Dec 22

Several bidders line up to buy Motorola’s set-top box division

Posted in: dvr, motorola, sale, set-top-box, Today's Chili
It hasn’t been much of a secret that Motorola is looking to sell its set-top box business, and it looks like several potential suitors are already lining up to place bids on the division now that the company has put the word out in a slightly more formal manner. While everything is obviously still in the earliest stages, Reuters reports that a number of major private equity firms — including Bain Capital, TPG Capital, and the Blackstone Group — have informed Motorola of their interest in the business, with other companies including equipment maker Arris also said to be considering a bid. Details are otherwise a bit light, as you might expect, but at least some folks have valued the business as high as $4.5 billion — although other “sources familiar with the matter” say the bidding will likely stay under $4 billion.

Several bidders line up to buy Motorola’s set-top box division originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 21

Watch Your World with Swann and the iPhone

Posted in: dvr, iPhone, Today's Chili

SwannDVR4-2500.jpg

Looking for home security? Swann debuted a powerful system today that lets you monitor your home or business with an iPhone. The Swann DVR4-2500 Security Recorder Kit comes with a DVR, four indoor/outdoor cameras with night vision, a remote, mouse, and all necessary cables and connectors. What really impresses, though, is that it offers remote viewing of either live or recorded video from an iPhone. Not only can you check out the live stream from any of the cameras on your system, but you can also review saved footage.

The cameras record in H.264 and the DVR has a 500GB hard drive, which is enough to store 30 days of footage from continuous recordings. The drive also has a USB port, so you can backup footage you want to save longer. The system connects to the Web, and footage can be viewed remotely from a computer as well as an iPhone. The kit will cost $699 when it’s available in January.

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Dec 07

Toshiba’s Cell TV delivers a slightly-less ultimate eight tuner DVR experience December 10

Posted in: 1080p, blu-ray, dvr, Japan, LCD, LED, Today's Chili, Toshiba

Blu-ray and the Cell processor are back together again, now that Toshiba has jumped on the format and is ready to release its first Cell TV, the Regza 55X1, in Japan December 10. Just making it in 2009 as promised, the path to launch has cost this initial release the 4K resolution screen we’d hoped for, with a 1080p LED backlit display hooked to the aforementioned Blu-ray DVR, 3TB HDD and slick 3D GUI for navigating all sorts of content from the internet or recording from as many as 8 tuners at one time. Also pushed back? Some video on-demand services, but we’re pretty sure that at this point a few software updates on the way isn’t holding back anyone from the “ultimate entertainment machine.”

Update: Our friends at Engadget Japan just pinged us to inform that Blu-ray was also one of the features left on the cutting room floor. Without that, our ¥1,000,000 is staying firmly in our theoretical Japanese wallet — Toshiba, let us know how v2 works out.

Toshiba’s Cell TV delivers a slightly-less ultimate eight tuner DVR experience December 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 16

Sezmi’s low cost cable / satellite premium TV alternative launches in L.A.

Posted in: cable, dvr, hdtv, ota, satellite, Television, Today's Chili

Ready for yet another way to watch TV? Sezmi has just gone on the air in Los Angeles, offering its unique blend of premium OTA and internet delivered video to a few limited trial users. $5 a month brings whatever local networks you can pull in, basic IPTV (YouTube, OnNetworks, podcasts) and internet VOD (CinemaNow) access, while throwing an Andrew Jackson on top of that adds “more than 100 cable TV networks,” delivered via antenna. According to the L.A. Times that doesn’t include any channels from the Disney or Fox family like ESPN, regional sports networks or premium movie channels, but if those are already stations you’re avoiding, it’s a cheaper option than most cable TV plans. Other than the allure of sticking it to the current distribution model, the 1TB DVR package includes a rather unique UI to aggregate and even seek out new shows for you from those varied sources, while maintaining individual profiles for different users. The three month trial has just the right price — free — so even with little info on how much high definition Sezmi’s network can handle or what areas or channels will be added next, it’s at least worth a look.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

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Sezmi’s low cost cable / satellite premium TV alternative launches in L.A. originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 10

AVerMedia Turns Your PC Into a DVR

Posted in: dvr, Today's Chili

AverMediaHD-DVR.jpgWhy get a separate DVR when you already have a computer? That’s the idea behind the just-released AVerTV HD DVR. This PCI Express card lets you record high-def video from your cable or satellite set-top box with two HDMI inputs. Use the included software to schedule recordings, and use the included dongle to input video from component, composite, and S-video connections, as well.

While the card records 1080i H.264 video, it does so at a 320-by-240 resolution, so it isn’t right for playing back on a big screen. The company is billing it more for use with portable devices, such as the iPod, iPhone, and PSP. Gamers can record their game sessions and post them online, and anyone can burn their recordings to DVD. The card works with Windows 7, Vista, and XP computers. Pick up the card from AVerMedia’s site for $99.

