Hasta La Gadget!

Just like Boxee, Verizon’s rolled out a February 14th update to users with the FiOS DVR Manager for iPhone, who might actually be on Verizon for their phones now too. It adds support for controlling multiple DVRs, a refreshed UI to match the latest version 1.9 on set-top boxes, access for non-DVR users, and a “What’s Hot” feature showing what others in your area are watching. Our friend Dave Zatz has already gone hands-on with the new version 1.5.0 and reports an improved experience with a smoother login process to boot, although he noted it could still improve by integrating itself into the remote control app that’s also available.

Verizon’s FiOS DVR Manager for iPhone gets a facelift and some new features originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen any new tools from the security-minded folks at Swann, but it’s hitting back with a new head-mounted camera at CES. The Sportscam is a familiar device — similar to Contour and Go Pro units we’ve toyed with in the past — but rather than seeking optimal image quality at a premium price, this guy sticks to the basics. The VGA camera can only log clips at a resolution of 640 x 480, so HD junkies best look elsewhere. But it’s still encased in a rugged plastic shell, one that’s both shockproof and waterproof, and it’s capable of holding up to five hours of footage on a single 16GB microSD card. There’s a rechargeable Li-ion battery that’ll last 2.5 hours, and it ships with a variety of mounting options (though we’d suggest around your head, obviously). As we alluded to earlier, this one’s a lower-end product, and that $99 price may entice those who would otherwise never consider such a thing. The full release is after the break, and it’ll start shipping in the US of A next month.

Continue reading Swann’s shockproof, waterproof Sportscam straps on your cranium, captures momentous occasions

Swann’s shockproof, waterproof Sportscam straps on your cranium, captures momentous occasions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s a little hard to know exactly who to blame here, but one thing is for sure: consumers lose. Last week Suddenlink started deploying TiVo Premiere DVRs to its customers minus Netflix, saying that it was the agreements Netflix has with studios that prevents its streaming service from being deployed on a cable company DVR. At the time it was hopeful that Hulu Plus could still work, but now it’s confirmed that its customers won’t get that either, blaming the same sort of agreements between Hulu and its content providers. Frustrating? Absolutely — but there is one obvious work-around: buy your own darned TiVo Premiere, get access to Netflix and Hulu Plus, and stop paying your cable provider that monthly rental fee. Mind, you’ll have to rock a CableCard, losing the ability to watch video on demand, and the separate TiVo plus Hulu Plus fees might cost a bit more, but consider that a small price to pay for the right to stick a finger in the eye of The Man.

Hulu Plus not happening on cable-provided TiVo Premiere DVRs, Scrooge wins again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Say hello to the new Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo, a device that while “inspired” by the Premiere is much more than just the same old box with new stickers. Set to debut in the UK in mid-December, it packs a 1TB HDD, but trumps TiVo’s previous efforts by promising a third tuner (to be enabled by a software update in 2011), an internal cable modem for downloading without cutting into your existing broadband speed and ties into catch-up TV just in case you forget to DVR something. While the box itself has a slick new design, the traditional peanut remote hasn’t changed and neither have the menus as seen by these screenshots. Interested parties should squirrel away £199 (plus £40 for installation and £26.50 for the XL TiVo package) and hit the source link to queue for purchase.

Continue reading Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo is official, coming soon with 1TB HDD, 3 tuners

Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo is official, coming soon with 1TB HDD, 3 tuners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, it seems we finally know why TiVo was waxing poetic about software in recent months — it’s the way the company primarily plans to charge for its DVR hardware from now on. Following a week-long experiment of free-on-contract DVRs conducted last month, TiVo’s opening up subsidized and partially subsidized pricing tiers to the entire US for those willing to chain themselves to a pricier $20 monthly fee. You can now get a TiVo Premiere for $0 on a two-year contract or $100 with a one-year arrangement, or pick up a TiVo Premiere XL for $300 on a one-year deal — the same price the regular old 45-hour TiVo Premiere cost originally. TiVo’s also kept the original $12.95-a-month plans around in case you want to pay full price for your hardware, which would normally make better financial sense after about three years, if not for the fact that there are still lifetime subscriptions available for $400 if you’re truly in it for the long haul.

We’re all for expanding our buying power in this arena, but there’s one group of customers who are liable to get mighty pissed at the new arrangement — the regular Joes and Janes headed to Best Buy right now to pick up a $99 TiVo Premiere “on sale.” You see, retailers apparently didn’t get the memo about the new tiered pricing and are advertising the arrangement as a $200 discount instead, which leaves TiVo’s fine print the unenviable role of explaining that they’re going to pony up $20 a month from now on.

2.1.2 When purchasing a TiVo Premiere box from a third party retailer at $99.99 (includes an instant $200 savings off MSRP) for the TiVo Premiere box or $299.99 (includes an instant $200 savings off MSRP) for the TiVo Premiere XL box, you may only subscribe to the TiVo Service on a monthly basis for $19.99 a month with a one (1) year commitment (renews monthly after one year).

Choices, choices.

[Thanks, Daniel and Chris R.]

TiVo Premiere now free on contract for $20 monthly, as TiVo introduces (and enforces) tiered subsidies originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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