Sep 14

Zeitgeist attendees comped with Google TV gift bag: Sony Blu-ray player, Dish Network and free installs

Posted in: Android, BestBuy, Google, GoogleTv, hdtv, sony, Today's Chili

We suppose one way around Google TV’s initial reliance on IR blasters to communicate with some set-top boxes is to just give away everything necessary for a good experience — Sony HDTV, Google TV (it’s unclear whether the first two are separate or one item), six months of Dish Network service and a free installation from Best Buy’s Geek Squad — which, according to AllThingsD, is exactly what the 600 attendees of today’s Google Zeitgeist event received. That even the great minds of our time presumably require a custom installation just to get everything going may not be a great initial sign for the product, but as the post points out, Aaron Sorkin probably isn’t used to plugging in his own HDMI cables anyway. With those 600 units in the wild and a retail release presumably around the corner, we should see some first hand reports leaking out just about any time now.

Update: Search Engine Land reports users actually received 3 months of complementary service from Dish and a Google TV-equipped Blu-ray player from Sony, not a an HDTV — which certainly makes more sens than suddenly tossing new flatscreens into random households.

Zeitgeist attendees comped with Google TV gift bag: Sony Blu-ray player, Dish Network and free installs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 14

Veebeam Uses Wireless USB to Stream Media From PC to TV

Posted in: apple tv, boxee, media player, Media Players, Today's Chili

The streaming media player bubble isn’t over. A new contender called Veebeam hopes to make customers reconsider how they want to get their daily fix of web video.

Veebeam wirelessly hooks up your PC to your TV so you can watch The Daily Show, Hulu, Netflix movies and The Big Bang Theory on a giant screen rather than a 22-inch monitor. The Veebeam player streams media in high-definition–780p or 1080p resolution–at speeds that can be up to four times faster than Wi-Fi.

Veebeam is competitively priced against Apple TV and the Roku box. A SD version of Veebeam costs $100, a HD version comes for $140. But for that price, Veebeam can do more than many of its peers, says Patrick Cosson, vice-president of marketing for Veebeam. Veebeam showed its product at the DEMO Fall 2010 conference Tuesday.

“Apple TV is a walled garden,” he says. “Most people’s basket of entertainment media consumption is broader so they need a platform that gives them that,” says Cosson.

It’s not a new pitch. Companies such as Google, Boxee and Netgear have been trying to tap into the growing pool of users who are now turning to web video for their entertainment.  In May, Google launched Google TV, a new set-top-box platform based on Google’s Android operating system that will have access to Flickr, gaming sites such as Club Penguin, music sites such as Pandora and traditional cable programming.

Other companies such as Roku and Boxee have been slightly less ambitious, promising just an easy way to stream web content from the PC to the TV. Boxee, though, is available only as a software program but the company has said it’s partnership with D-Link will result in a Boxee box this year.

And there’s Apple TV. Though long characterized as a “hobby” by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Apple launched a new version of the device earlier this month. Apple TV now integrates Flickr photos, allows rental of TV shows from ABC and Fox and lets users stream media from their iTunes library.

“Apple TV is a 720p solution,” says Cosson, “while we can stream at 1080p so you can advantage of that HD TV.”

Veebeam uses wireless USB to stream content from the PC to the TV. Wireless USB is more powerful for point-to-point connectivity than traditional Wi-Fi because it offers more bandwidth and less interference, says the company. Veebeam estimates 420 Mbps speeds for wireless USB.

Customers have to plug the Veebeam box to their TV and attach the USB antenna that comes with the device to their laptop.  Users can switch between the ’screencasting’ mode for sharing websites or photos and the ‘play-to’ mode for video.

Though services such as Boxee have had problems with Hulu–Hulu blocked Boxee at least thrice over two years–Veebeam is confident it can fly under the radar.

“It’s impossible for Hulu to block us,” says Cosson. “We take a series of little pictures of your computer and project it out to your TV so Hulu doesn’t know that the content is on the TV. They think its on the browser.”

That in a nutshell explains Veebeam. It’s a wireless USB hub in a pretty chassis. It doesn’t connect directly to the internet –it just streams what is on your laptop. Still, at its price it could be a cheap and painless way to get video from your notebook to your TV screen.

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Photos: Dylan Tweney/Wired.com


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Sep 13

Google TV officially launching October 17th?

