Diamond Multimedia intros AMP2000 Android set-top box, availability coming later this year
Posted in: Today's Chili 
It’s been quite a few months since Diamond Multimedia announced it’s AMP1000 set-top box, so the company likely figured there was no better better time and place than CES 2013 to release its latest Android-based media offering. With the AMP2000, the multifarious company joins the likes of Roku and FAVI in the powered-by-Google streaming race — in which it’ll give potential users the ability to wirelessly view files on any HDMI-ready TV set, as well as offering support for applications like Hulu Plus and Netflix. Diamond Multimedia notes the AMP2000 comes “with Google TV,” though it doesn’t go into much more detail, and thus it’s quite unclear whether this means you get the actual Google TV experience — you know, the one found on devices such as that Vizio Co-Star — or if it’s something a bit more like Always Innovating’s HDMI Android dongle. Speaking of the lack of details, mum’s the word on how much the AMP2000 will run you when it ships “sometime in March or April,” but we can only imagine it to be around the same price as other similar offerings.
Filed under: Misc, Internet, Software, HD
Source: Diamond Multimedia
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[CES 2013] Thanks to the introduction of Windows 8, we are starting to see more computers come as a hybrid of sorts, allowing users to input commands the traditional way (i.e. keyboard and mouse), but also via a touchscreen display. That being said the folks at Sony have announced that they have updated their line of VAIO T Ultrabooks and will now allow users to purchase the Ultrabook with the added option of having touchscreen functionality. The models that will be on the receiving end of the update includes the T Series 14 and the new T Series 15 with a Full HD 1080p display, both of which obviously coming with Windows 8 installed within a magnesium/aluminum design. Both laptops will be available come Spring 2013 via Sony retailers or authorized resellers and will be priced at $800 for the T Series 14, and $950 for the T Series 15.
[CES 2013] One of the major pet peeves about using a laptop to work on the go is the fact that you can’t go long without plugging it into a power socket. Dell’s answer to this problem has been its Inspiron R laptop series: laptops with impressive battery life. Well, it looks like the company has decided to upgrade them for this year. While still maintaining its optical drive, Dell has managed to reduce the size of the Inspiron R to almost 1” thick, a huge difference from last year’s model.
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Vizio has made a successful entry in the sound bar market and it intends to continue this trend for 2013. I have to admit the ratio between price and sound quality is very good. At CES, the company has laid out its course of action for 2013: first of all, all the sound bars will have a unified design. This is a change from the 2012 editions, and a welcome one in my opinion. While it may not make a huge difference in your living room, having a design consistency is great for Vizio’s brand and will allow the company to focus on delivering sound quality instead of managing more industrial designs. 