Archive for April, 2011

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Electric Car Maker Tesla Sues BBC Car Show ‘Top Gear’

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Tesla Claims Top Gear Staged Poor Review Of Electric Sports Car

BBC Backs Top Gear Presenter Clarkson

What makes this Sports Car different from all the rest? One big thing: it’s 100% electric. Made by California-based Tesla Motors, the Roadster pictured above can go from 0-60 in under 4 seconds, but it runs on batteries. Really big batteries, but batteries nonetheless. This car has been in the Tech news quite a lot lately, but it isn’t new. In fact, this model is several years old; Tesla’s much anticipated Model S electric sedan (expected to compete with luxury brands Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc.) ought to be the more newsworthy member of the family. So why the sudden interest in a $100,000 electric sports car?

Tesla has recently filed a law suit against the BBC’s “Top Gear” television program, the most popular car show in the world. I’m a fan of both Tesla and Top Gear, and I really hope this mess gets sorted out. Here’s what happened. A few years ago, Top Gear reviewed the Tesla Roadster, praising the car’s speed, but bemoaning its difficult handling, limited battery life, and other quirks. In the segment, which is available to view via a digital video transfer on Top Gear’s website, the car is shown to run out of juice after just 55 miles, and to have a variety of electrical problems that cause presenter Jeremy Clarkson to decide that it simply “doesn’t work.”

Fans of Top gear know that Clarkson doesn’t warm up to the idea of “green” cars, and that at least some of the show’s “review” segments are staged to provide maximal entertainment value. Most viewers don’t seem to mind. But the folks at Tesla were not very entertained by the segment. According to Tesla, Clarkson and the Top Gear crew had written the segment – including the bits about the car’s running out of juice – before the Roadster even arrived for testing. Tesla also presented proof, taken from the car’s onboard computer, that the batteries never dipped below 25% capacity during the course of the review. But the BBC failed to respond to Tesla’s objections, and refused to comment on the subject let alone recant the review and stop re-running the episode. As a result, Tesla has filed a law suit to set the record straight.

The new Tesla Model S (pictured in white) is priced for the real world (at $50k it is pricey, but no more so than a typical luxury sedan), and is expected to be one of the best-handling sedans ever made. It also is said to have a range of 300 miles per charge, and could be a real game-changer in the world of electric cars. Will we ever see the Model S make its way around the Top Gear test track? It’s not looking good, but only time will tell. Scroll down to watch the embedded digital video transfer of the Top Gear segment on the Roadster, filmed in 2008.

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Customer Testimonials: “pleased and impressed with the service”

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

To assure we’re doing our job right, we follow up with every customer after their order is complete. If there’s ever any issue, we address it immediately. Most of the time however, we receive rave reports. On behalf of the ScanDigital team, I’d like to say “Thank You” to our amazing customers. We’re truly flattered to know you are happy and honored to have been trusted with your family’s precious memories. Please find a sampling of the testimonials below that we’ve recently received.

If you’d like to hear more from our customers, you are welcome to visit our Testimonial page. If you have any questions or would just like to chat, you can always find us here on Twitter and Facebook, by email at info@scandigital.com or by phone at 888.333.2808 if you have any questions or just want to chat!

“I was very pleased and impressed with the service since this was all new to me.  And the customer service was GREAT! Yes definitely would recommend because of the exceptional service. The
pricing was easy to understand.  And any questions I did have customer service answered in a speedy way and in a way that I could understand.” Pamela – VA

“Excellent service. I recommend you highly!  Your customer service and product is outstanding!” Janette – AZ

“This was a gift card and I am pleased with the results.” Andrea – MI

“You did a terrific job taking our home video VHS tapes and converting them to DVD’s.  We have had lots of laughs reliving those moments with our grown kids.  Thank you for the fine job.” Kathie – MI


“I’d love to tell you about my experience with ScanDigital. It was awesome. I was hesitant to send away my family’s memories…to another state…for an indefinite period of time. But everything worked great. Your company has a wonderful way of reassuring a customer that everything is going smoothly with their order. I love the updates and the tracking system. We were really impressed with the quality of the video and the packaging of the CDs. The thumbnails on the case are a great visual cue. Being able to see video of old friends, kids who have grown into adults, dead loved ones and old beloved pets has been a bittersweet experience. There’s nothing that can compare to actually seeing things in action. It’s far superior to a photograph or an old memory. Our family had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We’re looking forward to seeing all of the CDs. I’ve recommended your service to friends and family. I will use the service again if I have the need. Thanks for doing such a superior job.” Natalie – OH

