thrifty.

We've seen digital copies of Blu-ray via separate DVDs before (e.g. Watchmen), and just recently Sony finally cut out of the middle disc and put the transferable video on the high-def disc itself. Joystiq recently showcased how it's done using a copy of Godzilla and a PlayStation 3. For this you'll need a PSN account and the 12-digit code included in the disc case. The standard definition video, here clocking in at 2GB, will copy to the hard drive (not a separate download, thankfully), and then if you want to the PSP. All in all, it's approximately a five-minute process. We can't help but agree, the early batch of supported films -- The Ugly Truth, Angels & Demons, and Godzilla from 1998 -- isn't exactly fine cinema dining, but surely this is just a sign of things to come. Want to see all the nitty-gritty details in action? Check out the video after the break.

The end of college football is nearly upon us and although we have a hard time keeping our cool as we're reminded how anti-climatic the season ends, the big rivalry games are enough to keep us happy for at least a few more weeks. And of all those rivalries, there aren't many bigger in college football than Ohio State vs Michigan and although nether team is that great this year, both bring their best game to this matchup.

CFB
#10 Ohio State at Michigan ABC 12:00 PM Sat
#11 Oregon at Arizona ABC 8:00 PM Sat

NFL
Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens CBS 1:00 PM Sun
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears NBC 8:20 PM Sun

NBA
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers TNT 10:30 PM Thurs
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics ESPN 8:00 PM Fri

NHL
Detroit Red Wings at Nashville Predators Vs 7:00 PM Mon

What we're watching tonight:

• ABC (720p) has FlashForward at 8 p.m., Grey's Anatomy at 9 p.m. and Private Practice at 10:01 p.m.
• Fox (720p) has Bones at 8 p.m. and Fringe at 9 p.m.
• NBC (1080i) has Community at 8 p.m., Parks & Recreation at 8:30 p.m., The Office at 9 p.m. and 30 Rock at 9:30 p.m.
• CBS (1080i) has Survivor at 8 p.m., CSI at 9 p.m. and The Mentalist at 10 p.m.
• CW (1080i) airs The Vampire Diaries at 8 p.m. and Supernatural at 9 p.m.
• WGN (1080i) has WWE Superstars at 8 p.m.
• Spike (1080i) has TNA! Impact at 9 p.m.
• History (720p) has the season finale of WWII in HD at 9 & 10 p.m.
• FX (720p) has It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 10 p.m. and The League at 10:30 p.m.
• TLC (1080i) the season finale of Street Customs at 8 p.m., American Chopper at 9 p.m., and Family Armor at 10 p.m.
• NFL Network (1080i) has Dolphins/Panthers football at 8 p.m.
• ESPN (720p) has Colorado/Oklahoma State college football at 7:30 p.m.

You had to know that the FCC's investigation into other uses for current broadcast DTV spectrum wouldn't be met warmly by broadcasters, now the NAB has come out and said it needs every bit of frequency available. Apparently up for discussion are its reasons why, as the group is at odds with FCC advisor Blair Levin over whether retrans fees are the only issue or, as NAB VP Jane Mago states, preserving HD for consumers is key. We're sure OTA viewers of channels leaving bandwidth on the table for multicasting, or worse simply unused as we discussed on the podcast would beg to differ, but the one thing that is for sure is the current broadcast TV system won't go quietly into the night, no matter what potential a new paradigm might hold.

The name may not exactly suggest any groundbreaking changes, but we're guessing that most Windows Home Server users with Windows 7 computers will want to upgrade to Power Pack 3 as soon as they can, which we now finally know will be on November 24th. As we'd heard previously, the big news with this update is that it brings Windows Home Server up to speed with its desktop OS counterpart, including support for full backup and restore of Windows 7 computers, Windows 7 Libraries integration, "better support" for netbooks and, of course, a slew of enhancements for Windows Media Center. Best of all, the update is completely free, and should show up via Windows Update as soon as it's available.

A response to cable sellers marking hardware v1.4 compliant before a test was even available or just another way for Monster Cable to ratchet up prices, we're not sure, but HDMI Licensing, LLC has reworked the packaging requirements for all new cables and products. Cable packaging must lose version numbers starting today, while HDMI-equipped components can only use version numbers in conjunction with listing specific features supported, and lose version numbers entirely starting January 1, 2012. The picture above features logos you'll find on certified hardware going forward, while we can appreciate being tied to supported features and not just version numbers that may or may not fully apply (*cough cough* remember the "HDMI 1.3" PS3Fat?) there's no way things get any less confusing when hooking up the new 4K or 3D capable HDTVs.