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Nov 09

Moxi Fall update comes with a lower price and a new 3 tuner model

Posted in: dvr, Today's Chili

Although Moxi hasn’t really taken a piece of our heart, it has kept its promise of updates with the third one due just before the holiday season. The most notable news today from Moxi’s new owner Arris though is a new three tuner HD DVR, which we believe is the first to break the two tuner barrier (that isn’t PC based). The new model is only available bundled with either one, or two Moxi Mates for $799 or $999. You can still buy the dual tuner version by itself which now retails for $499 instead of $799 — don’t forget, Moxi doesn’t charge service fees — and the Moxi Mate itself is now $299 instead of $399. The bad news it that the no interest payment options are off the table. The best news for existing Moxi owners is that the Fall update brings Live TV streaming to the Moxi Mate as well as new recording defaults, but we continue to wait for the ability to customize the Recorded TV list. All in all, Moxi has made much progress since we did our review, but our biggest gripe goes unaddressed, but then again we really didn’t expect Moxi to redesign the entire UI just because we didn’t like it.

Continue reading Moxi Fall update comes with a lower price and a new 3 tuner model

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Moxi Fall update comes with a lower price and a new 3 tuner model originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 02

Are DVRs actually going to save the network TV model?

Posted in: dvr, Today's Chili

Stay tuned for the network’s latest DVR strategy: acceptance. Armed with the latest Nielsen data, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox are rushing to tell advertisers that even with a set-top box and its bevy of pauses, fast forwards and 30 second skips at the ready — we’re guessing this doesn’t apply to Media Center users on automated setups — most viewers simply settle in and watch the commercials anyway. The New York Times breaks down the commercial-plus-three ratings system the networks initially opposed that could end up saving shows like Heroes from cancellation — though a return to the old way of thinking might be worthwhile if it means an end to that show’s now pitiable existence.

Are DVRs actually going to save the network TV model? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 30

Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video)

Posted in: Apple, dvr, iPhone, itunes, Mac, os x, OsX, Software, stream, streaming, Today's Chili

We’re hearing that the PC version of this here software still beats out the Mac counterpart, but equality is slowly but surely becoming a reality. The main new feature over on the OS X side, however, is a good one: the ability to stream iPhone and iTunes media directly to your TV via your FiOS TV DVR. Fire up an iTunes playlist and watch the fun roll by on your home TV, and there’s even support for photo slideshows and the like. It’s available to download right now from the read link, and those still skeptical can catch a demonstration vid just past the break.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Continue reading Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video)

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Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 13

Blockbuster On Demand goes live on TiVo boxes

Posted in: content, dvr, Movies, tivo, Today's Chili

We knew good and well it was coming, and now the deed has been done. As promised, Blockbuster’s On Demand movie rental service has gone live on a bevy of TiVo boxes, enabling Series2, Series3, TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL DVRs to watch all sorts of releases without needing to purchase another set-top-box or tap into their cable company’s VOD system. We’re told that most rentals will range from $2.99 (for the classics) to $3.99 (for new releases), with the film catalog expected to expand over the coming weeks. HD aficionados will have to wait a tick before seeing any movies available in high-def, but those looking to pick up a new TiVo can now saunter into any Blockbuster retail location in order to claim one. Eager to get in on the action? Fire up your box and hit the “Video On Demand” screen from TiVo Central.

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Blockbuster On Demand goes live on TiVo boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 23

Video: Intel Tru2way server streams cable all over your house

Posted in: cable, dvr, Features, intel, Today's Chili

Look, Moblin and MIDs and USB 3.0 are all well and good, but the real highlight of IDF is hiding in plain sight: it’s Intel’s CE 3100 Media Processor-based Tru2way DVR server, which has three digital cable tuners that can be streamed over a regular gigabit Ethernet or MoCA to any number of clients, ranging from other 3100-based set-top boxes to DLNA devices like laptops and even the PS3. It’s seriously cool — the clients all see the server’s tuners as their own, so the experience is seamless, and since it all runs on the Tru2way stack, it doesn’t matter what kind of client you plug in — the three clients on the show floor were running interfaces from Intel, Comcast (Rovi), and Digeo. Of course, since it’s a DVR, you can actually add more clients than tuners and have them play back recorded content while your other boxes use the tuners — Intel was demoing XBMC on a Sony laptop connecting over DLNA and streaming a recorded program while a PS3 nearby ran a photo slideshow, all while the three cable clients streamed uncompressed HD video from the tuners. Intel says a number of cable companies are interested in deploying this stuff and that we should see things on the market in the next year — we honestly can’t wait. Check a video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Intel Tru2way server streams cable all over your house

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Video: Intel Tru2way server streams cable all over your house originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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