Hasta La Gadget!

Chances are, you put your TV in the most convenient spot based on where the requisite cables are feeding into your abode. And putting a set in a new room usually means someone is breaking out a drill. Well, starting October 31st, AT&T U-verse customers will no longer be constrained by wires! (Besides HDMI and power cords, that is.) The company’s new wireless receiver pairs with your AT&T-issued residential gateway and pulls in broadcasts over WiFi. What the provider claims is the first consumer wireless receiver of its type should simplify installation and free customers from the worry of running coax around their homes. You could even drag your big screen out to the patio and try to enjoy the “big game” under the glare of the sun. Just don’t make lugging your 42-incher around a habit — hernias aren’t covered by the warranty. The receivers will be available to order on Monday for a one-time fee of $49 and a $7-a-month rental fee there after. Check out the (bizarre) demo video and PR after the break.

Continue reading AT&T U-verse set-tops go wireless, free you to herniate yourself moving your HDTV around

AT&T U-verse set-tops go wireless, free you to herniate yourself moving your HDTV around originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been waiting for more information on DirecTV’s next generation multiroom DVR hub, and here it is, courtesy of the folks at DBSTalk. They’ve gotten an early look at the HR34 and all of its five-tuner RVU blasting capabilities and report it is just the HR24-on-steroids you’d thought it would be, with a 1TB hard drive and support for 100 Series Listings and 3 remote sessions, either RVU or whole-home DVR, at once. Of course, if we’re really going to eliminate the cable / satellite box anytime soon then hardware is going to have to hit the streets, both form DirecTV and third parties like Samsung. Don’t bother calling DirecTV to get one yet as they’re in extremely limited release, but we’ll let you know once they’re widely available. In the meantime, hit the source link for a quick preview, and if you’re looking for more info on the placeshifting Nomad box then you’re in luck, since its product page is (finally) live on DirecTV’s site.

DirecTV’s five tuner, RVU-ready HR34 DVR revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, this is kinda interesting: a brand new Roku just hit the FCC, sporting model number 2400X. Beyond the fact that we just got a trio of new streaming media boxes from the company, the model number would almost seem to imply this is a last-gen device (the Roku 2 lineup all start with “30”). It’s clear the Roku LT (the name it will eventually go to market with) is going to be the new low-cost member of the family, but it’s not just rebranded old tech. Inside is the same Broadcom 2835 SOC that powers the Roku 2 XD, XS, and HD and, while it tops out at 720p just like the low-end HD, it actually sports more RAM than the current budget model. Presumably the loss of Bluetooth and the SD slot will offset any cost increase associated with moving up to 256MB of memory. When the Roku LT will actually ship and how much it’ll cost is anyone’s guess, but we’d put our money on soon and cheap. For a few more specs check out the chart after the break.

Update: We got ourselves some exclusive pics of the upcoming Roku LT, check ’em out in the gallery below.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading Budget-friendly Roku LT pops up at the FCC as the 2400X (Updated with pics)

Budget-friendly Roku LT pops up at the FCC as the 2400X (Updated with pics) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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In case you’ve been living under a rock: motion controls are all the rage these days. And it’s not just console makers who want in on the action. ASUS, Philips and Hillcrest Labs have all launched their own takes on the tech. Movea is a company that’s well versed in the field, and now plans to start offering its wares direct to TV and set-top box manufacturers. The MoveTV platform offers not only remote control tech to OEMs, but opens up the company’s tools to developers for building games and apps. Movea even announced its first partners: C&M Media, a major cable provider in Korea, and Remote Solution. Remote Solution will be licensing Movea’s SmartMotion and integrating MoveTV into the set-tops provided to C&M. Soon enough using gestures to change channels and playing arm-flailing renditions of Angry Birds on your cable box could be the norm. Check out the video, PR and one more pic after the break.

Continue reading Movea MoveTV platform delivers motion control options to TV and set-top makers

Movea MoveTV platform delivers motion control options to TV and set-top makers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 03:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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