Sep 20

Logitech’s Harmony Link transforms your iOS device or Android phone into a universal remote (video)

Posted in: Android, app, hdpostcross, ios, ipad, logitech, mobilepostcross, remote, Today's Chili, TV, video
Logitech isn’t exactly a stranger to universal remotes, and if you’ve been yearning for an Android or iOS aimed solution from the Swiss company, its new $100 Harmony Link should have you covered. The Link is a WiFi-enabled infrared puck and app combo, that allows you to control up to eight devices in your home theater from the comfort of your touchscreen sans pesky dongles or cases. After downloading a free app, pocket-sized iDevices and Android smartphones can act as universal remotes over your home network, while iPad users also get the benefit of personalized TV listings from Rovi. It’s similar in price and function to Peel’s Fruit, but drops the extra wireless dongle and adds a native iPad app. Notably, the Link can interface with multiple iPads at once, and Logitech’s also thrown in a mini IR blaster to make controlling your AV gear that much easier. If another one of your home theater dreams just came true, the Harmony Link is up for pre-order now from Logitech and due out in October. While you’re still here, there’s quick video overview past the break along with the the usual PR spiel.

Continue reading Logitech’s Harmony Link transforms your iOS device or Android phone into a universal remote (video)

Logitech’s Harmony Link transforms your iOS device or Android phone into a universal remote (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 19

Sling shows off SlingPlayer app for Honeycomb tablets

Posted in: Android, app, hdpostcross, honeycomb, tablet, tablets, Today's Chili, video

Sling’s had a SlingPlayer Mobile app available for Android for some time now, but it looks like Honeycomb users will soon have a version tailored just for them. While there’s still no word on an exact release date, Sling has just posted the demo video above, showing what seems to be a fairly polished app running on a Motorola Xoom. According to Sling, it’ll run the same $29.99 as its other mobile apps, and the company will gladly take your email address now if you’d like to be informed the moment it’s released (hit the source link below to sign up for that).

Sling shows off SlingPlayer app for Honeycomb tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 19

Editorial: Reed Hastings’ Netflix spinoff isn’t about DVD success, it’s about hedging the stream

Posted in: hdpostcross, netflix, stream, streaming, Today's Chili

If you’ve just casually glanced over the mass reactions to Reed Hastings’ decision to split the DVD-by-mail business of Netflix into its own brand and company, you’ve probably been duped into thinking that it’s the second questionable move that the world’s most famed movie delivery service has made this year. But is it? Is a man who turned a red envelope into a symbol of near-immediate gratification really a moron? Did he really just bury the company he worked tirelessly to create? I highly, highly doubt it. Knee-jerk reactions are always fun to watch, but they’re rarely on-point. As with most things in life, the truth usually resides somewhere in betwixt the extremes. And in the case of Qwikster — the DVD-by-mail service that precisely no one asked for — the truth is hiding in exactly the place that Reed said it’d be: the future.

Continue reading Editorial: Reed Hastings’ Netflix spinoff isn’t about DVD success, it’s about hedging the stream

Editorial: Reed Hastings’ Netflix spinoff isn’t about DVD success, it’s about hedging the stream originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 18

Netflix spins DVD-by-mail service off into Qwikster, says it’s ‘done’ with price changes (video)

Posted in: breaking news, gaming, hdpostcross, Microsoft, netflix, playstation, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, stream, streaming, Today's Chili, video, xbox 360, Xbox360

Over on Netflix’s official blog, company head Reed Hastings has announced in a surprisingly humble blog post and video (embedded after the break) that it’s splitting the DVD-by-mail business away into a new venture dubbed Qwikster. While the recent price changes already split the cost for each service, when this takes effect in a few weeks it will result in two different websites, two different sets of movie ratings and queues, and two different charges on customer’s bills. He admits two separate sites may make it more difficult to manage a presence on both, but says dropping the need for compatibility between the two will enable new features to balance that out. Another change? Netflix Qwikster (is there anything good about that name?) is getting into video game rentals, available for an extra charge similar to the existing Blu-ray disc option.

While the blog post blames a lack of communication for much of the backlash (and obviously cancellations), it’s about to become very clear that Netflix is “primarily a streaming company.” Also mentioned is “substantial” additional streaming content coming in the next few months. Whatever the company calls itself, charges, or changes on its website, if Netflix wants to talk its way back into subscriber’s good graces, starting with something new to watch is the way to do it.

Continue reading Netflix spins DVD-by-mail service off into Qwikster, says it’s ‘done’ with price changes (video)

Netflix spins DVD-by-mail service off into Qwikster, says it’s ‘done’ with price changes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNetflix Blog, Qwikster  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 15

Logitech Revue gets second Honeycomb leak, TV apps sneak into Market

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, apps, Google, GoogleTv, hack, hdpostcross, hdtv, honeycomb, leak, logitech, Today's Chili, TV, video

Did you empty your piggy bank for a Logitech Revue after the first Honeycomb sighting about a month ago? If not, there’s new fuel for the Google TV set-top box hacking fire… so get your Hamiltons in order. Channel Android’s latest reel showcases a newer, more polished leak of Honeycomb that reflects the preview we spotted running on Sony hardware last week. It’s not without its fair share of bugs, and you’ll need to install the first leak to avoid turning your device into a paperweight (read: brick), so proceed at your own risk. Also of note: apps built specifically for TV have started to pop up in the marketplace — it seems devs have been busy since Google dropped the SDK a while back. For a closer look at the payoff straight from the hive, take a look at the video above or check out a slideshow of some Google TV apps that are in the Market now put together by NewTeeVee.

