Apr 22

Amazon Video on Demand supports 5.1 surround on TiVo (plus hands-on)

Posted in: amazon, streaming video, StreamingVideo, tivo, Today's Chili

So we were pretty bummed in our early testing of Amazon’s newly HD-enabled Video On Demand service to find that it only streamed stereo audio instead of full 5.1 surround, but it looks like that’s actually device-dependent — we just tried it out on our TiVo HD, and movies play back in Dolby Digital 5.1. Yeah, that’s still no Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD, but it’s definitely a vast upgrade from the sad two channels we got off the Roku Video Player. So why the difference? The TiVo doesn’t stream content like the Roku — it actually downloads a video file and plays it locally from its hard drive. That means that in addition to surround audio, we also saw a pretty dramatic increase in picture quality over the Roku — not exactly Blu-ray, but at least on par with the Apple TV, which also downloads content locally. Sure, downloading first means playback can be much slower to start, but we’ll take the delay over a blocky image any day. Our only gripe is that the TiVo interface is far less attractive and workable than the Roku’s — although it has a search feature, everything seems a little clunky and thrown together, and the UI just feels plain slower. Overall, though, it’s hard to see TiVo owners complaining about this upgrade — check out a hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Amazon Video on Demand HD on TiVo

Continue reading Amazon Video on Demand supports 5.1 surround on TiVo (plus hands-on)

Filed under:

Amazon Video on Demand supports 5.1 surround on TiVo (plus hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Apr 21

Amazon Video on Demand HD on Roku Video Player hands-on

Posted in: amazon, Features, hands-on, HandsOn, streaming video, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili

Roku hooked us up with an early preview of Amazon Video on Demand in HD for its Video Player, and while we didn’t have much time to poke around, but what we saw was mostly impressive. Video took a little longer to buffer in than Amazon SD or Netflix’s HD streams on our 10Mbps cable connection, picture quality was noticeably better, although still not at Blu-ray levels. Apart from the HD content, the experience on the Roku box is essentially same as always: there’s still no search in the interface, so be prepared to hunt around for what you want — anything other than popular or blockbuster titles requires a little digging. Selection and pricing seem to be about on par with Apple TV / iTunes, but you’re getting a little less for your money, since audio is stereo-only compared to Apple’s 5.1 encoding. That’s a potential dealbreaker for us, but it might not matter to you, and Roku’s $99 Video Player is now an undeniably appealing way to beef up your HD content options. Short hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Amazon Video On Demand in HD on Roku

Continue reading Amazon Video on Demand HD on Roku Video Player hands-on

Filed under:

Amazon Video on Demand HD on Roku Video Player hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Apr 21

Amazon Video on Demand goes HD, comes to Panasonic VIERACast TVs

Posted in: amazon, streaming, streaming video, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili

After months of leaked testing images and rumors, Amazon’s finally updated its Video on Demand service to HD. 500 shows and movies will be available in high-def to start, and the service is expanding to include Panasonic VIERACast TVs in addition to Series3 TiVos, the Roku Video Player, and the Sony Bravia Internet Link. Head to head with the Apple TV, the only downside we see is that audio is stereo-only and not 5.1, but we’re super-picky like that. Rental pricing will be between $3.99 and $4.99 for HD content, and the service should be live on all devices today — let us know when you get the update. Full release after the break.

Continue reading Amazon Video on Demand goes HD, comes to Panasonic VIERACast TVs

Filed under:

Amazon Video on Demand goes HD, comes to Panasonic VIERACast TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: ,
Apr 21

Qtv launches console IPTV platform on the PlayStation…. 2

Posted in: playstation, streaming, streaming video, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili, YouTube

In one of the more unexpected developments from NAB 2009, Qtv is pushing its streaming media player platform for consoles. Not an altogether radical idea we know, but what’s different here is a plan to launch first on the PlayStation 2 and move to newer hardware later. From the makers of the Qcast technology behind the GameShark Media Player, Qtv includes YouTube and access to streaming video from other sources, plus pictures, music and video (DivX, h.264, XviD & more) from USB devices or networked computers. The PS2 may not be the first HD set-top box we thought of, it does have the highest installed base. The Qtv player launches later this year and will be available on Mac and PC as well for “less than $50,” although thanks to the free 30-day trial the hardest part may be remembering where we left our PS2s.

Filed under: , ,

Qtv launches console IPTV platform on the PlayStation…. 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Mar 10

NBC Universal content now available on PlayStation Network

Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, playstation, streaming video, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili

Good news for Playstation 3 owners — NBC and Sony have just announced that NBC Universal content is now available on the PlayStation Network. In addition to NBC shows like The Office, 30 Rock, and Heroes, new movie releases like Milk and Role Models will hit PSN day and date with the DVD release, and back-catalog titles like The 40-Year Old Virgin and The Big Lebowski should already be up. Pricing is ballpark with the competition: $2.99 to $5.99 for SD and HD rentals, and $9.99 to $14.99 for SD and HD purchases. Not bad, but we won’t be happy until these fools drop the shenanigans and give us what we really want: Hulu. Make it happen, guys.

Filed under: ,

NBC Universal content now available on PlayStation Network originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: ,
Feb 20

How To Bring Hulu Back to Boxee and XBMC

Posted in: boxee, hack, hulu, streaming, streaming video, Television, Today's Chili, top, video

Today was supposed to be the day Hulu stopped streaming content to to your TV via Boxee, but luckily there could be a way to get around this problem.

An XBMC team developer with the forum handle “d4rk” has developed a quick and dirty plug-in that should get Hulu back up and running (although it is untested). Not surprisingly, hackers have chosen to fight the power. [XBMC via Boxee Forum via Lifehacker]

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Jan 07

Vizio takes the cover off Connected HDTV: Netflix, Blockbuster, Amazon, Yahoo! and more

Posted in: flash, streaming video, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili, vizio, Yahoo

Netflix streaming is one thing, but Vizio seems to be taking its new status as a premium HDTV manufacturer very well, with the new Connected HDTV platform featuring support for Yahoo! Widgets, Flash, Blockbuster OnDemand (!), Flickr, Pandora, Rhapsody and Accedo Broadband. Due Fall 2009, owners can feel free to go wired or 802.11n style to connect to any of these services in HD, if supported. Clearly missing? Yahoo!, Media Center Extender, but the 2H 2009 fight of Internet-ready televisions is on – set-top boxes better watch their back.

Filed under: , ,

Vizio takes the cover off Connected HDTV: Netflix, Blockbuster, Amazon, Yahoo! and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,