Posted in: BestBuy, Google, GoogleTv, media streamer, MediaStreamer, Today's Chili

It’s been no secret that Google TV is scheduled to arrive sometime this fall and we’ve already seen the Logitech Revue box hardware pass the FCC, but a tipster has just shared an internal Best Buy document with us disclosing that the original planned launched date was October 3rd, and it’s now been mysteriously pushed back by two weeks. That would pin the official launch as October 17th, which is certainly later then what Intel’s chief recently hinted at. While it’s certainly not definitive proof, considering the fact that Best Buy is an official partner of Google TV and the dates timing relative to the upcoming holiday season, we don’t think this leak is all that far fetched. Let’s not forget that schedule would also place its release a little more than two weeks after the suggested ship date of Cupertino’s new hobby. Sure, Google’s mantra may be “do no evil”, but that doesn’t mean they can’t try to rain on Job’s parade every now and again right? Oh and for all the eloquent waxing you could want on Google’s assault on the living room, make sure you check our editorial on the platform if you happened to miss it.

Google TV officially launching October 17th? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 09

Intel CEO reveals Google TV launch is this month, explains McAfee purchase

Posted in: apple tv, GoogleTv, intel, Today's Chili
Today’s Wall Street Journal has a few key words from Intel CEO Paul Otellini, with a few comparing his company’s Google TV approach to the refreshed (and now Intel-free) Apple TV. The biggest revelation is a mention that Google TV will start shipping this month (more specific than Google’s own fall prediction of a few days ago) with no word whether that includes products from Sony, Logitech or both. According to Otellini, Intel’s success will mean using “the right chip for the right job,” and that includes getting its hands dirty on the software side, where he claims his company is responsible for 50% of the code in Google TV. When asked about Apple’s simplified approach to the living room he referenced them as two different approaches that may appeal to different audiences, pointing out Apple TV as something his mother might enjoy while his son could make use of Facebook on the Google TV.

Oh, and the $7.68 billion Intel dropped on McAfee last month? He considers it a “valuable asset” and says the best security relies on a combination of hardware and software. The theme of the day is how Intel can compete beyond the PC, but whether it’s tethered to the TV or in tablets, the head guy is confident Intel’s industry partners won’t let Apple run away with either.

Intel CEO reveals Google TV launch is this month, explains McAfee purchase originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 07

Google TV set to launch this year, Samsung considering Android for its TVs

Posted in: Android, Google, GoogleTv, hdtv, samsung, Today's Chili, TV
As you’re probably well aware, the Wintermute-like intelligence known as Google has designs on your television. Not only is Samsung contemplating Android for its sets, but Eric Schmidt has stated that its Google TV service is on track for launch this autumn (as a beta, undoubtedly). Finally, Maps on your plasma! Unfortunately Samsung’s plans are far less certain, with company President Yoon Boo Keun offering little more than a “[w]e will have to see, but we are reviewing,” when asked whether the OS will make a suitable platform for couch potatoes the world o’er. According to Yoon, about half of the company’s 3-D TVs rock web browsers, a figure that will only increase over the next couple years. We only hope that if they do go with Android, the implementation is better than that of some of their handsets.

Google TV set to launch this year, Samsung considering Android for its TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 07

Amino launches Freedom over-the-top video set-top box, challenges Google TV to arm wrestle

Posted in: 1080p, dvr, Google, GoogleTv, meego, os, set-top-box, streaming video, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili

If the AppleTV announcement didn’t satiate your need for a Google TV set-top box battle royal, then new details about Amino’s Freedom box might do the trick. Yes it still packs the same hardware announced back in 2009 such as an Intel CE4100m Atom Processor, 500 GB of internal storage, SD card support, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11n and 1 GB of RAM. We’ve now discovered however that it’ll also run its own Amino branded version of Nokia’s MeeGo OS, adding apps and gaming support to its list of capabilities that already included 1080p playback, VOD streaming, and DVR recording. In other words there’s going to be a new Google TV competitor on the block sometime before the end of this year looking for a fight. Whether it’ll provide a Lincoln Hawk-worthy performance though is something we’ll let the bookies squabble over until we can go hands on with both.

