Microsoft just bought R2 Studios, a company that Apple and Google were both after, to help the Xbox continue its assault on living rooms across the world. R2 Studios, which was founded by Blake Krikorian (the guy who also made the Slingbox), apparently “works on” technology related to distributing and displaying digital media on televisions. More »
Bad news for anyone who was excited for Intel to finally reveal its long-rumored set top box and TV service plans at CES next week. According to Janko Roettgers over at Gigaom, knowledgeable sources claim that Intel won’t be officially announcing its challenger to the Apple and Google TV at the show, but more tantalizing details have emerged. More »
Google tried it and failed. Microsoft’s spent years putting pieces in place with Xbox, but it hasn’t gotten there yet. And if you believe the rumors, Apple’s been working on it in secret for years. But the living room revolution we’ve been waiting for won’t be coming from the big three, according to a report from TechCrunch. More »
There are whispers going around at the moment that Microsoft is currently working on a device that will rival the Apple TV when it is released, but it does come with an advantage – to feature casual gaming. Different sources on the ground do report of claims that Microsoft’s strategy of spinning off a new set-top box range is to help supplement its future Xbox strategy. Apparently, it is part of an alleged dual SKU strategy for the next generation of Xbox hardware which is tipped for a 2013 announcement. Not only that, the rumors have it that this new hardware strategy will result in a release before the frenzied holiday shopping season begins, placing Microsoft in a rather strategic position of capturing the attention of living rooms.
The Verge did mention that this upcoming device, if true, will run the core components of Windows 8, with the possibility of RT thrown into the mix, where it is capable of supporting casual gaming titles instead of the full blown Xbox gaming experience. We await leaks on the hardware specifications – what do you think of Microsoft’s alleged effort? Will it be able to carve out a niche of its own?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung to unveil Bada smart TV at CES 2013?, Sony NEX-5R specifications leaked,
It’s pretty obvious that Microsoft and Sony have started work on their next generation gaming consoles, but Microsoft might have more than just the next Xbox up its sleeve. According to a new report from The Verge, Microsoft is planning to launch a set-top box of its own at some point next year. By making such a device and launching some kind of Xbox TV service alongside its next-gen console, it could potentially allow Microsoft to get its products in more living rooms than ever before, so it’s pretty easy to see the appeal of such a strategy.
This set-top box would obviously be a media streaming device meant to challenge the likes of Apple TV and Roku, but Microsoft is also developing this box with gaming in mind. You won’t be able to play full blown console games on it of course, but The Verge’s sources say that Microsoft is looking to have casual games on its box. Perhaps we’ll see the company launch something like Xbox Live made specifically for this device?
The box will also be running Windows 8, and will make use of a chipset that allows it to boot up and a resume from sleep quickly. Given the fact that Microsoft has been trying to turn the Xbox 360 into a media hub rather than a simple games console, the jump to a set-top box isn’t that hard to make. Things get even more interesting, though, when we hear the claim that Microsoft may also be planning to introduce a phone that’s capable of full Xbox Live functionality. Here’s what Microsoft said when questioned about this rumor:
Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend the console lifecycle by introducing controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention.
That isn’t the typical “we don’t comment on rumors or speculation” we’re used to hearing, so Microsoft may indeed be planning something along these lines. We should find out if it is soon enough, as the sources claim that Microsoft will reveal its set-top box next year, releasing it before the holiday season. Would you pick up an Xbox-branded set-top box, or will you be going all out and picking up Microsoft’s next-gen console?
Microsoft reportedly plotting set-top box alongside next-gen Xbox is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Each new generation of the Slingbox, since 2008, gets a little bit better in terms of features. This time around, the lower-end model, the Slingbox 350, picked up 1080p quality and a slick hardware redesign. It can help you get more out of your monthly cable package—at $179, is it worth it? More »
The Apple TV may not be officially available in China, but there are already plenty of cheap Android TV dongles and set-top boxes over there to keep the folks occupied. That said, many of them don’t offer a satisfying multimedia experience, so even for a latecomer like Xiaomi, there’s still space for competition. Having just launched the much anticipated Xiaomi Phone 2, the Chinese startup recently announced that it had acquired digital content provider Duokan for some time, and the first fruit is this conveniently named Xiaomi Box. Even with the bundled one-meter HDMI cable, the pebble’s priced at a competitive ¥399 (about $64) and we’ve been told it’ll be available in mid-December. Better yet, it claims to be compatible with AirPlay right out of the box! Read on to see if that’s the case with our pre-production unit.
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Xiaomi Box taps the Chinese smart TV market on the cheap, flirts with AirPlay (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We’ve seen web portals that let you search for TV and movies on the internet across different services, but a new update for Roku is bringing that capability directly to its set-top boxes. Whether you’re searching by movie, TV show, actor or director it will sniff out related content across some of the higher profile services it offers, including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vudu and HBO Go. The new Roku Search function is front and center (once your second gen HD or higher player has been updated to the latest version) and in our tests worked quickly, pulling up content wherever it was available and mentioning if it was available in HD. The only downside is navigating the onscreen keyboard via remote, although you can always sub in your mobile device thanks to those recently upgraded remote apps for iOS and Android. All in all Roku says it can reach its tendrils across around 130,000 titles and almost 100,000 actors and directors. Check after the break for a couple of screenshots and a quick demo video, hit the official blog for more info or force an update on your hockey puck to check it out yourself.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Roku update adds cross-provider search over Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Vudu and Crackle originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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While we’ve seen the Google TV platform spread to additional manufacturers and some new lower-priced form factors, LG Uplus (not the same as LG Electronics) is the first we’ve seen offering a set-top box for its IPTV service based on it. new and existing customers alike can opt for the U+TV G, which will blend live TV streams, video on-demand and Google TV apps. Rapper Psy will be playing a large part in a national campaign to promote the offering, and after making Korea the tenth country Google TV is available in, Google says it will continue to work with providers around the world. Jumping inside the cable box is a notable move for the project, however at home hasn’t significantly improved integration beyond that originally offered by Dish Network, and it’s not even built into the Google Fiber set-top box. Check out a few (oddly silent?) demo videos embedded after the break.
Continue reading Korean IPTV service LG Uplus launches a Google TV-powered set-top box
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Korean IPTV service LG Uplus launches a Google TV-powered set-top box originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s hard to believe that the Slingbox has been around for seven years, but that only makes it harder to accept these are the first retail models that have been released since 2008. That finally changes today, though: Sling Media just introduced two new place-shifters: the Slingbox 500 and 350 (pictured). Available on October 14th for $299 and $179, respectively, these new set-top boxes replace the Solo and Pro-HD. While the 350 simply adds 1080p streaming for the same price, the 500 adds SlingProjector, a feature that lets you take photos stored on your iOS or Android device and send them to your television (video streaming will soon be supported as well). The Slingbox 500 will also soon be able to play content on USB-attached storage, but that will come in a future software update. The SlingPlayer apps get a refresh as well, adding reminders and an easier way to share your Slingbox with friends. What we set out to determine in this review — and what you’ll discover if you click through — is how big of an upgrade this really is. Is it worth chucking your old hardware for one of these boxes? What if you’re thinking of getting your first media streamer? We’ll delve into all that after the break.
Gallery: Slingbox 500
Gallery: Slingbox 350 review
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Slingbox 350 and 500 review: Sling Media finally upgrades its line of media streamers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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