Yeah, so we made that word up -- what of it? Olive's decidedly pricey Opus No. 4 is receiving an update today, and while you'll easily recognize the looks, this new slab will be called by its new name: 4HD. According to the company, this 2TB music server now features 24-bit sound and a 192kHz sample rate courtesy of the Burr-Brown PCM1792A DAC, which should provide right around 250 times the resolution of a typical CD. As expected, a gigabit Ethernet port and 802.11n WiFi module are both included in order to get your machine on the home network, and a free iPhone / iPod touch application is available to give you full control via your handheld. The pain? $1,999, or $200 more than the aforesaid Opus No. 4. But hey, at least a dozen of Chesky Records' best HD tracks are included gratis! Riveting, no?

Welcome to the new Engadget, humans! As you can tell by taking a quick look around, we've been doing some major work on the site behind the scenes, and we couldn't possibly be more excited to finally share this work with the rest of the world. For months now -- nearly the whole year -- we've been tinkering, adjusting, tweaking, and honing the experience at Engadget with one goal in mind: do what we do as best as we can, and bring news to our readers better than anyone else. We think we've achieved that goal through a lot of hard work and long days (and nights), and it is truly awesome to finally be able to show everyone!

Obviously there is a ton of new stuff here, and if you're a long-time reader of the site, you'll probably be a little shell-shocked at first. Don't worry, we're still cranking out news the way we always have; in fact, we think the new design will allow us to crank even harder and provide more up-to-the-minute info to you guys. If you're a new reader, you picked the right time to check us out, because the site has never been more organized, had more content, or been more useful to someone who's reading us for the first time!

We just want to say that this has been a long labor of love, and we're thrilled that we get to share it with the world. We think that the new Engadget evolves our work in a major way, moving us from a straightforward blog into something else, an expandable amalgamation that fuses the good bits of blogs, social media, news sites, magazines, and video into something bigger than those parts.

We're going to walk you guys through some of the major new features (there are a ton, believe us), but first we want to talk a little about how the site got to where it is right now, and who the people are responsible for this thing. Read on after the break for all the info!

Update: Hey, we're having a few issues with the introduction of the new site. Hang tight, it'll be perfect soon!

What we're watching tonight:

• CBS (1080i) has The New Adventures of Old Christine at 8 p.m., Gary Unmarried at 8:30 p.m., Criminal Minds at 9 p.m. and CSI: NY at 10 p.m.
• NBC (1080i) has Mercy at 8 p.m. and Law & Order SVU at 9 p.m.
• Fox (720p) has Glee at 9 p.m.
• ABC (720p) airs The Middle at 8:30 p.m., Modern Family at 9 p.m. and Cougar Town at 9:30 p.m.
• Discovery (1080i) has Mythbusters at 9 p.m. and Time Warp at 10 p.m.
• Syfy (1080i) has Ghost Hunters at 9 p.m. and the premiere of Ghost Hunters Academy at 10 p.m.
• FX (720p) has Nip/Tuck at 10 p.m.
• Spike (1080i) has The Ultimate Fighter at 10 p.m.
• DirecTV (1080i) has Friday Night Lights at 9 p.m.
• Comedy Central (1080i) brings the season finale of South Park at 10 p.m.
• History (720p) has WWII in HD at 9 & 10 p.m.
• TBS (1080i) has House of Payne at 9 & 9:30 p.m. and Meet the Browns at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
• TLC (1080i) has Flowers Uncut at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
• ESPN (720p) has an NBA doubleheader with Cavs/Wizards at 7 p.m. and Spurs/Mavericks at 9:30 p.m.
• EPSN2 (720p) has Central Michigan/Ball State college football at 8 p.m.

It's hard to imagine, but there are a few home theaters out there not yet capable of pulling in internet video. Though quality, selection and pricing are going to remain issues for the foreseeable future, that doesn't mean our friend Keith wants to wait any longer to get on the train:

"Currently I have my home theater with a projection TV, Samsung Blu-ray player and Dish Network DVR, but I've been watching a lot of streaming video on my desktop PC and want to get it on my television. Netflix, YouTube when it goes 1080p, Hulu, as much as possible. What's the cheapest way for me to get streaming internet video sources hooked up to my existing equipment?"

