Things are all set to go down at 5:30EST — we’ll see you then!
Live from Sony’s Google TV event originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If the discovery of down-to-the-cent leaked prices for Sony’s Google TVs sounded too good to be true, you might have been partially right — the publication that reported that the sets would range from $1,299 to $1,899 has now backed away from those figures. Sony Insider says that though its original prices seemed legit, the website’s spooks inside Sony now claim they’ll actually cost less when they hit the market, though the screen sizes and model numbers were apparently on the money. We don’t really feel inclined to trust the new anonymous sources any more than the original anonymous sources, so we’ll just leave it at that so as not to get you excited — if they’re cheaper after all, we’ll celebrate, and if not we’ll be forewarned.
Sony’s leaked Google TV prices were wrong, says alleged insider originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 21:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
First things first: In this episode, Brian X. Chen and I show off the Star Trek Enterprise pizza cutter from ThinkGeek. If you know a Trek fan who enjoys eating pizza — and what Trek fan doesn’t? — this could be a fine gift. It’s weighty, shiny silver, and looks just like the starship piloted by Captain James T. Kirk. It’s not the most solidly built cutter, though, Brian points out — as he holds it dangerously close to my neck.
In more substantive tech news, we discuss the upcoming launch of Windows Phone 7, planned for Monday, Oct. 11. Microsoft will be taking the stage with AT&T at this press conference, which pretty much confirms that AT&T will be one of the carriers offering Microsoft’s next mobile operating system.
In other news, Cisco unveiled its Umi videophone, a $600 piece of kit that turns your HDTV into a videoconferencing system. You’ve also got to pay a monthly fee to support the Umi service. Are these guys crazy? Have they never heard of Google Chat?
Brian reviews Instagram, a hot new photo-editing and photo-sharing app for iPhones.
And we talk briefly about Sony’s risibly ugly Google TV remote, images of which popped up online earlier this week. If this is what the future of television looks like, I want to change the channel.
Like the show? You can also get the Gadget Lab video podcast on iTunes, or if you don’t want to be distracted by our unholy on-camera talent, check out the Gadget Lab audio podcast. Prefer RSS? You can subscribe to the Gadget Lab video or audio podcast feeds
Or listen to the audio here:
Gadget Lab audio podcast #91
http://downloads.wired.com/podcasts/assets/gadgetlabaudio/GadgetLabAudio0091.mp3
Google TV is so hot right now, and after the ridiculously overpriced Logitech Revue was announced yesterday, everyone is waiting to see what Sony will announce next Tuesday November 12th. Wait no longer: the Sony Insider blog has got the (possible) leaked details.
There will be four models of Sony Google TVs, sized at 24, 32, 40 and 46-inches. Prices, too, have leaked, although not for the smallest set. Starting with the 32-incher, the televisions will cost $1,300, $1,500 and $1,900 respectively.
And that’s it, apart from the picture above. It seems it is costing manufacturers a lot to put Google TV into their gear. The Logitech box costs a market-failing $300 and in the regular consumer’s eye does little more than the AppleTV which costs just $100 and comes with a small remote control, not a car dashboard.
At least with Sony’s Google TV you get the actual TV thrown in, but again, Joe Consumer will look at other, non-Google Sony TVs and see that he can get a 46-inch set for just $800, more than a grand less than this one.
And what happens if Google just dumps this project, like it did with Wave? That, too, was hyped as the next big thing, a replacement for email, IM and all internet communication. Will Google TV, the future of television and internet video, go the same way? (*cough* Google Video *cough*).
Sizes And Pricing for Sony Google TV Family Leaked [Sony Insider]
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While its controller may have a button layout that only an Atari Jaguar apologist could love (…), Sony’s Google TV set itself is still something intriguing, if only because of the missing pieces of the puzzle set to be revealed October 12th. Or now, perhaps, if this Sony Insider leak proves true. According to the site, four models will initially be introduced: NSX-24GT1, NSX-32GT1, NSX-40GT1, and NSX-46GT1 — which, as you may have surmised, correspond to 24-, 32-, 40-, and 46-inch sets. While no price is known for the littlest of the quartet, the others are reportedly equipped with respective $1299.99, $1499.99, and $1899.99 price tags. The lowest of those three is about $300 more than BRAVIA EX710, the most expensive Sony 32-incher right now. Three Benjamins could also net you the Logitech Revue and the freedom to hook it up to any TV you wanted, so if these prices are true, let’s hope there’s some wiggle room for the retailer.
Sony’s Google TV screen sizes and prices leak? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 01:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nearly five months after Google announced its first Android-based set-top box software, Logitech has announced the details of the device based on it with hopes that the gadget will soon become a part of living rooms nationwide.
