Technobabble: Short circuits

Last update: October 16, 2007 - 8:57 AM

SHORT CIRCUITS

A brief look at new and noteworthy experiences among DVDs, video games, gadgets and the Web:

DVD

"The Jazz Singer" (Warner, $40)

Al Jolson's 1927 movie isn't the greatest ever made, but it's certainly one of the most important, being the first widely seen feature film in which audiences could hear the actors talk -- and sing, in this case. The landmark film debuts on DVD today in a stunning three-disc set that also includes reproductions of vintage lobby cards and theater programs. Voluminous extras include scholarly commentary with historical perspective, a feature-length documentary about the arrival of the sound era and nearly four hours of Vitaphone comedy and musical shorts from back in the day. Even if you're familiar with "The Jazz Singer," to paraphrase the movie's most famous line, you ain't heard -- or seen -- nuthin' yet until you've experienced this DVD.

GAME

"The Orange Box" (Electronic Arts, $50-$60 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC)

This has to be the bargain of the year in video games. The debut of the epic PC series "Half Life" on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, it contains a whopping five games for the price of one: "Half Life 2," Half Life 2: Episode One,"Half Life 2: Episode Two,"Portal" and "Team Fortress 2." Now uninitiated console gamers can see why PC gamers are ga-ga over this award-winning series of first-person shooters as they help scientist Gordon Freeman battle a mysterious alien force.

WEB/GEAR

Headphone hack (www.startribune.com/a3483)

Internet video instructor extraordinaire Kipkay (www.kipkay.com) has come up with a great way to make noise-canceling headphones, which can cost more than $150 for a good pair, for less than $20. His short clip, which came this way via Lifehacker (www.lifehacker.com), shows how to do it easily by cannibalizing an old pair of headphones and modifying a pair of noise-reduction ear muffs, the kind that you might see construction workers use and that are sold at any home-improvement store. Now that's a sound idea.

RANDY A. SALAS

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