Hasta La Gadget!

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: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment

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.

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The plan is to get Flash from every computer to every television screen, and Adobe’s ready to take the next step this week at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas. Broadcom, Comcast, STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors, and Sigma Designs join Intel as set-top box makers with chipsets ready to stream widgets and HD video to connected televisions, while content is on the way from Netflix, New York Times, Disney and Atlantic Records. Of course, Yahoo’s widgets and Microsoft Silverlight aim to turn up the interactivity and streaming video to TVs and handhelds as well, though Adobe seems content to share with Yahoo! if need be — Vizio’s Connected HDTV demo and Intel’s CE 3100 support both — expect the blades to come out when Flash enabled hardware comes to market in the second half of this year.

[Via Venture Beat]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Adobe Flash platform for HDTVs & connected devices on display at NAB originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we’ve seen plenty of prototype and conceptual aids that might some day revolutionize the lives of those struggling with hearing loss, it’s rare that we see something real holding just as much potential. That’s what we have here with the ConnectLine wireless streaming system from Oticon (no, gamers, not Otacon). We’ve seen the company tap into the Bluetooth craze before with aids that can be synced with mobile phones, and now it’s taking that a step further, enabling them to be paired with a base station (pictured below) that can connect to your TV, stereo, or even a landline phone to send audio right into its compatible hearing aids. No word on cost, but just think: if ol’ Snake had one of these Otacon might not have had to yell so much.

[Via MedGadget]

Continue reading Oticon’s ConnectLine hearing aid accessories stream your tunes right into your head

Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables, Wireless

Oticon’s ConnectLine hearing aid accessories stream your tunes right into your head originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When we got wind of Cisco’s $590 million acquisition of Flip Video-maker Pure Digital, we immediately came to grips with the fit. After all, Cisco’s been dying to pull another Linksys for some time now, and what better to expand its consumer electronics presence than with a cheap-o camcorder that’s ripe for the addition of WiFi. Bigwig (and Pure Digital founder) Jonathan Kaplan recently sat down to talk about the product’s future, and unsurprisingly, he definitely mentions the integration of Cisco’s “strengths” into the handheld camcorder. Furthermore, he’s hoping that an entity as large as Cisco can get the Flip Video line overseas, and he’s also quite big on “building the brand.” The takeaway? Don’t be alarmed when a WiFi-equipped, streaming-capable successor hits the scene at CES 2010, complete with automatic upload-to-YouTube functionality.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Pure Digital founder talks of Flip Video’s future originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As a wise man once said: “Damn, that’s just cold, son.” Merely hours after boxee announced its latest alpha build along with RSS feed support for Hulu, said video portal has now blocked off boxee‘s browser entirely from accessing its content. If you’ll recall, boxee saw a huge increase in interest when it first added easy access to Hulu, and once Hulu demanded that it be removed, boxee sadly complied. The latest move just seems “cold blooded,” as now boxee users who attempt to surf over via a Hulu RSS feed link will be greeted with an infinite amount of nothing. boxee is quick to point out that its browser doesn’t access Hulu content “any differently” than IE, Firefox, Opera or any other browser, which does a good job of explaining just how deliberate this move is. Needless to say, we get the feeling this bout is just getting started.

[Image courtesy of ZatzNotFunny]

Update: boxee now says things are working. For the moment, anyway. Feel free to join us as we throw our hands in the air and give up on understanding this mess.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Hulu blocks boxee browser entirely, gloves get ripped halfway off originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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