Hasta La Gadget!

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Seth, who needs to replace his grandpa’s MSN TV2 box. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“Many years ago, I bought my grandfather an MSN TV2 box as his first exposure to the internet. We were worried that the gift would be a flop, but he loves it, and is now emailing his old friends and even has a Facebook profile. Of course, Microsoft will close the service a few days before his 91st birthday, so I’d like to know what would you suggest as a replacement? As antiquated as it was, it’s been rock solid from a reliability perspective and that’s going to be key to determine what we get him next.”

So, what’s it to be? What web technology have you adopted for your elderly relatives that you think Seth could use? Why not head down past the break and let us know.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft

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Recovering shopaholics better steer clear of Delivery Agent’s new app for Samsung Smart TVs — if it actually does what the firm says, that is. It claims the inanely named ShopTV ties into a huge database of items and makes merchandise on the shows or commercials you’re watching available for purchase. An update rolling out later this year will supposedly let you simultaneously watch and shop in an effort to empty your wallet (or worse, your life savings) even faster. If you’re the type who goes gaga over HSN, we suggest installing some games to distract yourself from the temptation.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

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After launching a brand new Android app, Plex is now giving its Google TV app more room to roam inside your HDTV. An update allows you to dynamically switch your layout to a “TV style” to better take advantage of your flat panel’s extra breadth, even if you’re running it from an Android smartphone instead (which you totally can). PlexPass subscribers can sideload the app to Google TV or any other Android device via an APK now, and a new Google TV app will arrive on Play within a week. So, if you’ve already got the pixels but need more screen acreage, check the source.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile

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Source: Plex

The Korean Cable Television and Telecommunications Association went live yesterday with a pilot run of new channels. Composed of five content providers, the group is now hopefully filling the airwaves with crisp 4K footage of something beyond water, flowers and night-time city vistas. (There’s no word on what is currently being shown — Korean readers, please let us know in the comments if you catch a glimpse.)

Apparently launching six months earlier than planned (and ahead of the rival scheme in neighboring Japan), the UHD service is likely to arrive in commercialized form even faster. We’d recommend wannabe viewers start saving for that compatible TV set immediately, as it could take a while to get there.

Filed under: Misc, Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: ETNews (Korean)

While Machinima lets you produce epics out of your gaming exploits (occasionally resulting in comedy gold), so far it’s kept non-fanboy productions confined to YouTube. According to Reuters, that might change soon, as the company — which just received $35 million in Google-backed funding — is looking for another $80 million to start a subscription-based online video service. It has reportedly sought investment from the likes of Warner Brothers and Paramount Pictures, who already produce content for Machinima’s infamous YouTube channel and Xbox 360 app. Calling its typical user “crazy, engaged and ravenous,” CEO Allen DeBevoise said it wants to “be a company in the spirit of HBO and AMC, but in an over-the-top (online) world.” He added that it wants to license full-length, 44-minute fare (sans ads), to which it would retain foreign marketing rights. With 20.4 million viewers who stayed an average of 76 minutes last month, Machinima is already YouTube’s 7th largest channel — so, it’s no surprise that it’d like to become the Netflix of gaming.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

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Source: Reuters