Originally released way back in 1955, Lady and the Tramp has finally reached the Blu-ray format and I have recently sat back and enjoyed one of Disney’s best love stories.

My latest review on the Tech Depot Blog UK website has just gone live, this time covering the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit:

Ever since the world of web browsing entered our lives, the need to be connected becomes ever stronger. Social networking, ordering online, reading the latest news and gossip or simply checking email – the Internet is an important factor in our daily routines.

It has become far more accessible and convenient thanks to wireless connections in the home, work and public places – yet there are times when this wire free technology isn’t part of your ageing hardware or the signal is simply out of reach.

The WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit includes a couple of devices that allow you to tap into a network that already exists in your home as believe it or not, the electricity supply can be utilised to transmit data. This essentially means, any room that features an electrical socket has the potential to hook up to all your online needs without the requirement to drill holes, lift carpets or redecorate.

Link: WD Livewire Review – Extending Internet Access using Electricity Supply Sockets

When DVD first appeared on the scene, previous formats resorted to using analogue methods of storage such as VHS tapes. The main disadvantage of this was that after watching the film a fair few times, you soon started to notice degradation in the video and audio quality. Just like having a new set of tyres on your car, with each journey they gradually wear down degrading the quality of the tread until eventually they are almost unrecognisable. VHS suffered the same sort of issue.

DVD solved this annoyance by storing the information digitally, so even after a thousand times of enjoying your favourite feature film, the quality remained just as if it was your first play-through. Blu-ray is the successor to DVD and although DVD remains a very strong force in movie storage, it is only Blu-ray that offers true high definition video and audio content, perfect for those of us with HD televisions.

It is not often I have the opportunity to review anything on Blu-ray movies (in fact this is my first!), however Space Ace available on this format is an interactive game remastered from an arcade classic:

In 1984, gaming was still a mass of lines, solid colours and music that resembled nothing more than a beep ba da beep. We are stepping back to when the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was still a twinkle in Nintendo’s eyes, but out of this bleak realism, Dragons Lair surprised the world with movie like quality cartoon animation that you could actually interact with.

Following on from this huge success, Space Ace made by the same company, released not long after their first attempt into this new area of interactive movie based gaming. Boasting the refinement you expect with any subsequent endeavours at something unique.

Review: Space Ace on Blu-ray Review

Yes I know, I can hardly believe it myself! I suppose with HD DVD going the way of the Dodo, many gamers like myself will be considering the same options. Should I get a possible Blu-ray add on drive for the Xbox 360 or should I just purchase a PlayStation 3 console and have the best of both next generation worlds.

Many will know that I have not been overly enthused with desires for the PlayStation 3. It has certainly had a rocky start to its life, but at least a sign of better times is well on the way. Price drops, a few must have gaming titles and Blu-ray playback have all factored in my decision to bite the bullet and give in to the dark side… Sony.