Hasta La Gadget!

Hisense announced its low-cost set-top box, the Pulse with Google TV, a few days ago, and though pricing remains vague at “less than $100,” we got a chance to see the device in action at IFA today. The Android-based Pulse supports content in 1080p, and includes HDMI, USB and Ethernet connections, along with WiFi, and the double-sided remote communicates with the square-shaped box via Bluetooth 4.0. Being a Google-branded product, it also gives users access to compatible apps from Google Play.

The remote includes dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, the web and Live TV, and there’s a small touchpad in addition to the standard remote-control keys. It’s quite difficult to navigate with this hardware: the touchpad is too small, and it doesn’t support scrolling, which makes it incredibly inconvenient for viewing web pages. On the flip side of the remote, there’s a full QWERTY keyboard. A booth rep told us the Pulse will drop in September, though that contradicts information from this week’s press release. In any case, you can take a closer look in our video hands-on after the break.

Continue reading Hisense Pulse with Google TV set-top box hands-on (video)

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Household, HD

Hisense Pulse with Google TV set-top box hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Google bought a lot of stuff when it purchased Motorola Mobility, but it turns out that the company isn’t interested in some of it. Bloomberg reports that Google is looking to sell off Motorola’s Home Business unit, which sells set-top boxes to cable providers. Google doesn’t want anything to do with set-top boxes, it seems, as the company has reportedly hired Barclays Plc to handle the sale.

Bloomberg spoke to two people familiar with the situation, with one of them claiming that the sale could potentially bring in $2 billion for Google. Such a sale has been rumored for a while, with one of these anonymous sources claiming that Motorola has been trying to sell off this division for a number of years – back in 2009, the source claims, Motorola tried to sell it for a hefty $4 billion.

It isn’t hard to imagine why Google doesn’t have any interest in set-top boxes. Google bought Motorola for access to its extensive patent portfolio, and building Motorola’s smartphone and tablet business is one of the top priorities for Google. After all, Google has Apple to compete with, and it views this Motorola acquisition as a good way to do just that.

This sale is still at a very early stage, so it may be a while before Google can find a buyer for the Home Business division. Then again, that may not be the case at the end of everything, because Google will be trying awfully hard to sell off this division so it can take that money and focus on Motorola’s smartphone business. Stay tuned, as we’ll have more information on this potential sale when it surfaces.

Google looking to sell Motorola’s set-top box unit is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Looks like consumers are about to get another option in their search for an affordable connected TV solution: Hisense is building its own Google TV set-top box. The product doesn’t have a price — let alone a name — but will sell for under $100 when it hits shelves later this year. “Hisense adds even more innovation to the growing list of Google TV-powered devices available around the world.” Says Google TV partner manager Mickey Kim. “We’re working closely with partners like Hisense to bring services from Google and multiple other providers to your TV with an experience tailored for the living room.” Details are scarce, but the outfit promises to reveal more at IFA next week. Can’t wait? Check out Vizio’s Co-Star.

Filed under: HD

Hisense building budget-friendly Google TV set-top box, will put Android in your living room for under $100 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Aug 2012 03:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  PC World  | Email this | Comments

Diamond Multimedia’s more commonly known around the web for selling Mac and PC capture cards (among other things), but as of today, the company’s officially entering the set-top box game with its AMP1000. The media player itself is running a not-so-new flavor of Android — Gingerbread, to be exact — which will be used to bring a slew of familiar entertainment tidbits to the bigger screen, such as a media player capable of 1080p playback, an evolved internet browser and an oversized photo viewer, as well as other content like games, ebooks and magazines — all of which can be downloaded from Google’s Play repertoire. Although Diamond Multimedia’s formally pricing the AMP1000 at $120, there’s a Facebook-only offer that knocks the price down to a mere $100. Now, will it be enough to compete with, say, Vizio’s $99 Google TV box? We’ll let you be the judge of that.

Update: Well, in case you weren’t fond of the AMP1000’s Gingerbread innards, Diamond Multimedia’s got something in the works to solve that problem. A company rep has contacted us to let us know Ice Cream Sandwich will be coming to early adopters “later this week,” as well as noting that all future units will come with the creamy OS already onboard.

Continue reading Diamond Multimedia outs AMP1000 Android set-top box: Gingerbread-based, 1080p, sells for $120 (update: ICS coming this week)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment

Diamond Multimedia outs AMP1000 Android set-top box: Gingerbread-based, 1080p, sells for $120 (update: ICS coming this week) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Diamond Multimedia  | Email this | Comments

Just in case you thought the often discussed / as yet unseen Apple HDTV rumor mill was dead, you were wrong. The Wall Street Journal is reigniting things this evening, with sources claiming that instead of competing with cable providers by starting up its own IPTV offering, Apple has switched to sweet talking pay-TV providers into offering their content through its box. If you’re still looking for a Cupertino-embued display you may be in luck, since the anonymous parties also indicate the set-top box tech it’s working on could be integrated with HDTVs. That is still an less than certain path at the moment however, given pay-TV operators current preference to control every element of the experience and relationship with consumers, as well as the split of profits.

According to the Journal report, Steve Jobs was “dismissive” of attempts to build a cable box since cable operators each only have limited regional exposure and don’t own the content they license from studios. Since then however we have seen a few offerings of cable and satellite TV beyond the box as Microsoft offers Verizon and Comcast apps on its Xbox 360, Samsung has brought providers directly to its smart HDTVs and many providers offer streaming access via iPad or other mobile devices. Still, since the rumor doesn’t indicate a deal is inked or even on the way, we wouldn’t hold our breath for any or all of the listed possibilities to come true any time soon.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

WSJ: Apple’s TV focus changes to putting cable TV in its set-top box originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments