Hasta La Gadget!

The next version of XBMC isn’t ready for prime time yet, but the team behind it is already talking about what’s being added and tweaked in v11.0, a.k.a Eden. This is the first major release since the media player app added iPad, iPhone and Apple TV support and as such improved touchscreen support is high on the list. We can also expect a new “Files” view in the video library, a different default skin, improved CPU / GPU efficiency, customizable home screens and other UI tweaks as seen above. Now that the list of features is pretty much locked down we’ll be expecting a beta, and eventually final release, but you can hit the source link to dive in early and help test everything out.

XBMC teases new features coming in 11.0 ‘Eden’ release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How can we still have fall premieres left? After the onslaught of the last two weeks it seems there’s still a few to go, as old standbys like House join fresh faces like American Horror Story and Penn & Teller Tell a Lie on the premiere list. It’s also a big week for Blu-ray discs, as seen above with a couple of classics showing up, some Disney favorites returning for the first time and special treats like Daft Punk’s Interstella 5555 and Planet Earth Special Edition. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

Pulp Fiction
After waiting far too long for Quentin Tarantino’s hit movie to debut on Blu-ray we got an early look at this one and it’s worth the wait. Both the picture and audio quality are impressive, while we didn’t have a copy of the imported version to compare them to the picture is clean and artifact free, while the 5.1 soundtrack gives equal time to the witty dialogue and occasional action. There’s no audio commentary present, but there is about an hour or so of new HD extras included for the fans. If you’ve somehow avoided seeing this movie so far we don’t even know what to say to you, but this is the best way to watch since it debuted in 1994.
($15.99 on Amazon, October 4th)

House
Everyone’s favorite jerk of a doctor returns for an eighth and possibly final season tonight. With Cuddy gone and Dr. Gregory House locked in jail we’re wondering if it can keep the medical procedural formula fresh for another year, but so far it’s held up well despite cast rotations and the so often under-appreciated main-character-loses-his-mind plot twist. Don’t have enough reasons to watch? Jaleel White is guest starring in tonight’s season premiere episode, so there you go.
(October 3rd, Fox, 9PM)

The League
If you’ve listened to our podcast or are participating in either of the official Engadget HD leagues, then you already know we’re all in when it comes to fantasy football. The League returns this week for a third season and captures all of the insanity that happens when people stop being friends and start getting real… pretend. Despite its very intense focus on a group of friends and their over the top competition, as well as guest appearances by NFL stars, there’s enough comedy there to keep watching whether you’re watching tonight’s game hoping a backup RB gets 75 yards and a touchdown or not.
(October 6th, FX, 10:30PM)

Continue reading Must See HDTV (October 3rd – 9th)

Must See HDTV (October 3rd – 9th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Once you’ve cleared the $25k or so in your budget that it will take to snag one of Sony’s 4K VPL-VW1000ES your next problem will be finding some 4096×2160 res content to view on it. While showing off the new beamer for its Japanese audience at CEATEC today, Sony announced the PS3 will get a firmware update around the beginning of 2012 that will allow it to natively output 4K stills. There’s a PlayView “visual magazine” already available on the PlayStation store in Japan that supports 4K and 3D, but this update will bring super high res viewing of your vacation pics, or any other high res image files you can snag, to the living room. While your friends will no doubt be impressed by the museum-quality art gala you’re now capable of hosting, we’re starting the timer for 4K video sources — if we don’t hear anything concrete at CES then we’ll be incredibly disappointed.

PS3 will support 4K stills after a future update, moving pictures remain out of reach originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just in time for the return of everyone’s favorite serial killer, Showtime Anytime soft-launched recently, bringing online access to the network’s library of movies, TV shows and more. Multichannel News reports AT&T U-verse subscribers are the first to gain access, although this same content has already been streaming on Comcast’s Xfinity TV website and app. It’s no HBO Go yet — more cable companies and a few mobile apps will be necessary to match its rival there — but the approach is the same, after pulling its shows from Netflix this TV Everywhere offering hopes to add enough value to keep viewers on the traditional pay-TV train a little longer. While there’s no self-branded streaming app yet, the channel has also launched a Showtime Social iPad app to keep viewers tied in with their friends and other viewers while they watch — let us know if it makes Dexter any more / less creepy.

Showtime launches Anytime streaming portal, social iPad app originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve already seen UK movie rental service Lovefilm expand its streaming service on Blu-ray players and consoles, and now — since parent company Amazon isn’t bringing the Kindle Fire over anytime soon — it has moved on to the iPad. While its existing Lovefilm app allows for disc browsing and queue management, the new Lovefilm Player app handles most of those functions, plus the aforementioned subscription streaming access (no VOD, yet.) Check out a quick video intro after the break or hit the source links below for the FAQ or to download on iTunes.

Continue reading Lovefilm player goes mobile, now available on iPad

Lovefilm player goes mobile, now available on iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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