Logitech’s box for Google TV is called the Revue and will cost $300. It will combine cable programming with access to video from the web, photos from Flickr, games, and music from sites such as Pandora and Rhapsody. It will include HD video calling capability, Netflix, Chrome browser and an app that lets you use your iPhone or Android phone as a remote for the device.
The box is currently available for pre-order on the company’s website, Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. It will be in retail stores by the end of the month.
Google first announced its set-top box platform, Google TV, at the company’s developer conference in May. Since then, it has partnered with content creators such as HBO, CNBC, Turner Broadcasting and the NBA.
So far, Logitech and Sony have agreed to build the hardware for Google TV.
The Logitech Revue is a slim device powered by an Intel Atom CE4100 processor and a keyboard controller. To use it, consumers will need a broadband connection. With the bundled HDMI cable, users can link the Revue to the port on their TV, while another HDMI cable connects the Revue to the cable TV box.
Logitech’s thin, lightweight but rather clunky keyboard controller lets users interact with the device, search and choose what they want to watch.
But if you are wondering why the equivalent of the remote has so many buttons on it, Logitech says it chose a keyboard layout so anyone can just pick up and use it without going through a “learning curve.”
The controller also has a rather smooth touch pad with scroll and buttons such as back and home. Logitech has included buttons that control the TV, A/V receiver and DVR, which explains why the entire device looks so complicated. After all, it combines the TV remote and a computer keyboard into a single package.
One of the interesting features of the Logitech Revue box is the ability to make HD quality video calls from the TV. The accessories–Logitech TV Cam and Logitech Vid HD–lets consumers connect to the the Revue using USB and make calls without the need for a computer.
The TV cam has a wide-angle lens so it can capture the entire living room. And it includes 5x digital zoom so consumers can get up, close and personal, if they want.
The TV Cam and Vid HD software enable high-definition video calls of up to 720p. It includes some neat features such as call notifciation. For instance, if you receive a video call, the TV cam will blink to alert you of an incoming call.
If your TV screen is on, you will hear it ring and have the option to pick up or miss the call. The software also ensures that the TV lights up when you’ve missed a call – even when your TV is off.
Overall, the Logitech Revue seems impressive with its hardware specs (1080p, 60 frames per second output, two USB ports, Wi-Fi and ethernet connectivity). It will be interesting to see if Google TV can go mainstream, something that Apple with its Apple TV has failed to do so far.
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Photo: Logitech
Gah! There are misguided tech ads (see: pretty much every ad Microsoft has put out in the past decade) and then there’s this. The stuff that nightmares are made of–dancing flat screen TVs with stubby legs and a giant, bloodshot eye.
The message here is simple: buy the new Logitech Revue Google TV unit, or this thing will almost certainly kill you in your sleep. Don’t say you haven’t been warmed.
Video after the jump: if you dare.
Logitech this afternoon unveiled the Revue, the company’s set top Google TV box. The Logitech Revue with Google TV (its full name) gives users access to TV and Web content, and features.
The box hooks up directly to HDMI-ready sets, using the including HDMI cable. It can also be connected to a cable or satellite provider box. Once hooked up, the software setup takes a few moments, offering access to “virtually limitless Web content, as well as a host of preloaded Google TV and Logitech applications.”
The device ships with a Logitech Keyboard Controller–Logitech’s Harmony remote line can also be used, if you happen to have one of those lying around the living room. The company has also introduced the Logitech Mini Controller, which measures six by 3.5 inches and features a “palm-sized keyboard.”
The Revue box will run $299. The Mini Controller retails for $129. Both will be available by month’s end.
Logitech’s Revue Google TV box is now available for pre-order for $299, revealing a host of new features—HD calling, a wide array of controls, myriad apps, and—if you order today, it’ll arrive by the end of the month. More »
We just got some serious hands-on time with the Logitech Revue Google TV box, and it’s all pretty slick, hardware-wise. The Keyboard and Mini Controller are just as well-done as you’d expect from Logitech, and the video calling features worked pretty seamlessly. We also managed to confirm that the Dish Network DVR integration is exclusive to Logitech — it won’t work on Sony Google TV devices, which is totally strange. We’re headed back for video and we’ll have some more in-depth impressions in a bit, but check out the pretty pictures in the galleries below for now.
Update: Dish and Google have both chimed in to clarify the “exclusive” deal. While Dish will exclusively sell Logitech’s Google TV hardware, any other devices, including the ones from Sony, will pair with its DVRs in exactly the same way. Fragmentation (apparently) avoided — for now.
Update 2: Okay, we’ve added some impressions just after the break. We’re still trying to figure out exactly what’s going on with the whole Dish integration thing, since we can’t seem to get a straight answer, but we’ll keep digging and let you know.
Gallery: Logitech Revue Google TV box
Continue reading Logitech Revue and accessories hands-on! (Update: video of video calling!)
Logitech Revue and accessories hands-on! (Update: video of video calling!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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