Huppin’s Hoopsters go to the finals
July 7th, 2008 by Murray Huppin
Huppin’s Hoopsters (left to right): Kyle Baird, Todd Thompson, Jamie FitzGerald and Kenny Smith
420 courts, 6400 teams and 200,000 spectators can’t be wrong – Spokane’s Hoopfest weekend rocks!
Two members of Huppin’s Hoopsters, Todd Thompson and Kenny Smith, are among only 60ish Hoopfest players to compete all 19 years of the event. They might be a little slower – and a bit bigger 
- but they sure know how to compete.
The Hoopsters collapse on an unfortunate competitor
After dropping their first game, the Huppin’s Hoopsters stormed back to win 6 games in a row, finally losing in the Championship Game of their bracket.
Next year, we’ll be back.
Thanks for listening.
Bose SoundDock Challenge at Hoopfest 2008
July 3rd, 2008 by Murray Huppin
The Bose team came to town this past weekend to help celebrate Downtown Spokane’s Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world.
What better way for 200,000 Hoopfest fans (that’s right, 200K) to take a break in between games than by trying out the latest iPod SoundDock systems from Bose? Just for trying out a Bose SoundDock or Bose Sounddock Portable music system, Bose gave away a free Bose T-shirt and ice cold water. The Bose In-ear and On-ear headphones were a huge hit as well. Check out some pics of all the fun.
Huppin’s / OneCall is looking forward to an even bigger Bose event at Hoopfest 2009!
Thanks for listening.
The Bose Team at Spokane Hoopfest 2008.
Living in HD at Hoopfest 2008
July 2nd, 2008 by Murray Huppin
Bird’s eye view of Hoopfest 2008 in Downtown Spokane, WA.
This past weekend was the 19th annual Hoopfest in Downtown Spokane. It’s the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world: 420 courts; 6,400 teams; 200,000 spectators – that’s right, 200K! See some pics of all the action.
To add to the excitement, the Panasonic Living in HD Truck featuring a 103” Plasma HDTV was parked at the intersection right next to Huppin’s, our retail store. Everyone was invited to see the latest in plasma HDTV, Digital Imaging, and Blu-ray Disc (and to enjoy some air conditioning relief from the 90+ degree weather).
Panasonic 103″ plasma HDTV.
Panasonic is a worldwide sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and there were some great clips of past Olympics playing on all the plasma screens. Be sure to check it out if the Panasonic Living in HD truck comes to your town.
Thanks for listening.
Murray Huppin, President Huppin’s/OneCall; Tracey Young, Panasonic Rep;
Vince Dydasco, Panasonic Regional Manager
Batteries that pay for themselves
July 2nd, 2008 by Chad G
I have been using the ProMaster rechargeable AA batteries for about 6 months now and I know that they have at least paid for themselves in money saved from having to buy alkaline. Prior to purchasing the XtraPower PRO charger with 4 Ni-MH AA batteries, I was going through 4 AAs a week in my XBOX 360 controllers. I have been surprised how long the charge lasts on the batteries and how quickly they recharge. Consequently, I have been recommending them to customers that are purchasing products that need AA batteries and have gotten great feedback. The charger can also charge AAA Ni-MH batteries.
Samsung Blu-ray Resource Center
June 24th, 2008 by Mike Knecht
Samsung has started a new website dedicated to making sense of the often confusing world of Blu-ray. The Samsung Blu-ray Resource Center is broken into two sections - one for people who already own Blu-ray and the other for people just looking to get started. Taking on questions such as “Isn’t upconverted DVD just as good as Blu-ray?” this site is an interesting resource for a format that’s just getting started.
Look Ma, no cables!
June 23rd, 2008 by Todd B
Just thought I would share this info that I found on USA Today. Monster Cable is coming out with a wireless HD hookup solution that will be here just in time for Christmas! Basically the transmitter plugs into the HDMI connection on the source and the receiver connects into the TV. The wireless range is reported to be up to 30 feet. It will also “upscale” non-HD sources like DVD to HD according to the article. They will be $299.95 for the receiver and transmitter.
“All I asked for was skinny TVs that use frickin’ laser beams!”
June 23rd, 2008 by Todd B
With apologies to Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies, the good news is Mitusbishi’s highly anticipated laser TVs are going to be a reality soon! Check out the frequently asked questions about the new laser TVs here.