[Thanks, Hary]

Amino launches Freedom over-the-top video set-top box, challenges Google TV to arm wrestle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 05

Entelligence: A tale of two TVs

Posted in: Apple, apple tv, column, Google, GoogleTv, Today's Chili

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he’ll explore where our industry is and where it’s going — on both micro and macro levels — with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

This week at what’s become Apple’s fall music event the company unveiled a revised Apple TV. The small $99 device delivers a new rental model and support for Netflix, but there are no apps, contrary to much of the speculation leading up the event. That’s in stark contrast to the Google TV project announced at I/O last spring. Unlike Apple, Google is looking to provide DVR functionality, search, and an app marketplace. Some say Apple isn’t being bold enough, but I think Apple might be right.

Google wants input one on your TV. Apple wants input two. The difference? Input one is where your cable box goes. Input two was where your VCR or DVD player used to live. It’s a port that’s up for grabs.

Continue reading Entelligence: A tale of two TVs

Entelligence: A tale of two TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 04

Sony shows off Google TV (or a video of it, anyway) at IFA 2010

Posted in: demo, Google, GoogleTv, sony, Today's Chili, video

It’s not the full-on demo you’re probably hoping for, but Sony devoted a section of its sprawling, city-within-a-city of a booth at IFA 2010 to diving into some of the capabilities its Google TV-enabled televisions will be offering when they launch in the US before the end of the year. The two-plus minute video loop runs through web search, Google Maps (which looks pretty awesome, we have to admit), YouTube and Picasa functionality, app favorites, and picture-in-picture, which means you don’t have to miss those first few precious minutes of Iron Chef America while you look up desserts that use eggplant. Interestingly, we stopped by Logitech’s booth today, who insisted there wasn’t a Revue anywhere near the show — despite the fact that beta units are in the field, the launch is coming up, and these guys are probably all looking to strike content deals with European providers right about now. In other words, we’ve got a sneaking suspicion there are Revues (and fully-functional Google TV sets from Sony) on the premises, they’re just locked away in meetings where our press badges are… shall we say, “frowned upon.” Follow the break for the full video.

Gallery: Sony shows off Google TV — a video of it, anyway — at IFA

Continue reading Sony shows off Google TV (or a video of it, anyway) at IFA 2010

Sony shows off Google TV (or a video of it, anyway) at IFA 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 03

Logitech Revue and Google TV get very early blurrycam impressions

Posted in: Google, GoogleTv, logitech, Today's Chili, video

Well, what do we have here? Looks like a Logitech beta user was kind enough to (potentially break his NDA and) show off his early grab: the Google TV-infused Revue. What follows is a series of blurred photos that’d make the FCC weep, but all the same, who are we to critique news? The little unassuming box has HDMI in and out ports, a couple of USB inputs, ethernet, and SPDIF. According to the handler, installation was a “12-step process includes asking the details of your Google account, your physical location, TV, cable box, amp, and more.” It works with any Harmony remote, an Android device (in this case, a Droid Incredible), or the packaged keyboard. That latter input we last heard was still in development, but it seems to be working fine right here: full QWERTY, a trackpad, all the necessary keys for GTV navigation. One more pic of the keyboard after the break, as well a video walkthrough.

[Thanks, Craig]

Continue reading Logitech Revue and Google TV get very early blurrycam impressions

Logitech Revue and Google TV get very early blurrycam impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 28

Logitech’s ‘Lonely TV Part 3’ Google TV ad pulled, Part 4 steps up to the plate

Posted in: ad, GoogleTv, logitech, Today's Chili, video

After Part 3 of Logitech’s Lonely TV ad campaign (pictured above) didn’t get quite the reception the company probably intended, GTVHub points out the video has disappeared from YouTube and quickly been replaced by Part 4 in the series. Both are embedded after the break so you can judge for yourself, but Part 4 (along with Parts 1 & 2) seems to do a better job of representing an Aaahh!!! Real Monsters mischievous entity than the Grape You In The Mouth! feel of Part 3. Of course, we’d just like to get out of the ad critic business and get some more Revue with Google TV hands-on time — anyone who remembers Nilay’s tale of woe from podcast 197 knows that IR blasters are an even scarier prospect than anthropomorphized HDTVs suddenly appearing in our bed.

Continue reading Logitech’s ‘Lonely TV Part 3’ Google TV ad pulled, Part 4 steps up to the plate

Logitech’s ‘Lonely TV Part 3’ Google TV ad pulled, Part 4 steps up to the plate originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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