Logitech Revue gets second Honeycomb leak, TV apps sneak into Market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life  |  sourceChannel Android (YouTube), NewTeeVee  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 15

Netflix admits it will end up with fewer subscribers than predicted, shrinks DVD-only count

Posted in: hdpostcross, hdpostmini, netflix, price, streaming, Today's Chili, watch instantly, WatchInstantly

Back in July, after announcing it would decouple unlimited movie streaming from unlimited DVD rentals and charge more to keep both, Netflix predicted it would end up with 25 million subscribers at the end of Q3. This morning it advised investors that prediction has been slashed by 1 million, however most of that shortfall is predicted to come from fewer DVD-only customers than expected, which is expected to come up 800,000 short. While we’ll still have to wait for the actual Q3 results to see how things pan out, the company still claims its projection of 12 million subscribers to both services is right on. While it backtracked on the total numbers, it also outlined its reasoning for raising prices by improving the DVD business, raising more cash to spend on streaming licensing and ultimately “remain price aggressive” and keep its individual offerings at $7.99 each. Much of the kicking and screaming online indicted Netflix’s streaming library for failing to live up to the new price, anyone surprised many cutters seem to be coming from the DVD-only side?

Netflix admits it will end up with fewer subscribers than predicted, shrinks DVD-only count originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

PlayStation Vita’s Torne app pulls in live TV streams served up from a PS3

Posted in: dvr, hdpostcross, Japan, playstation, ps3, sony, streaming, Today's Chili

Need another reason to be interested in the PlayStation Vita? Sony announced during tonight’s press conference that it will tie in with the only-available-in-Japan Torne DVR adapter (PlayTV in Europe and nonexistent in NA) for the PlayStation 3. Once synced up, it allows users to remotely tune into live TV streams Slingbox-style, browse listings and remotely schedule recordings via an app on the portable device. It should be ready to go at launch, while the ability to export recorded shows to the Vita like one of Monsoon’s boxes will be added later. For now however, we can only look on in envy and hope rumors of a PlayTV 2 eventually come true, and come out here.

PlayStation Vita’s Torne app pulls in live TV streams served up from a PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 02:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceJoystiq, AV Watch  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 14

JetStreamHD starts shipping, leaves iPad media streaming vapor trails in its wake (video)

Posted in: Apple, hdpostcross, ipad, network, router, streaming, Today's Chili, video
With Pogoplug Video out of the picture, Nuvyyo’s JetStreamHD is ready to become your default iPad media streamer. The tower plugs into your router and delivers streaming content like hi-def videos, music and photos from your home network to your Apple tablet. And the free JetSteamHD iPad app makes it easier to sort through your content, while promising the best available resolution for seamless entertainment streaming. The device is shipping now, for a suggested price of $199. Video and PR after the break.

Continue reading JetStreamHD starts shipping, leaves iPad media streaming vapor trails in its wake (video)

JetStreamHD starts shipping, leaves iPad media streaming vapor trails in its wake (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 14

Yamaha updates AV Controller Android app for its networked devices

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, app, Google, hdpostcross, market, minipost, remote control, RemoteControl, Today's Chili

Yamaha is now ready to shout about its updated AV Controller app for Android, which it quietly launched on the Market a couple of weeks back. It lets you power up and control networked AV receivers from your phone or tablet, including switching inputs and selecting media from iPods and other devices connected to the receiver via USB. It also provides limited play, stop and forward control over compatible Blu-ray players. Some users report problems but most seem content, so it’s worth a spin if you have one the devices listed in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Yamaha updates AV Controller Android app for its networked devices

Yamaha updates AV Controller Android app for its networked devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 14

Netgear unveils NeoTV Streaming Player, takes another shot at the smart TV market

Posted in: hdpostcross, netflix, set-top-box, streaming video, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili
Netgear NeoTV Streaming Player

Looks like Netgear is taking what it learned from licensing Roku’s tech last year and streamlining its connected TV offerings. With the NeoTV Streaming Player the company is striking out on its own once again and delivering the usual lineup of streaming media (Netflix, YouTube, Vudu, Revision3, Pandora, etc…). On the hardware side you’re looking at a glossy black box with a 300Mbps WiFi radio, Ethernet, optical audio out and, of course, HDMI. The NeoTV is available for pre-order now and will start shipping towards the end of the month for $80. And once you get tired of rewatching every episode of Next Generation, you can play a few hands of Blackjack or check out this little thing you may have heard of called The Engadget Show. Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading Netgear unveils NeoTV Streaming Player, takes another shot at the smart TV market

Netgear unveils NeoTV Streaming Player, takes another shot at the smart TV market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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