If those other flat-panel concealers have left you wanting more, have a look at Stewart Filmscreen's alternative. The Media Décor deployment system "lowers a piece of custom artwork over a fixed Stewart projection screen (or flat-panel TV) when they are not in use," giving those with wall-hung sets the ability to see something other than a black expanse when glancing above the mantel. The device is available in sizes large enough to cover screens up to 110-inches diagonal, and of course, the entire thing can be remotely controlled for extra wow. If this sounds like just the thing to burn through that wad of disposable income you've recently happened upon, give Stewart a call to find out pricing details based on size. [Warning: PDF read link]

You know what time it (almost) is, so you'll be prepared to handle a whole new breed of TV mounts as well. With CEDIA upon us, Chief Manufacturing and Sanus are both rolling out the same automatic motorized tilt mount, though it'll be dubbed LT15 for Chief and CM8 for Sanus. Put simply, this was designed for folks who want / need to mount their set higher than eye level. Upon receiving a signal via optical cable that the set was turned on, it automatically tilts the unit downward in order to give everyone a better view. Surprisingly, the asking price on this is just $299, which -- all things considered -- isn't half bad.

These are primarily for the pros, so we'll keep it short and sheet. RTI is getting set to unveil a trio of new products at CEDIA, the first of which routes eight analog audio and eight composite video sources to eight individual zones. Needless to say, that's the A8 Audio Distribution Matrix Switcher we're referring to. The V6 Video Distribution Matrix Switcher can switch six component and composite video sources between six varying zones, while the CP-1680 Multi-Channel Audio Amplifier provides audio through 16 channels at 80-watts each. Pricing has yet to be divulged, but feel free to venture on past the break for the whole release.

No matter how you slice it, there will come a day when you'll be forced (or coaxed) into watching a Blu-ray flick with just two speakers or a set of cans. For those using ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theater, however, the audio playback should be pretty darn close to 5.1. Said Blu-ray playback application has just become the first in the software industry to grab DTS Surround Sensation certification, which promises to bring 5.1(ish) surround sound to listeners "using just two speakers or stereo headphones." A tad gimmicky, sure, but it's a feature we'd rather have at our disposal than not at all.

Now that Fuze has gone OEM, we should probably expect a lot of similar announcements from the firm. In a somewhat confusing twist, Fuze Media has just signed an OEM deal that will place its tightly integrated software into an HTPC built by Velocity Micro. If you'll recall, Velocity Micro was actually responsible for the original FuzeBox, though this one will start out "much cheaper" at $1,995. Presumably, the box will feature Fuze's FuzeOne platform, which will reportedly play nice with any machine out there (that's good, since it went OEM and all), utilize its own homegrown media player and simplify DVD ripping / library management. Hit the read link for a blowout of the new architecture and machine, and expect to see more when CEDIA cranks up in about two weeks.

Faults notwithstanding, powerline is still mighty scrumptious in theory. Evidently NuVo Technologies agrees, as it's cranking out what's possibly the planet's first whole-home audio system that relies on existing A/C wiring. The Renovia can deliver audio and metadata throughout the house by simply tapping into the power wires already within your walls, and in case you couldn't guess, it's using the HomePlug 1.0 specification in order to do so. The central hub has AM, FM and Sirius-ready tuners already on board, and owners can plug in a pair of iPod docks along with two analog sources to boot. In case that's still not enough to get your drool a-flowin', it'll also stream "virtually any digital content on the network via NuVo's Music Port module." There's no word just yet on an MSRP, but judging by NuVo's past, we'd assume that it'll be somewhere between grossly and obscenely overpriced.

It's hard to say how soon GestureTek and Xpletive's latest concoction will have a real impact on the at-home 3D market, but guests at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing were able to experience flight over Vancouver (the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics) via the B.C. Explorer. The so-called immersive display was used to promote the upcoming Games and stimulate interest in British Columbia, and it enabled onlookers to step into a curved panoramic projection dome and virtually fly over one of Canada's most popular locales. Along the way, users could use gestures to pull back and watch full-screen HD movies of certain points of interest. The two firms are hoping to deploy five kiosks over the next year, though they're being awful quiet about specific applications right now.

There are a few must-do things when you wind up in the City of Brotherly Love: see the Liberty Bell, check out Independence Hall, scarf down an authentic cheesesteak and... peek the HD Video Wall at the Comcast Center? Shortly after wowing locals and making customers suddenly aware of where their money was going, the official visitor site for the Great Philadelphia area is now pushing the wall as a can't-miss tourist attraction. Comical though that may be, we can't say that it's really that absurd -- after all, who wouldn't want to see 2,000 square-feet of beautiful LED action when waltzing through a city on vacation? On that note, have any of you actually stopped and checked it out?

