Hasta La Gadget!

Last summer, Pear promised to make pairing iDevices via Bluetooth to an Apple-compatible speaker dock easy, but caught a trademark snag that put it on hold shortly after. The adapter seemed destined for a release under a different moniker, but it’s met an impasse. According to the folks behind the hardware, the device wasn’t approved under Apple’s MFi (Made for iPad / iPhone / iPod) program since Cook and Co. don’t bestow the seal of approval upon products that leverage the 30-pin female connector in conjunction with Bluetooth. Pear’s creators note they could move ahead without Apple’s blessing, but say that the development “officially kills this product” since Cupertino could put the kibosh on the operation. Despite dashed hopes for the dongle’s reincarnation, its creators are pushing forward with another product — though it’s unclear if it’s an iteration of the ill-fated connector — and expect to have more details within three to four weeks.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablets, Apple

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Source: PairWithPear

We’ve been waiting for Roku to release its miniaturized dongle since CES, and now we finally know the flash drive-sized Streaming Stick will be available next month for $99. Priced the same as as the Roku 2 XS set-top box, it brings the same feature set but in a smaller package designed to work directly with your HDTV, thanks to power, remote control and data signals fed through an MHL-compatible HDMI port. While it will work with other MHL-ready host devices, manufacturers with Roku Ready stamped and certified HDTVs on shelves this fall will include Apex, Insignia and Hitachi — Onkyo plans to ship receivers early next year. If you pick up an otherwise dumb flat-panel with the stick bundled along with it the price is set by that manufacturer, but the standalone plan means buyers savings are focused on the two cables they won’t be needing, and simplified remote capability since their TV remote can talk to the Stick directly. Like the Roku 2 XS, the Streaming Stick also includes the motion control capable game remote.

A separate move will benefit many existing Roku owners, as it is also announcing that Walmart-owned Vudu is launching on the platform today. You will need a Roku HD (2500), LT or Roku 2 box (or the Streaming Stick, once it launches) to take advantage of the Vudu app and its streams that bring quality of up to 1080p and 7.1 surround sound. That also means access to Vudu-compatible UltraViolet movie titles on yet another set-top box, if that’s a consideration, and users score a $5.99 credit with Vudu just for linking the account to their boxes. All the details are in the press release after the break, and on the Roku blog.

Continue reading Roku Streaming Stick launches in October for $99, Vudu comes to the Roku platform today

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Roku Streaming Stick launches in October for $99, Vudu comes to the Roku platform today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square gets most of the media hype, but without an international presence, would-be competitors have had a chance to carve out their own niches in the mobile commerce market. Sweden’s iZettle has managed to make quite a splash in its homeland, and it’s expanding its mini empire by finally bringing its wares to Android — albeit in an extremely limited form. Unless you’ve got a Galaxy S III, S II or a Note then iZettle still isn’t for you and with availability in a single Nordic country, it might seem more accurate to describe Android support as being in beta, but the company has ditched the testing tag regardless. Rest assured, however, it is actively working to add more handsets and export the app beyond its particle board-loving borders.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Software

iZettle comes to Android for a few lucky Swedish Samsung owners originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roku unveiled its miniaturized Streaming Stick at CES, and while we still don’t have an exact release date or price tag, the company has produced a list of manufacturers that will deliver “Roku Ready” hardware. That list is comprised of Element Electronics; GlobalVue International, LLC; Haier; Hitachi America, Ltd.; Insignia / Best Buy (which already tried out this strategy once with the whatever-happened-to-the TiVo-powered cTV); Mitsubishi Electric (TVs); Onkyo and Integra; OPPO and TMAX Digital, Inc.(Apex Digital(R) TVs). In case you’ve forgotten, the Roku Streaming Stick plugs into MHL-compatible HDMI ports to not only feed video to the HDTV, receiver or other device, but also accept remote control inputs and power, and brings its own WiFi hookup for internet access. That way, users can add this single accessory to make a “dumb” flat panel into a connected TV all without any extra cords or switching remotes, and, if necessary, easily upgrade in the future.

As CEO Anthony Wood mentioned just days ago Roku’s current focus is finding companies willing to work together to provide a well integrated experience for the add-on. To make that clear for potential buyers, Roku Ready devices like HDTVs, receivers and Blu-ray players will not only be stamped with a logo to show they’re compatible, some will arrive with the dongle packed in. Its due date is set for “the coming weeks” so it shouldn’t be long until we nail down the other details about the Roku Streaming Stick — all currently available information can be found in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Roku Streaming Stick ready devices will come from Insignia, Mitsubishi, Onkyo, Oppo and others

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Roku Streaming Stick ready devices will come from Insignia, Mitsubishi, Onkyo, Oppo and others originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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