Hasta La Gadget!

Time-shifting programs works great for DVRs, so why not bring it to radio? GM has announced it is bringing its Pause and Play radio feature, currently available in models like the Chevrolet Equinox and Cadillac SRX, to the upcoming Buick Regal and Chevrolet Cruze.

Pause and Play radio lets drivers or passengers stop a live broadcast, record up to 20 minutes of it on an embedded hard disk, and play it back later. It engages with one push of the radio’s Reverse button.

It also works with the car off; for example, a driver could pause the radio, shut off the car, fill up at a gas station, get back in, and resume listening to a football game or talk show where it was left, without missing all that time in the middle.

Other cars with the feature include the GMC Terrain and the Cadillac CTS Jukebox and Navigation radio, where the feature first appeared in 2008. Back in October, GM announced that Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC dealers will begin offering Autonet Mobile’s $499 WiFi router as a dealer-installed option on its SUVs and trucks.

When the PS3 was announced so many moons ago, one of the major functions that was touted about the thing would be its ability to record and process high-definition video. It’s taken quite some time to get there, with the oft-delayed PlayTV tuner finally hitting Europe in late 2008, though the rest of the world still got left out in the cold. Sony’s finally taking care of its home crew, announcing Torne, a DTV adapter for Japan that will enable recording of television and even video playback while surfing the web. The Torne will ship in March, priced ¥9980 ($110) on its own or ¥42,800 ($465) as part of yet another PS3 bundle. When will we in the US get a little tuner love? Probably never, at this rate.

Japan gets Torne PS3 DTV DVR adapter in May, all is right with the world originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A packaging mixup may have revealed the next DVR coming from TiVo. Unfortunately this doesn’t appear to be the Series4 we were looking for, but the “TiVo Premiere” (or Premiere XL) instructions sent along with a new TiVo HD to self-described Chicagoland geek Patrick McCarron show a slimmed down box with one (multistream only) CableCARD slot instead two and no S-video or phone jack. The prevailing speculation is this is a lower cost revision of the existing Series3 hardware that could be on shelves very soon, but we’re still hoping for updated internals and UI to make TiVo fresh for the next decade. The full instructions are scanned and posted over at Infinite Shamrock, for confirmation and any real details on what’s next we’ll probably be waiting until next week in Las Vegas.

TiVo planning a new “Premiere” DVR? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking for home security? Swann debuted a powerful system today that lets you monitor your home or business with an iPhone. The Swann DVR4-2500 Security Recorder Kit comes with a DVR, four indoor/outdoor cameras with night vision, a remote, mouse, and all necessary cables and connectors. What really impresses, though, is that it offers remote viewing of either live or recorded video from an iPhone. Not only can you check out the live stream from any of the cameras on your system, but you can also review saved footage.

The cameras record in H.264 and the DVR has a 500GB hard drive, which is enough to store 30 days of footage from continuous recordings. The drive also has a USB port, so you can backup footage you want to save longer. The system connects to the Web, and footage can be viewed remotely from a computer as well as an iPhone. The kit will cost $699 when it’s available in January.

Ready for yet another way to watch TV? Sezmi has just gone on the air in Los Angeles, offering its unique blend of premium OTA and internet delivered video to a few limited trial users. $5 a month brings whatever local networks you can pull in, basic IPTV (YouTube, OnNetworks, podcasts) and internet VOD (CinemaNow) access, while throwing an Andrew Jackson on top of that adds “more than 100 cable TV networks,” delivered via antenna. According to the L.A. Times that doesn’t include any channels from the Disney or Fox family like ESPN, regional sports networks or premium movie channels, but if those are already stations you’re avoiding, it’s a cheaper option than most cable TV plans. Other than the allure of sticking it to the current distribution model, the 1TB DVR package includes a rather unique UI to aggregate and even seek out new shows for you from those varied sources, while maintaining individual profiles for different users. The three month trial has just the right price — free — so even with little info on how much high definition Sezmi’s network can handle or what areas or channels will be added next, it’s at least worth a look.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sezmi’s low cost cable / satellite premium TV alternative launches in L.A. originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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