Oct 13

Apple reportedly trying to add movie streaming to its iCloud

Posted in: Apple, cloud, hdpostcross, itunes, mobilepostcross, Movies, streaming, Today's Chili

Apple’s iCloud may have only just launched but according to rumors reported by the LA Times and Wall Street Journal, it’s already negotiating with Hollywood to add movies to the service (funny how things have changed in five years.) The timing is particularly curious because Apple, along with Disney, is one of the notable holdouts from the movie studio-backed Ultraviolet scheme with similar buy once / stream anywhere aspirations that just hit the streets this week. However, according to “people familiar with the matter” it could allow Ultraviolet access on iThings via app, while also bringing its usual media lock-in magic by also throwing in streaming copies of any flicks purchased on iTunes, but only on its own hardware. Recently activated streaming of purchased TV shows to the Apple TV shows the cloud’s potential, but we’ll have to wait for deals to be signed before that North Carolina datacenter puts Hollywood’s best on its to-do list.

Apple reportedly trying to add movie streaming to its iCloud originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLA Times, Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 13

Seagate GoFlex Cinema puts up to 3TB of media files at your TV’s disposal

Posted in: external hard drive, ExternalHardDrive, hard drive, HardDrive, hdpostcross, media player, MediaPlayer, Today's Chili
Seagate GoFlex Cinema

Seagate’s latest addition to its GoFlex line of hard drives is dubbed the Cinema and, as you’ve probably guessed, it’s designed to hook up to your home entertainment system. Inside is a set of spinning platters up to 3TB in size, and around back are HDMI, composite, and S/PDIF hookups. This isn’t just some hard drive with a marketing gimmick though. The hardware itself is capable of pumping out 1080p video in a slew of different formats (including MKV and MP4 amongst others), and even comes packaged with a remote for perusing your media collection from the comfort of your milk crate couch. The GoFlex Cinema is available now in Europe, starting at €99 ($136) for the 1TB version and climbing to €179 ($246) for the 3TB model. No word yet on US pricing or availability.

Seagate GoFlex Cinema puts up to 3TB of media files at your TV’s disposal originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 12

Photo Stream, NHL, AirPlay mirroring and more added to Apple TV with software update

Posted in: airplay, Apple, apple tv, firmware update, FirmwareUpdate, hdpostcross, software update, SoftwareUpdate, Today's Chili, update
It got a bit overshadowed by Apple’s other software updates earlier today, but Apple TV users also have a few new features to enjoy whenever they’re ready to plop down on the couch. Version 4.4 of the Apple TV software is now available to download, which adds the new Photo Stream feature to view photos stored in iCloud, as well as AirPlay mirroring, plus content from the NHL and Wall Street Journal, and a new movie trailer section. You’ll also now be able to view subtitles in Netflix (when available, of course), and you have a few new slideshow themes to choose from.

Photo Stream, NHL, AirPlay mirroring and more added to Apple TV with software update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 12

Intel may be giving up on smart TVs, ceding market to ARM

Posted in: arm, boxee, Google, GoogleTv, hdpostcross, intel, intel atom, IntelAtom, Today's Chili

Intel Atom CE4100Well, it looks like Intel is throwing in the smart TV towel. As originally reported by AnandTech, and now confirmed by the company itself, Chipzilla is closing down its Digital Home Group and folding the team and resources into its tablet division. Its CE processors, which are found in the Boxee Box and the Logitech Revue, will continue to be sold, but it sounds like the focus will shift away from consumer-facing products. Obviously, that leaves the door wide open for ARM to sweep in. We already know that Google TV will be making the move to ARM-based hardware soon and the Boxee Box started life on Tegra before making the move to an Atom CE4100 (not to mention the A4-sporting Apple TV), so this isn’t entirely new ground for the big players. Still, we’re a little shocked to see Intel abandon the market just as it seems to be picking up steam.

Intel may be giving up on smart TVs, ceding market to ARM originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAnandTech, GigaOm  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 12

Engadget Distro is ready for download!

Posted in: AppStore, hdpostcross, ipad, itunes, mobilepostcross, Today's Chili, video
You’ve been waiting patiently, we’ve been waiting impatiently, but now all that waiting is over. Engadget Distro is live and we can’t wait another moment for you to download and give it a try. If you missed our introduction a few weeks back, Distro is a distilled version of the best feature content each week at Engadget. We know your life is crazy. We know you don’t always have time to read everything good that comes through our feed. That’s why we’ve created this. Now, every Friday morning, you can download a new issue to your device and then kick back, take your time and enjoy the best reviews, previews and other long-form content that slipped through your fingers during the week, all reformatted and redesigned in beautiful, magazine-like layout that we think you’re going to love, and it works completely offline.

We’re also mixing in some exclusive content found only in Distro, like an editor’s letter from yours truly to get you up to speed on the week’s news. Don’t miss the weekly comic, hand-crafted by a selection of some of the most talented artists in the industry. And, every now and again, we’ll be surprising you with a special edition issue just to keep you on your toes.

Now, this first release is iPad only, but trust me when I say we’re already working to get this out on other platforms. That doesn’t mean you sweet Honeycomb users, playful PlayBook owners and bargain-hunting TouchPad touchers can’t get in on the fun sooner. We’ll be offering PDF downloads on Friday with each new issue, meaning you can read along on just about any platform you like.