If price is a consideration that may knock out most Media PC builds, but while plenty of newer Blu-ray players have streaming built in he could also opt for a game console, new DVR, dedicated hardware from Roku or VUDU or wait to see what kind of Boxee will deliver. Any tips on how you got the most internet sources hooked up to your television with the least up front cost?

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

For as long as we can remember, AMIMON's WHDI technology has been reserved for use in high-end AV components -- HDTVs, Blu-ray players, set-top-boxes, etc. Today, the outfit has finally figured out a way to break free from its current box and get all up in the grille of the mainstream market. As of now, WHDI modules are being made available for netbook and laptop manufacturers, enabling portable PCs to send or receive high-def signals from other WHDI-enabled devices sans cabling. The outfit expects lappies with their tech built-in to ship sometime in 2010, and when we prodded for more information on who exactly would be taking 'em up on their offer, the company stated that specific partners wouldn't be announced for a few more months. Still, built-in support for beaming 1080p content from a laptop to an HD panel without a single cord? Major score.

What we're watching tonight:

• CW (1080i) airs 90210 at 8 p.m. and Melrose Place at 9 p.m.
• ABC (720p) has V at 8 p.m., Dancing with the Stars at 9 p.m. and The Forgotten at 10 p.m.
• NBC (1080i) presents Merry Madagascar at 8 p.m.
• CBS (1080i) has NCIS at 8 p.m. NCIS: LA at 9 p.m. and The Good Wife at 10 p.m.
• Discovery (1080i) has Dirty Jobs at 9 p.m. and Ghost Lab at 10 p.m.
• FX (720p) has Sons of Anarchy at 10 p.m.
• TLC (1080i) has Table for 12 at 8 & 8:30 p.m., 18 Kids & Counting at 9 p.m. and The Little Couple at 10 p.m.
• AMC (1080i) continues The Prisoner at 8 & 9 p.m.
• Syfy (1080i) has Scare Tactics at 9 p.m. and ECW at 10 p.m.
• History (720p) continues WWII in HD at 9 p.m.
• DirecTV (1080i) has Eyes at 10 p.m.
• ESPN (720p) has Gonzaga/Michigan State college basketball at 8 p.m. and Mempphis/Kansas college basketball at 10 p.m.
• ESPN2 (720p) has college basketball with Arkansas/Louisville at 7:30 p.m. and UCONN/Texas at 9:30 p.m.
• VS (1080i) has Capitals/Rangers hockey at 7 p.m.

Another surprisingly epic podcast this week stats off with a bit of TiVo vs. Media center comparison held over from last week, plus a look at the latest from Moxi before pondering what HD DVD Managed Copy might have been like. Next a mini-review of the Spears & Munsil Blu-ray calibration disc spurs a live contest for our UStream audience (congratulations to the winner, wrinklefree, check for his entries after the break,) plus a chance to win for the rest of you listeners. We discuss why the NFL might be right when it says Sunday Ticket is best as-is, and some contemplation over what the FCC could do about OTA television. If that's not mind blowing enough, new TV startups Sezmi and ZillionTV get their moment of discussion, plus new video delivery solutions in the form of Blockbuster kiosks and Comcast's TV Everywhere. Closing thing's out is our weekly poll concerning the importance of surround sound -- the results may surprise you.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:57 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 163
00:13:33 - Moxi Fall update comes with a lower price and a new 3 tuner model
00:22:08 - HD DVD's Managed Copy was never necessarily free, was always Mandatory
00:26:32 - Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray mini-review
00:34:04 - DirecTV exclusive Sunday Ticket is "in the consumers' best interest"
00:40:25 - Ask Engadget HD: Should the FCC kill DTV for better technology?
01:01:45 - ZillionTV signs the final remaining major studio
01:03:20 - Sezmi's low cost cable / satellite premium TV alternative launches in L.A.
01:05:45 - Blockbuster kiosks to offer movies on SD cards, you some candy as you checkout
01:14:54 - Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere
01:19:45 - Poll: How important is surround sound to you?

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