Hasta La Gadget!

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

In the decade that WiFi has blanketed home networks across the United States, several technologies aimed at using existing wiring in the home have met with limited success. These have included MoCA (Multimedia over Coax, which has been adopted by some service providers for implementing multi-room DVRs) and HomePNA (originally for phone lines but later expanded to coax cable as well). At least three dueling standards have also sought to bring high-speed connectivity over electrical wiring. HomePlug, the most successful of these, has had several iterations. The latest – HomePlug AV – is rated at a theoretical throughput of 200 Mbits/sec. However, power line technologies have been held back by high prices and occasional interoperability problems.

But a new approach seeks to be the one protocol to rule them all, operating over phone lines, power lines or coax. Dubbed G.hn, the ITU standard promises up to 1Gbps theoretical throughput, with real-world usage over electrical lines expected to reach between 250Mbps and 400Mbps. If that sounds appealing to you, you’re not alone. Service providers like the idea of G.hn since it allows them more flexibility than previous efforts. In fact, they like it so much that — despite G.hn’s capacity — they have insisted on quality of service standards that could limit or prevent consumers from installing it themselves after they buy adapters from retailers.

Continue reading Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat

Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

At its “a stream come true” event today, Dish Network finally revealed its plans for a subscription video service called Blockbuster Movie Pass, due to launch October 1st. That includes access to discs (movies and games) by mail, streaming video to the TV and PC, and linear TV service from Dish, all in one package. Blockbuster Movie Pass is clearly being pitched a Netflix / Qwikster competitor, however it’s currently only available to Dish Network subscribers for $10 / month. That tie to pay-TV makes it a TV Everywhere play pulling Dish’s various properties under one umbrella, but doesn’t significantly shift the online video landscape. New subscribers to the America’s Best 200 package will get free access to a year, while those schlubs stuck on cable or without pay-TV service can simply look on with envy. The last slide shown does invite non-Dish subscribers to “stay tuned,” so if you’re really looking for a Netflix alternative… stay tuned. Check the gallery to see the slides for yourself, well update with more press materials once they’re available — now included with all the details after the break.

Update: The new page is accessible right now (Thanks Alex!) as seen in the screenshot above. It features all you can eat access to streaming movies and a few TV shows culled from Starz (as rumored), Epix, Sony Movie Channel, Hallmark and Blockbuster’s own VOD library. We’re sure the folks at Netflix are absolutely crying their eyes out over losing access to some of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s finest flicks like Ticking Clock and The Hit List (Toy Story 3 however, could be a real loss). Check below for the link, as well as another one to sign up for the service now.

Continue reading Dish Network, Blockbuster unveil Blockbuster Movie Pass all-inclusive entertainment service

Dish Network, Blockbuster unveil Blockbuster Movie Pass all-inclusive entertainment service originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  UStream, Blockbuster Movie Pass, BMP sign-up  | Email this | Comments

Facebook’s f8 developer conference is going on today, and Andy Samberg Mark Zuckerberg has just revealed another part of his master plan for the social network. Open Graph will now integrate many of your favorite news and music services, including Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio and MOG onto your Facebook page with custom apps, and will also bring video from Vevo, Netflix, Hulu and many more. The media platform’s already up and running, so you can see (and hear) the results of Mark’s labor right now.

Update: Unfortunately for Facebook users in the US, Netflix has confirmed that its Facebook integration will only be available in Canada and Latin America initially, due to a US law that “creates some confusion over our ability to allow U.S. members to share what they watch.” That doesn’t apply to the music services, however, and you can get an idea how Spotify will work in the video after the break. Even TiVo’s gotten in on the action, announcing new sharing buttons for its iPhone and iPad mobile apps, although there’s no direct DVR integration mentioned yet.

Continue reading Facebook partners up to bring music, news and videos to your profile through Open Graph (video)

Facebook partners up to bring music, news and videos to your profile through Open Graph (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Netflix, Spotify, TiVo, Hulu  | Email this | Comments

Verizon’s FiOS on Demand app brings Flex View streaming to iPad, iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  iTunes, Verizon  | Email this | Comments

Do we want to live in a world where the Vizio Tablet actually has Hulu Plus before our beloved Motorola Droid Bionic or Droid 3? No matter your answer, the fortunate news is that we no longer have to, because the streaming video service is now readily available on eight more devices. The list includes the two mentioned above, as well as the HTC Droid Incredible 2, LG Revolution and G2x, Motorola Droid X2, HTC Sensation and EVO 3D. This is great news, though don’t forget that you’ll need to pony up $8 per month for the subscription. Still interested? Follow the source to download and install it on your device.

Hulu Plus for Android gets more plusses, adds compatibility to nine devices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life  |  Android Market  | Email this | Comments