So, we’re hugely excited to be offering up Distro. It’s a beautiful new way to read Engadget and it’s been a massive project, the culmination of many late nights by a team of talented designers, developers and editors, all of whom I personally owe a great deal of gratitude. Their names are listed in the masthead after the break so, before you go download, take a moment and check that out. Then, get your d/l on and enjoy the selection of back-issues (six!) we’ve provided for you. On Friday, get ready for a fresh edition. They’re all free and they all come with love, from Engadget.

p.s. If you’re wondering why Distro is not in Newsstand, during development we were told that you can’t include free downloads in there, and we definitely want this to be free! It seems like that may be changing, so we’ll look to add support there when we can.

p.p.s. We’re told the app is crashing for some of you on some of the pre-release betas of iOS 5. We’re also told iPads set to the German language could be crashing as well. We’re working on a fix for this. If you have a bug to report, please hit us up at support at engadget dot com with your iOS version.

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Continue reading Engadget Distro is ready for download!

Engadget Distro is ready for download! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 12

Google TV 2.0: app developers get final add-on for Android SDK

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, app, apps, developers, Google, GoogleAndroid, GoogleTv, hdpostcross, honeycomb, market, sdk, Today's Chili

If you hadn’t heard, Google TV is (over)due to get a major boost with Honeycomb and access to the Android Market. We’ve seen a few compatible apps leak out thanks to Google’s early efforts to woo developers, but it’s only now that we’re getting the final add-on for the Android SDK. It brings a couple of revisions, like better placement options for the action and navigation bars, but more importantly it delivers the message that two-point-oh is almost two-point-here.

Google TV 2.0: app developers get final add-on for Android SDK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 12

Sony to recall 1.6 million Bravia TVs due to melting components (update: not a full recall)

Posted in: hdpostcross, sony, Today's Chili

A vast number of Bravia LCD TVs dating from 2007 and 2008 will be recalled after components in some Japanese sets went into meltdown and started smoking. So far only eleven incidents have been reported and it looks like no one has been hurt or experienced any wider damage, but Sony says it wants to take back 1.6 million TVs that were sold in the US, Europe, Japan and elsewhere. No word on exactly which models are affected, but we’re expecting further details from Sony imminently.

Update: Looks like this might not be a full recall after all. We can’t access Sony’s support site right now, but the BBC reports that UK owners of the following models can summon an engineer to inspect their set if they’re worried: KDL-40D3400, KDL-40D3500, KDL-40D3550, KDL-40D3660, KDL-40V3000, KDL-40W3000, KDL-40X3000, KDL-40X3500.


Update 2: Check after the break for US recall information.

Continue reading Sony to recall 1.6 million Bravia TVs due to melting components (update: not a full recall)

Sony to recall 1.6 million Bravia TVs due to melting components (update: not a full recall) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 11

Logitech Harmony Link review

Posted in: Android, hdpostcross, ios, ipad, iPhone, logitech, remote, review, Today's Chili

A first encounter with a multitouch device gets any active imagination running, so of course a home theater fan thinks it could make for the ultimate remote. But can any of that promise be realized in the dead zone that is the consumer remote control space? The leader of that dead zone is ready to give it a try with the Harmony Link — a WiFi-to-IR bridge that allows you to control your TV from any room of the house via an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android device. For $100, it’s a setup that promises to blend ease of programming with network connectivity and multitouch control. So exactly how good is Logitech’s attempt? We’ll reveal that after the break, of course.

Gallery: Logitech Harmony Link review

Continue reading Logitech Harmony Link review

Logitech Harmony Link review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 11

SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30

Posted in: android market, AndroidMarket, app, application, availability, content, hdpostcross, honeycomb, price, slate, stream, streaming, tablet, Today's Chili, TV, video
It was teased back in September and now, it’s finally arrived — the SlingPlayer Android app optimized specifically for Honeycomb tablets. Available today on the Android Market, Sling Media’s latest app allows Slingbox owners to stream TV directly to their slates, and features a new program guide, designed to help users browse content and change channels with greater ease. The SlingPlayer app for Android handsets, meanwhile, will continue to function on tablets in “compatibility mode,” without exacting extra charges, though it won’t offer the same resolution quality you’ll find on a Honeycomb-laced device. Interested parties can grab the app for the familiar price of $30, at the source link below. Otherwise, click past the break for more details in Sling’s refreshingly brief press release.

Continue reading SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30

SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 10

LG panel puts LEDs along a single edge, achieves more nits with fewer watts

Posted in: green, hdpostcross, LCD, LED, LG, Today's Chili

Confining LEDs to the edges of an LCD TV cuts its energy consumption, particularly if you can get away with just lighting up one or two edges instead of all four. LG claims its latest Full HD 47-inch panel is the “world’s most energy efficient,” using a single vertical edge backlight to achieve 400 nits of brightness with just 28W of power — less than any other HDTV bigger than 40-inches and even less than many 20-inch PC monitors. That’s all good so long as there’s no head-lighting or other tell-tale signs when the panel built into a final product. We hope for LG’s sake that the washed out right side on the picture above is due to burning rubber. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading LG panel puts LEDs along a single edge, achieves more nits with fewer watts

LG panel puts LEDs along a single edge, achieves more nits with fewer watts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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