Hasta La Gadget!

Eric Kessler, President & COO at HBO, just announced that a long-awaited feature will be going live today during his interview at D:Dive Into Media 2013. HBO Go and Max Go users with Apple products filling the home will now be able to enjoy AirPlay beaming. Straight from the man himself:

“Our long-term goal for Go is to be on all platforms and all devices. Effective today, we will be enabling AirPlay — any device that allows users to watch on the big screen is great. You can play HBO Go on your iPhone or iPad, and then beam that to your HDTV via an Apple TV using AirPlay.”

It appears that neither app has seen an update in Apple’s App Store just yet, but we’re guessing it’s only a matter of time before both are refreshed. [Update: Looks as if both updates are now live!] Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that HBO will be on Apple TV for some time yet. Host Kara Swisher asked Kessler what the problem was in getting ’em on there. His reply? “We will get on Apple TV — there is no problem. These things take time.”

We spoke firsthand with Kessler following his interview, and he affirmed that there’s no 30 percent revenue cut to worry about with Apple TV like there is for conventional apps on the App Store. It seemed that HBO simply viewed this as a lower priority now that AirPlay is a reality, and it may go a long way to explaining why so many other video apps are opting for AirPlay inclusion rather than focusing efforts on a dedicated Apple TV app.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple

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Source: iTunes (HBO Go), (Max Go)

Netflix has officially detailed its Apple AirPlay alternative, DIAL, created in collaboration with YouTube and promising intuitive second-screen entertainment. Already garnering the support of the BBC, Sony, Hulu, and Samsung, DIAL – or “discovery and launch” – aims to streamline the second-screen experience, by automatically discovering compliant devices and starting up apps on them. So, the Netflix app on your phone will be able to spot any Netflix-compatible TVs nearby, and open up the functionality instantly.

That way, rather than forcing users to open up an app on their phone or tablet, and on their smart TV or STB-enabled TV, and then make sure they’re paired together, it should be a one-button process. That’s pretty much what AirPlay does – automatically locating other AirPlay gadgets on the same network – but whereas Apple’s system is limited to the company’s own hardware, DIAL is being offered up freely.

Unlike AirPlay, however, DIAL doesn’t include any screen-sharing abilities; instead, that functionality will be left up to the app developers themselves to initiate, should they want to. Instead, it’s being positioned as broader than that, in the expectation that more developers will jump onboard if it’s more flexible.

What DIAL can do that AirPlay can’t, meanwhile, is prompt smart TV users to download and install relevant apps if they’re available, to unlock new features, as well as open up web apps on internet-connected sets. Chrome support may also be added, allowing the browser on your laptop to open up apps on your TV.

All well and good, but compatibility is the key to success, and there DIAL has something of an advantage already. According to Netflix, current-gen Google TV hardware already has support for DIAL, and there’s some support in 2012-range Samsung and LG sets; Sony is also expected to get onboard, since it and Samsung were apparently instrumental in testing DIAL during its development.

Netflix will be allowing DIAL adoptees to use the phrase “based on DIAL” in their branding, though will be licensing out use of the logo itself separately. There’ll also be a mandatory registry – which currently includes Pandora, Hulu, the BBC, Flingo, and more – for “first screen” apps (i.e. those shown on your TV) with DIAL support.

[via GigaOm]

Forget AirPlay: Netflix and YouTube out DIAL for second-screen simplicity is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Sound and time: two things that fly by pretty fast — and many an Engadget editor have been known to make time zip by faster with Klipsch headphones. While the company showed us its latest ear-gear in the fall of 2011, it’s kicking off 2013 at CES with a focus on speakers. It was a year ago when we checked out a mockup of Klipsch’s Stadium AirPlay speaker, and it’s finally poised to hit shelves in the coming months. Part of its Music Center lineup, the visually striking, wireless 2.1 system (pictured right) hasn’t changed aesthetically, but the company does have more to share when it comes to specs and availability. In addition to AirPlay, it’s now loaded with DLNA and Bluetooth, with compatibility for aptX. The Stadium is loaded with a duo of 5.25-inch subwoofers, a pair of three-inch woofers for mids and a pair of 1-inch “horn-loaded” tweeters to handle the highs. Now word on price just yet, but north of $1,500 (yes, you read right, audiophiles) wouldn’t be a bad guess when it arrives this summer.

For those looking solely for Bluetooth connectivity in a semi-portable package, Klipsch’s KMC3 (pictured left) might be the ticket. This 130-watt system features a 5.25-inch subwoofer and a pair of two-inch full-range drivers. Naturally, an 3.5mm input lets you plug your devices in the old fashioned way, while on integrated USB port can be used for charging your devices. Sadly, there’s also no word on price for the KMC3, but it should arrive a bit sooner in the spring. Klipsch says it has more planned for the Music Center this year as well, so we’ll keep you posted when we hear more. More details in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Klipsch details Stadium and KMC3 wireless speakers, hopes to be at the Center of your listening experience

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video

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Behringer made a bit of a splash as CES last year with its oversized iPhone dock, this year it’s keeping things a little more front-room friendly. Launching its new OMNI system, the audio maker hopes to bring a little AirPlay magic to your house, without excluding some of your legacy hardware. The system consists of modular elements that let you add your passive speakers into the mix, as well as work together as a whole. More specifically, the OMNI SP3 and SP5i units are all-in-one 2.1 systems, and there’s a dedicated subwoofer too. But, if you don’t have or want their own breed, you can bring in your own. The OMNI Amp is a 2 x 40W stereo amplifier and AirPlay receiver that lets you play your music with your existing passive bookshelf or floor-mounted gear, and active speakers can be looped into the AirPlay party with the OMNI link box. The speakers are provisionally set to cost $249 (for the SP3i) and $349 (for the SP5i and sub), while the amp and link boxes will likely set you back $199 and $129 respectively. No word on the official launch date, but head on over to the press release for more info.

Continue reading Behringer announces OMNI series AirPlay speakers and connecting receiver amps

Filed under: Home Entertainment

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Tinkerers looking for a way to make their old speakers play nice with Apple’s AirPlay technology can now do so on the cheap, thanks to the Raspberry Pi, a neat hack made by Cambridge Engineering student Jordan Burgess and some free software.

The key component for Jordan’s hack is James Laird’s Shairport, an open source Airport Express emulator. Jordan also used the free Raspbian OS provided by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Here’s the hack in action:

The tinny sound isn’t just YouTube’s compression; Jordan reminds us that the Raspberry Pi wasn’t built with audiophile level technology, so you might want to get a USB sound card as well. Head to Jordan’s website for more details on the hack. I’m still hoping the AirBridge gets produced.

[via TechCrunch]