“I purchased the Groupon as a way to preserve my father’s pictures. My mother, sister, and I schemed to secure the photos without his knowledge and send them to you. When he finally saw them, he cried. He was so happy to have his old sepia and b&w photos in a place where they would be safe forever. I purchased another Groupon for him to use so he could pick out the photos he wanted to in case we missed some. He’s very excited to get started.” Jessica – NJ

“The service and quality from the first order was excellent.  Your website and email updates maintain good communication through the process which I greatly appreciate. Keep up the good work, I look forward to doing further business with ScanDigital.” Paul – TX

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Celebrities Bring Disney Characters To Life In Ad Campaign

Monday, April 25th, 2011

Classic Disney Characters As You’ve Never Seen Them

Photographer Annie Leibovitz Brings Princes, Princesses, And Villains To Life


The above advertisement, which was scanned to digital by the Los Angeles Times for web publication, is part of an ongoing theme park ad campaign in which famed photographer Annie Leibovitz brings animated Disney characters to life. Many of the biggest names in Hollywood signed on to pose for the portraits when the project began in 2007. Known for her big budgets and elaborate sets, Annie Leibovitz and the marketing geniuses at Disney made some interesting choices when casting the legendary characters. One of their more inspired moves was choosing Olivia Wilde to portray the Evil Queen from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Wilde perfectly embodies the beautiful yet sinister Queen, with her prideful stance and stern facial expression. The pale face of Alec Baldwin is the spirit in the magic mirror.

These remarkable portraits really seem to capture the magic of these classic Disney characters, and most of the casting choices are great: Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella, Queen Latifah as Ursula from “The Little Mermaid,” Rachel Weisz as Snow White, and Julie Andrews as the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” all seem to exude the unique traits of their respective characters in such a way as to make the viewer believe. I don’t know about you, but if these were posters for new live-action versions of these Disney classics, I’d be the first in line. Unfortunately, a few of the portraits don’t rise to the same level of wonder. Jessica Biel doesn’t make a very believable Pocahontas, and Zac Efron doesn’t do justice to Prince Phillip from “Sleeping Beauty.” (But really, who could compare?)

Nevertheless, these photos as a series are rather remarkable, and worth a look. It is no coincidence that this campaign has been getting press lately, as Walt Disney Co. prepares to break ground on its first theme park in mainland China. Located in Shanghai, the new park is expected to open sometime in 2016, and will represent an important step for Disney as the company seeks entrée into a new market of 1.3 billion people, most of whom have never been to a Disney park.

To view the rest of the Annie Leibovitz photos which have been scanned to digital by the Los Angeles Times, click here.

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‘The Ten Commandments’ Goes High Def

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

The Ten Commandments Released On Blu-Ray

Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic Masterpiece As You’ve Never Seen It

These days, movie remakes are all too common. It seems that the movie studios are all too keen to cash in on beloved characters and classic tales, from “Oceans’s Eleven” to “Clash of the Titans.” And film directors are often just as keen to re-imagine classic films and interpret their stories for new generations. But how often do you see a big name director like Steven Spielberg or Tim Burton remake one of his own films? Let’s just say, it doesn’t happen often these days. (The closest thing that comes to mind is Joss Whedeon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Whedon’s 1992 movie bombed at the box office, but he re-launched the franchise into a wildly popular television series just five years later.)

In the 1950s, film remakes were just as common as they are now, if not more so. In fact, some of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as Alfred Hitchcock and Cecil B. DeMille, actually remade their own movies from the ‘20s and ‘30s. The directors’ earlier versions were often silent films made with small budgets and limited equipment. In the 1950s, big-shots like Hitchcock and DeMille took advantage of big budgets, big stars, color film, stereo sound, and advanced film-making techniques to recreate their earlier works on a much grander scale. In 1956, Hitchcock helmed a remake of “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” 22 years after he directed the original. The new version starred Jimmy Stuart and Doris Day, and was a masterpiece (though its only Academy Award nomination was for Best Song, which it won for “Que Sera Sera”). In that same year, Cecil B. DeMille made his last film, “The Ten Commandments,” a remake of his own silent film epic from 1923. The new film starred Charlton Heston as Moses, Yul Brynner as Rameses II, and Anne Baxter as Nefretiri (a.k.a. Nefertari). Some of the cast and crew from the original 1923 film worked on the 1956 version as well. The remake was nominated for six Academy Awards.

Last week, a digitally re-mastered version “The Ten Commandments” was released on Blu-ray (and DVD), and the high definition digital film transfer is truly awesome to behold. The digital film transfer was made by using high resolution film scanning equipment to digitize each frame of a nearly flawless 1956 film print. The Blu-ray version features incredible detail, lifelike motion, and more natural color than any previous version of the film available for home viewing. It really captures the immense scale and gravitas of the movie, especially if you watch on a large HDTV. Unless you saw this movie in a really great theater in 1956, you’ve never seen it like this before. Buy it, rent it, add it to your Netflix queue – just watch it. It is totally epic.