Why Buying From An Authorized Dealer Is Worth The Extra Cost
June 19th, 2008 by Michael CWhen you purchase an HDTV online from an authorized high definition television dealer, you are buying from a company that is certified by the TV manufacturer to sell their products. There are many benefits to buying from manufacturer-certified merchants with the most important being the warranties. Only an authorized dealer can truly honor all manufacturer warranties.This means that if you buy a new HDTV and after two months your screen starts to malfunction, an authorized dealer will be able to assist you in getting that TV repaired or replaced. As the consumer, you now have the peace of mind that your new TV (rarely a cheap item) is covered if anything goes wrong - and not only that, you can feel confident that if something does go wrong, your TV will be repaired or replaced by manufacturer certified technicians who are experts with their products.
Another important reason to buy an HDTV from an authorized dealer is that the source of the product is guaranteed. You will know that your new TV went straight from the manufacturer to the authorized dealer, and straight from the dealer to you. Unauthorized dealers who sell “gray market” televisions will usually not disclose where they purchase their products, and this is not what you want when spending big bucks on high-end electronics.
Most consumers are lured into buying from unauthorized dealers because of the reduced cost. Dealers who do not purchase their products from the manufacturer can usually offer the same items as authorized dealers at lower prices, thereby enticing buyers to purchase a TV with them. Buyers then run the risk of receiving defective merchandise, counterfeit products, or items that have been tampered with prior to purchase. Some unauthorized dealers even sell used and refurbished televisions and market them as new!
Play it safe when you decide to join the craze and purchase a new HDTV and make sure you are buying from a manufacturer authorized dealer - the benefits will far outweigh the extra cost in the long run. You’ll be enjoying your high definition television for years to come and you won’t have to worry about the headaches.
A 650 watt sub for under $390?
June 19th, 2008 by Chris M
Bass has always been a passion for me growing up. There’s something about the smooth rumble in a movie or the punch of bass on an up-beat music track that rounds out the experience. I’ve been looking for a sub to complement my system when I stumbled across the Infinity CSW10BK 650 watt sealed subwoofer 2 weeks ago.
The price drew me in initially, but after reviewing the specs the deal seemed too good to be true. Infinity uses the ceramic metal matrix diaphragm (CMMD) driver that was a perfect match to my Infinity IL36C center channel speaker. This sealed sub has a 10″ woofer, a frequency response of 22-150 hz and sports a 650 watt amplifier! Combined with the R.A.B.O.S. equalization kit, there seemed to be no downside to this deal.
I picked up the sub the next day and unpacked it after work. I had prior experience with the R.A.B.O.S. technology but was pleased to learn that Infinity had simplified the process. The kit consists of a decibel meter, 9 volt battery, set-up CD, and graph paper. Once the sub is positioned in the room, all you have to do is pop the CD into the disc player and turn on the receiver and sub. For the best results, it’s recommended you place the decibel meter at ear level wherever in the room you normally sit. The first step is to make sure R.A.B.O.S. switch on the back of the sub is turned on and all the knobs are turned fully clockwise. Next you use the decibel meter to adjust the sub’s volume level, and lastly you begin testing.
The first graph to be filled out is the “Frequency” graph. Although it sounds intimidating, all you really do is sit while the CD plays a certain frequency then look at the decibel meter to see what the display shows. You simply plot the measurements on the graph and play connect the dots. At this point, you can complete the 2nd & 3rd graph or simply go to Infinity’s web site, plug in the data, and their web sit will show exactly where the frequency, level, and width dials should be set to. The whole process took about 20 minutes and I was done.
I broke in the sub playing the 2008 release of Rambo on Blu-ray and was satisfied with the performance. The sub offered a smooth bass fill-in and really cranked up the bottom end of those larger explosions in the movie. I had the crossover set around 80 hz and the transition between the front tower speakers to the sub was seamless. After the movie was over, I realized the sub was never overly boomy or punchy and blended well with the overall sound. I consider this a must-have sub for any avid home theater fan looking for a great sub at a great price!
¡Hablamos español! Bien, por lo menos en línea con nuestro servicio de la charla!
June 19th, 2008 by Todd BPara nuestro español que habla a clientes averigua nuestra charla en línea. Nosotros ahora tenemos la tecnología para comunicar en español en línea. ¡Tan si usted tiene las preguntas acerca de los productos o una orden que usted ha hecho con nosotros charlan con nosotros en línea! ¡Usted puede encontrar que la charla vive lazo en el rincón de mano derecha de nuestro sitio web!