Hasta La Gadget!

Logitech’s promoting its Revue with Google TV box in a new “Lonely TV” series of advertisements, but while they’re suggesting the relationship between internet, TV and you should be closer this latest spot only makes us want to search for a restraining order. In light of concerns some have about online privacy and exactly how much information Google is revealing about our habits, maybe a giant screen with an eyeball on it sending a teenaged girl into a panic (and not the Bieber fever) is the wrong mascot. Check out the full ad after the break and see if we’re wrong — remember, being weird worked out great for Palm.

Continue reading Logitech’s ‘Lonely TV’ Revue with Google TV ad may be sending the wrong message

Logitech’s ‘Lonely TV’ Revue with Google TV ad may be sending the wrong message originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So just how much would you pay for a set-top box or Blu-ray player with Google TV built in? That appears to be what Dish Network is trying to find out with this online survey sent to potential customers, laying out some of the features offered and presenting several different pricing options from a one time up-front purchase of up to $300 at retail or cheaper possibilities with a monthly fee (pictured above). It also helpfully points out that Dish will be the only one with “advanced integration,” meaning search across internet sources, TV listings, VOD and programming stored on the DVR at launch to probe the potential of enticing switchers. Check out the gallery for all the questions and imagine what fits your budget before Google TV gets real this fall.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Dish Network survey hints at Google TV pricing options originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When will Strong Bad and company become native Android applications? Anytime after Q4 2010 — that’s when Adobe says it wants to have Adobe AIR for Android runtimes publicly available in the Android Market, along with an initial batch of apps, and fairly exciting potential for more. The Android release will be part of AIR 2.5 and grant would-be developers access to your smartphone’s camera, microphone, accelerometer and GPS as well as providing hardware GPU acceleration and multitouch input, which could make for some exciting PopCap games completely serious and not at all game related utilities down the road. Don’t necessarily expect them to work on every Android phone, however, as there are some prerequisites for AIR, namely an ARMv7 processor or better with a vector co-processor, OpenGL ES 2.0 and Froyo, but Adobe says if your device handles Flash 10.1, it’ll probably run AIR.

On a related note, if you weren’t yet sold on Google TV, a breath of fresh AIR might help — Adobe told us it’s presently pondering the correct time to add the cross-platform runtimes on Google’s video streaming boxes as well.

Adobe AIR 2.5 coming to Android in Q4 2010, but only to capable phones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monsoon — after taking advantage of a few delays since our initial hands-on by adjusting the name and pricing — is finally ready to show off the followup to its HAVA line of placeshifting media streamers, the Vulkano. Integrating a video processor and local storage into its slim frame, the Vulkano accepts HD video over its analog inputs for recording and live streaming to other devices (PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, Blackberry and Android players will be available at launch, with a Symbian version on the way) or it can convert recordings locally for them to be downloaded over WiFi or 3G and stored on those devices for offline viewing. Remote scheduling and channel changing functionality (controlling connected set-top boxes via IR blaster) isn’t a shocking new feature, but this goes a step further by bringing internet videos to your TV (YouTube, local UPnP devices) Boxee and Popbox style, and other big names like Hulu, Netflix, Google TV, Amazon Yahoo! Widgets and a full HTML browser are promised to show up in firmware updates soon. Believers can hit the site to preorder now, with units ranging from the $279 Vulkano with 8GB of SD card storage, up to a $379 Vulkano Pro with 1TB eSATA HDD included and other sizes planned in between. Check after the break for a press release with more details, and our hands on video from CES.

Continue reading Monsoon Vulkano all-in-one DVR/placeshifting/media streaming box ready for preorder, ships August 10

Monsoon Vulkano all-in-one DVR/placeshifting/media streaming box ready for preorder, ships August 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like YouTube‘s having quite the day. The site has officially rolled out Leanback, its television-friendly interface first espied during Google TV’s big unveiling. The interface works via keyboard arrow keys — sorry, no option to use the mouse — letting you scroll through your feeds / recommendations, categories, playback options, and search bar. Videos encompass the entire browser menu and will crank up the HD when available. So far, we’re seeing snappy response with navigation, and some utter embarrassment at the (unfortunately accurate) suggestions YouTube is throwing our way.

Meanwhile on the handheld front, YouTube’s also pushed live a new mobile site. New touted features include a more touch-friendly UI, further incorporation of the main site’s elements such as favorites and ratings, and a generally speedier existence. YouTube also promises to work at bringing update parity across its desktop and portable kin, “unlike native apps which are not updated as frequently” (come on, tell us how you really feel, guys). Since the TV season is in a bit of a lull anyway, might as well grab your iPhone, Android device, HTPC remote, laptop, or whatever other screen you have and play catchup with your viral videos. Promotional footage after the break.

Continue reading YouTube launches Leanback, mobile site gets HTML5 revamp (video)

YouTube launches Leanback, mobile site gets HTML5 revamp (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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