August 10th, 2012 by Richie Black

This is another in our back to basics “what the hell” series that tells it like it is in a no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners, this-is-it and there’s-no-going-back adrenaline-charged fashion. Strap your knees in, adjust your eyeballs, and prepare to have your life changed. As the subtle genius of the headline implies, this one is about PVRs. That stands for Personal Video Recorder, peeps. They are also sometimes known as ... Read more

July 20th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Rock out with your co...mfortable sofa and sweet new sound system! Yeah! Didn't make it to the concert? Weren't born yet? Ah well, it's just as well the Big Brown Box sells some sick AV set ups so that kicking it on your couch is only the next best thing to actually being there. Here are our top three must-have concert DVDs/Blu-rays that when watched and listened to ... Read more

July 5th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Australians may be quick to pick up on new tech but it turns out we're slow to ditch our old devices, according to a new study by Optus. The survey suggests that we can't seem to pry our fingers from prized gadgets and almost three quarters admit to holding onto old TVs, VCRs and mobiles for up to 11 years. The combination of being quick adopters and hoarding ... Read more

March 30th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Build it and they will come, seems to be the Gillard Government's theory with the National Broadband Network. It has faced widespread criticism for forging ahead with the $37 billion scheme but perhaps thanks to the Government's revenue darling, mining, tally ho it goes. The super-fast internet speeds that the NBN will bring have been spruiked for tele-health (see your GP online in real time) access, working from ... Read more

February 27th, 2012 by Richie Black

With fighting for hearts-and-minds at the forefront in Canberra – we think it’s time to remind people about another important battle, one we don’t want to be ignored in all the fuss. Oh yeah - that's right, Blu-ray vs DVD. Now let’s admit, many people still hold DVD dear. As the theory goes - they are cheaper, more widely available, double effectively as mirrors and ash-trays … and ... Read more

February 20th, 2012 by Mark Bristow

We’re always on the lookout for the Next Big Thing at Big Brown Box.  Many new technologies and formats covet this status, but only a few achieve its hallowed glory.  Here are a few that fell by the wayside in spite of their potential: Direct Current Let’s start early on, shall we?  Back in the day, the format wars weren’t between different means of watching movies or playing ... Read more

September 6th, 2011 by Kevin Bradford

There was a time when catching your favourite programmes was a bit like fishing. You could wait around for hours, huddled up, eager for the moment to arrive. And if you missed your chance to tune in, it was gone, and the expectant anticipation began again. The popularity of videos was followed by the growth of the DVD market, and meant people started reeling in stacks of cassette ... Read more