Best Buy Insignia cTV with DVR-less TiVo built-in launches July 31st

Best Buy and TiVo announced they were forming a “broad partnership” two years ago, then revealed a connected HDTV product last year, and now it’s apparently just days from being released. This information posted over at ZatzNotFunny pegs the launch date for the Insignia cTV as July 31st, packing the TiVo Premiere’s menu system and apps like Netflix, CinemaNow and Pandora. The 32- and 42-inch models feature built-in WiFi, but no included DVR and don’t require a TiVo subscription. With the recent launch of multiroom streaming on the TiVo Premiere and another DVR-less product from TiVo in the Preview, this is a perfect opportunity to include multiroom access, no set-top box needed. Unfortunately, like the pricetag of the cTV units, that detail has yet to be revealed.

Best Buy Insignia cTV with DVR-less TiVo built-in launches July 31st originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix coming to Spain and the UK next year?

File this one in the unconfirmed-but-hopeful file, as Variety has it on good authority that Netflix could be making its first foray into European waters as early as Q1 2012. After taking Latin America by storm (and subsequently storming the wallets of plain ‘ole Americans), the company is purportedly lining up Spain and the United Kingdom for its next trick. Unnamed sources at “leading European film distributors” have confirmed that representatives from the company were looking to “put roots down” in both of those nations as soon as next year, and while Netflix itself is refusing to comment, it’s certainly a tale that’s easy to believe. ‘Course, breaking into the UK market won’t be as easy as it has been in other nations — Lovefilm already has a firm grip on the local rental market, but as your favorite capitalist always says, there’s never not room for increased competition. We’ll keep you posted.

[Thanks, Eric]

Netflix coming to Spain and the UK next year? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 248 – 07.15.2011

Don’t panic! That’s not a herd of horses about to parade through your living room, but it is the noise that only 10 Engadget Podcasters can make as they run through your WiFi and into your speakers for this, the first-ever Engadget Partycast! We’ll play Twister all over some new Sony tablets, pin the tail on the red envelope, and we might even fire up the hottest new music-streaming service on the HiFi to get you moving. The party is happening right now down below underneath that play button. We’re almost at capacity, but we’ll let you in if you hurry the dang heck up!

Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guests: Richard Lawler, Dana Wollman, Darren Murph
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Young Folks

00:02:52 – Sony S1 and S2 hands-on
00:03:40 – Sony’s S2 tablet coming to AT&T, price and availability remain a mystery
00:09:53 – Sony’s VAIO Z finally arrives in the US, goes up for pre-order starting at $2,000
00:15:23 – Netflix officially separates DVD, streaming pricing; $15.98 and up for both
00:33:50 – Netflix streaming comes to the Nintendo 3DS tomorrow
00:38:26 – The Engadget Interview: HP’s Stephen DeWitt
00:49:58 – Spotify launching in the US tomorrow
01:02:36 – Listener questions

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Engadget Podcast 248 – 07.15.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Spotify Really Your Streaming Music Savior?

Spotify is a unicorn no more. It promises to be the end all, be all solution to our music listening needs in the 21st century. And, by the beard of Zeus, they’ve delivered on that promise. More »

Spotify US premium service hands-on

Like The Beach Boys’ Smile and Duke Nukem Forever before it, the US version of Spotify has been elevated to a sort of mythological status by collective anticipation. Music nerds and tech geeks all over this fine nation of ours have waited with bated breath for the service to work out all of its licensing kinks and finally make its way to our shores. In an interview earlier this week, a Spotify higher-up promised us that the service will be pretty much the same as the one that Europe has already come to love — the question, then, is whether or not disappointment is inevitable after so much waiting. Spotify gave us the opportunity to take the premium desktop and mobile versions of the service for a spin. Check out the result below.

Continue reading Spotify US premium service hands-on

Spotify US premium service hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix on Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)

Netflix on Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)

The Nintendo 3DS may be suffering from a slight lack of hot games at the moment, but thanks to a little update it is certainly not suffering from a lack of great movies and TV shows to watch. The Netflix addition that Nintendo promised us back in the summer is now up for download, and download is just what we did. If you’re wondering just how Instant content looks on the small screen, click on through and find out.

Continue reading Netflix on Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)

Netflix on Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Got Spotify? Here’s How To Use It

So you coughed up for a Spotify pass. Great work! The unlimited streaming music superservice is everything it’s cracked up to be. But don’t let that log-in fester like unwanted leftovers. Here’s how to start using it, and more importantly, making the most of it. More »

Nintendo confirms Netflix on the 3DS hitting today

Last night’s Netflix / 3DS news was more than just empty promises — and now we have the official press release to prove it. Starting today, Netflix subscribers with unlimited streaming plans will be able to watch TV shows and movies from the service’s selection of online content on their Nintendo 3DS, like the Wii before it. Movies will show up in 2D (darn) on the upper screen of the device, with 3D content coming soon to the glasses-free portable. The Netflix app will be hitting the Nintendo eShop today as a free download. The app doesn’t appear to be in the store as of yet, but we’ll let you know when it pops up. In the meantime, feel free to check out the press release below — no glasses required.

Continue reading Nintendo confirms Netflix on the 3DS hitting today

Nintendo confirms Netflix on the 3DS hitting today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s here! Spotify lands in the US (video)


We knew it was coming, but Europe’s beloved music service just officially launched stateside, bringing with it 15 million tracks with on-demand access, MP3 import, an offline mode, and social media integration. The streaming music service is currently in an invite-only beta phase, but you can sign up for an invitation or jump the queue right into the service’s Unlimited ($5) or Premium ($10) monthly subscription tiers. Groove on over to the source link to sign up, and start piping millions of free tunes directly to your desktop — once Spotify sends the welcome nod to your inbox, of course.

Update: Logitech announced that it will be offering Spotify service on both the Squeezebox Touch and Squeezebox Radio. Hit up the source link for the full scoop.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading It’s here! Spotify lands in the US (video)

It’s here! Spotify lands in the US (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulu Plus Android app is now playing on Evo 4G, Thunderbolt, myTouch 4G and G2

Last month Hulu Plus finally arrived on Android however support was unfortunately limited to just six devices, but tonight the official blog has announced the count has reached double digits. Four HTC phones are on the list — the Evo 4G, Thunderbolt, myTouch 4G and G2 — bringing the total to ten models supported, featuring a mix of first and second gen Snapdragon chips clocked at varying speeds. Given shared architecture with some phones already on the list it’s not clear why these had to wait, but Senior Product Manager Lonn Lee is quick to point out that the streaming video site isn’t done yet. Even as it’s on the auction block, there’s at least some chance to pick up disgruntled Netflix subscribers and adding a few underserved handsets is as good a way as any to reach out.

Hulu Plus Android app is now playing on Evo 4G, Thunderbolt, myTouch 4G and G2 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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