[Via Gadling]

Typically speaking, we won't cover every single film that hits Blu-ray -- particularly since it's pretty much the only high-def format to choose from (CH-DVD notwithstanding) -- but the anime industry is still struggling to pump out a healthy amount of BD titles. That being the case, we're all the more elated to see that Aquarion Movie will be landing on the format on December 5th in Japan. Reportedly, the disc will feature a 16:9 version of the flick with the MPEG-4 AVC codec along with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel audio. Buyers will also get a 28-page booklet, HD remake of Episode 27 and audio commentary for the special features. As for a US release? We're still waiting in tense anticipation.

[Via ActiveAnime]

Ooh, goodie! A full five months after Corel released its WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray application, the first major update pack has arrived. The unimaginatively named WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray Update Pack checks in at just under 50MB and size and promises to resolve the "Enable S/PDIF Out" / "HDMI output to speaker" issues while expanding the list of compatible commercial titles and enhancing compatibility for a slew of VGA chipsets within Windows Vista / XP. There's no direct mention of BD-Live support, but for those who purchased the original, why not give the update a go and report back?

[Thanks, Tyler]

We told you that kids these days had it made, didn't we? The latest episode of college students getting more than just ample amounts of study time comes courtesy of RCN, which is delivering triple-play services to student residence rooms at 1760 Third Avenue in Manhattan, New York. The agreement with Educational Housing Services will enable the carrier to offer high-speed internet, digital phone and HD programming to over 1,100 students representing "a variety of institutions of higher learning, including LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising)." U-verse in a University of Houston dorm, RCN here -- what's next, FiOS TV in Corvallis?

Warner Bros. isn't content with just loosing The Polar Express on 3D Blu-ray -- oh no, it's got another pair of titles set for a holiday launch. Famed classic Casablanca will finally be getting the Blu-ray treatment it deserves this December 2nd when it arrives in Ultimate Collector's Edition form. The $64.99 package ($59.98 on DVD) is reportedly "elegantly boxed in an intricate laser-cut Moroccan design and will include such collectibles as replicas of actual props (Victor Laszlo's "Letter of Transit") as well as a number of Warner studio documents. Going from one of the greatest love stories of all time to one of the raunchiest comedies of the past, oh, score, Austin Powers Collection: Shagadelic Edition, Loaded With Extra Mojo will be uncomfortably landing alongside the aforementioned gem on the same day. The collection-only package will include the entire trilogy in Blu-ray high-def for $74.98.

[Image courtesy of ValleyArts]

Read - Casablanca release
Read - Austin Powers release

Oh boy, we can see where this is headed. Not that 3D Blu-ray Discs are a bad thing, though. Anywho, shortly after Hannah Montana was announced as being the first to bring 3D to BD, along comes The Polar Express to call "shotgun!" Warner Bros. has announced that the visually pleasing film will make its 3D Blu-ray / DVD debut on October 28th, with the title coming bundled with four sets of 3D glasses. The Blu version will go for $34.99, while the DVD edition will demand $20.97. Anyone plan on picking this up to see if the hype is warranted?

Now here's an adapter we can all love: the HDfury2. Put simply, this kit enables owners of pre-2005 displays to enjoy 1080p content via HDMI. Those "older" sets and projectors lacked the ability to comprehend HDCP, and this minuscule device packs a built-in deciphering converter that pumps out Blu-ray content at beautiful 1080p over component / VGA. There's also an audio combo jack that channels analog and digital optical formats, and yes, it plays nice with both PAL and NTSC. Check the read link for all the fine print, and get ready to hand over $249 when it (hopefully) ships next month.

[Thanks, Daniel]

One masochist notwithstanding, we're pretty sure you haven't sat down for days straight to watch the Summer Games from Beijing, but we're wondering if the superabundance of high-def Olympics programming has changed your perspective on the entire spectacle. Here at Engadget HQ, we've found ourselves captivated by more Olympics footage in the first week than we can ever remember in Games' past, and there's no question that having the events in high-definition caused us to keep flipping back. Is the same phenomenon happening at your house? Are you inexplicably anxious to come home and check out some of the world's greatest athletes in beautiful high-def? Tell us how the HD onslaught has affected your Olympics viewing (if at all).

[Image courtesy of Yahoo! Sports]