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Customer Testimonials: “your customer service team rocks.”

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

We love hearing from our customers. That’s why we reach out to everyone after the completion of their order- it’s important to assure we’re doing our job right. If there’s ever any issue, we address it immediately. Most of the time however, we receive rave reports. On behalf of the ScanDigital team, I’d like to say “Thank You” to our amazing customers. We’re truly flattered to know you are happy and honored to have been trusted with your family’s precious memories. Please find a sampling of the testimonials below that we have received from the remainder of this month.

If you’d like to hear more from our customers, you are welcome to visit our Testimonial page. As always, we’re always here on Twitter and Facebook, by email at info@scandigital.com or by phone at 888.333.2808 if you have any questions or just want to chat!

“First off, your customer service team rocks. Every time I emailed, I always got a prompt, friendly response. The job was beautifully well done. I was so thrilled with the results I wanted to send a photo DVD to my mother. All in all, it was a good experience. Relieved to get the slides back and thankful for a job well done.” Wendi – CA

“I’m thrilled to have my family slides on my computer so that I can share with friends and family…old pictures are a great surprise in someone’s email! My husband will be doing his family slides soon.” Barbara – RI

“Extremely likely to use again. Thank you for the great service!” Angela – MO

“My family and I were thrilled with the work that you performed for us.  We thought that all of our 8mm tapes were lost for certain and were so happy to see them come back to us in DVD format to enjoy.  We have several more tapes here. I will be sending those to you as well to see if there is anything to salvage on those tapes.  The cost was not prohibitive and we will be happy to use your service, again, and to recommend it to others! Thank you!” Tina – OH

“We were very pleased with our service from Scan Digital. Your company communicated excellently about the status of our order. I would definitely recommend Scan Digital to friends. We were especially pleased to be able to convert a video of a departed friend to DVD as a keepsake. Thank you.” Catherine – VT

“I have used your services twice and am pleased with the turnaround time and quality. It is awesome. Thank you for your great work!” Echo – CA

“I loved the product that I got back from Scan Digital.  Yes, I will be sending you more 8mm films we have from our childhood in the 60′ 70’s. Thanks so much for asking, and yes I will be using your services again soon.” Emily – WA

“What a company you have created. I am pleased, satisfied, thrilled and grateful. The manner, in which your company handled my order, provided me updates and follow up, what a joy!!!! And, let’s just say the product I received back was better than I expected. I have more to send, just need to blow the dust off them and get them in a box.Thank you for taking such good care of my life memories and for showing how much you value them. Your company is a refreshing joy to work with!” Kim – CA

“Frankly, I have not had the time yet to start archiving the photos but I have certainly flipped through quite a few and am very happy with the results. Dealing with your team of people was a breeze and I couldn’t be happier with the service quality you guys provided. Thanks so much! I will surely recommend you to any of my friends who have photos to scan.”

Daniel – Singapore

“The quality of your work is great. I love the added touch of the holders for the DVDs.  I will definitely be using you for all my needs & I have already referred friends to you.” Michelle – IN

“We are very pleased with the service we got from ScanDigital. I appreciate all of the email updates on our projects’ progress and we just spent an enjoyable evening watching the results. Thanks! And should the need arise we will use your company again. I definitely will pass your name along.” Lisa – IN

“I love the service we have gotten from ScanDigital and have already recommended it to friends and relatives. Thanks.” Joel – IL

“Great service. Will recommend and continue to use.” Stephen – NC

“Everything was great and I will use you again – in the near future! Thank you.” Candace – AZ

“I am pleased with your company’s service.  Transferring files from old media to new is tedious work.  I’d been doing it myself, and it takes forever. I absolutely would recommend you to family and friends.  One feature of your service I particularly like was getting the raw .avi file on a hard drive.  I can now edit it freely without having to load and unload media.” Doug – TX

“I used your service via a Groupon that you got to let me tell ya…..great service. I had wanted to get my prints and negatives on digital and when this came up I snatched it.  I do have more prints and negatives that I want scanned and with my positive experience with ScanDigital I would you use your company again and totally recommend it to family and friends.  I called customer service twice and both time got my questions answered and they were very courteous.  It was very easy to send and was constantly updated via e-mail when photos were received, in process, done and shipping out which I liked. I never had to call to ask for an update. Thanks for the great service.” Jacqueline – CA

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