Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve been coming to CES for years looking at demos of technologies that will let us watch HDTV without a set-top box, and yet here we are years later with little choice but to find a place to put that box. The big failures have been CableCARD and then tru2way, both of which have had little impact to mainstream America. But despite all of our disappointment over the years, we came away from CES this year with the feeling that this might actually be the year. Of course, the allure of Vegas has yet to wear off, but when Time Warner Cable, Comcast, DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV are at the same show sending almost the same message and showing demos, we have a hard time not taking our skeptical shield down a little. Sadly it wasn’t exactly the same message, and if you click on through you might discover the true future of how TV will be delivered.

Continue reading Could this be the year we get to ditch the cable box?

Could this be the year we get to ditch the cable box? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota‘s still the biggest auto manufacturer in the world, handily trumping GM and Ford, and with the Prius celebrating its 10 year anniversary it’s clear the company can certainly lead the industry when it wants to. Not so much with advanced infotainment and smartphone integration. There the company has been lagging behind the competition, Ford’s SYNC and the like, but now it’s making a big step forward with Entune, and it chose this year’s CES to do it. Toyota was kind enough to let us run a very early demo unit through its paces. Keep on reading for our impressions.

Continue reading Toyota Entune infotainment system hands-on (video)

Toyota Entune infotainment system hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viewing vehicle information wirelessly from an OBD-II port? Been there, done that. Actually tuning your car and making it faster over OBD-II? That’s genuinely new, and that’s what SCT is up to with its iTSX. For $350 you get the Bluetooth dongle and access to a free app that works on iOS devices. From there you get access to limited tuning parameters, like specifying idle RPM and fuel type. If you’re familiar with SCT you know that’s probably a little limited, but if you go to an SCT-authorized tuner they can create custom tunes, tweaking way more parameters than that, and download those tunes to your device. You can then apply them whenever you like or, even restore your stock tune if you’re feeling really crazy. Compatibility is a little limited, though, only working with Ford and GM vehicles ’96 and nearer. Right now the hardware is ready, just waiting on App Store approval, so look for release in the coming months.

Continue reading SCT iTSX lets you tune your car from your iPad (video)

SCT iTSX lets you tune your car from your iPad (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 11:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, here’s the dilemma — do you buy a lovely Bluetooth remote to control your PS3, or spring for a Bluetooth-to-IR adapter in order to better integrate your console into your overall home theater? How’s about neither? Snakebyte’s Premium Bluetooth Remote has just been unleashed here at CES, offering both Bluetooth and Infrared support, enabling it to dictate your PS3 as well as five other IR components. You’ll also get a backlit display, ingrained motion sensor, a built-in Li-ion battery and support for updatable firmware. We dropped by the company’s booth here in Vegas, but the only model on-hand was a non-functional mockup — too bad, but the real-deal is expected to ship this April for $49.99.

Continue reading Snakebyte PlayStation 3 remote touts IR and Bluetooth, $50 price tag

Snakebyte PlayStation 3 remote touts IR and Bluetooth, $50 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NetTalk hasn’t exactly made it easy for the world to believe in all of its claims, but things are just getting loco at this point. The NetTalk TV has been introduced here at CES, touted as a companion device to the Duo that provides ultra-low cost digital TV service. Reportedly, the bantam box offers HDMI / S-Video / composite outputs, Ethernet and WiFi, and it’ll enable consumers to receive only the standard- and high-definition content that they want. According to the company, this allows individuals to detach themselves from the high-priced cable packages that force you to pay for 50 channels (when you only need three), but here’s the kicker: there are no details whatsoever provided in the press release after the break. Not even a price. We’re told to expect shipments in Q3 of this year, followed by undoubted disappointment as you begin to understand that it won’t be NetTalk to finally convert the à la carte dream into reality.

Continue reading NetTalk TV to deliver à la carte HD television programming?

NetTalk TV to deliver à la carte HD television programming? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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