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TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs

Richard Lawler — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:15:00 EST

The new TiVo Premiere featuring an upgraded 500GB hard drive (65 percent more hours of HD storage than the old 320GB unit) that we spotted this morning is official, and will start shipping March 25th -- but that's not it. As we also noted, it only requires a one year service agreement at $14.99 per month or $12.99 for users with multiple boxes, which is cheaper than last year's $19.99 / month package (Lifetime Service is still available as well). If you need more hard drive space, THX Certification or more tuners then you're also in luck, as price cuts are in order for the 1TB Premiere XL (down $50 to $249) and the 2TB Elite models (down $100 to $399). The new pricing should let multi-TiVo homes compete even better with cable company DVR offerings, and once the new multiroom boxes arrive this summer things should only get better. Stake out various online retailers or your local Best Buy to snag one or three on Sunday, but until then check out the press release after the break for all of the numbers.

Continue reading TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs

TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo Premiere DVRs may get more storage soon, $149 500GB units appear for preorders

Richard Lawler — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:47:00 EST

Just like the initial run of TiVo Premiere DVRs two years ago, it appears that a refreshed version has been spotted at retail prior to any official announcement from the company. TiVo may be waiting for its official birthday March 31st to unwrap the new models, but a poster at TiVo Community has dug up listings at Amazon and JR.com showing the new TCD746500 TiVo Premiere with 500GB HDD retailing for $149 (with 1 year service plan at $14.99, of course). That can be compared to the original's 320GB drive that's currently selling at around $80. The listings hint at shipments beginning in the next few weeks, while these drives certainly won't sate the hunger of those pursuing a 1TB Premiere XL or quad tuner Elite model, a claimed extra 30 or so hours of HD recording could be worth waiting for, even at the higher price. We're not seeing indications of any other differences yet, but we'll keep you updated if more information becomes available.

[Thanks, @BrennokBob]

TiVo Premiere DVRs may get more storage soon, $149 500GB units appear for preorders originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi's 50-inch P50-GP08 3D TV could be its Japanese swan song

Amar Toor — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:06:00 EST

If the P50-GP08 is indeed Hitachi's last domestically produced TV, it would make for a pretty worthy finale. Unveiled today, this 3D TV features a 50-inch plasma screen capable of beaming images in full HD, 1920 x 1080 resolution, with a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1. The beast also packs five TV tuners, a 500GB removable HDD, a quartet of HDMI ports and a motion sensor that turns off the set after a preset period of time (between five and 60 seconds). Best of all, everything can be controlled from the comfort of an iPad or iPhone, thanks to the Wooo Remote app, scheduled for release later this month (see an image, after the break). According to AV Watch, the P50-GP08 should start shipping on August 27th for about ¥220,000 (around $2,875), though there's no word yet on whether it'll ever make it to markets overseas.

Continue reading Hitachi's 50-inch P50-GP08 3D TV could be its Japanese swan song

Hitachi's 50-inch P50-GP08 3D TV could be its Japanese swan song originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verbatim Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 hard drives add color to your otherwise drab storage needs

Brian Heater — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:19:00 EST

Our parents always taught us that it's what's on the inside that counts -- and that's why we don't ever take them hard drive shopping with us. Sure these Store 'n' Go drives are pretty standard 500GB HDDs, but hey, they come in Caribbean blue and hot pink, so they should fit in nicely with that neon fanny pack we just picked up to haul around our computer peripherals. The drives sport USB 3.0 and come loaded with Nero BackItUp software. You can pick them up for $100 from Verbatim's site -- they shouldn't be too hard to spot. Decidedly less colorful press information after the break.

Continue reading Verbatim Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 hard drives add color to your otherwise drab storage needs

Verbatim Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 hard drives add color to your otherwise drab storage needs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaCie's Rugged Mini is rugged, also mini (video)

Dante Cesa — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:10:00 EST

Got a knack for all things rugged, rubberized and orange? Then you're undoubtedly familiar with LaCie's robust line of drives, which the firm's been peddling to abusive storage lovers since 2008. Joining the family today are 500GB, 1TB, and (next month) 1.5TB miniaturized versions of Neil Poulton's shock, drop, and rain-resistant baby. They also tote USB 3.0, making them perfect candidates for speedy transfers while you're being hunted by some rare and soon-to-be extinct Amazonian jungle cat. Sound like your kind of shindig? PR and a video await you after the break.

Continue reading LaCie's Rugged Mini is rugged, also mini (video)

LaCie's Rugged Mini is rugged, also mini (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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G-Technology's G-Connect offers 500GB of wireless storage, portable WiFi network to smartphone, tablet users

Amar Toor — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Hitachi's G-Technology unit has already showered us with a slew of external hard drives, but it's taking a slightly more hybridized approach with the G-Connect -- a device that offers both wireless storage and portable WiFi access to smartphone and tablet users. Designed with nomadic content-hoarders in mind, this little rascal boasts 500GB of mobile storage, can simultaneously support more than five different devices on its 802.11n wireless network, and, when connected via Ethernet, serves as a WiFi access point. It's also robust enough to stream up to five standard-definition movies at one time (or up to three HD flicks), and, at about 9.7 ounces, it won't add too much weight to your quiver of gadgets, either. If you're worried about security, you can surround the network with a password-protected fortress, or store some of your less mentionable content in your very own private folder. iOS users can further enhance their G-experience by downloading the accompanying app, which will allow them to view and access all of their G-stored documents and media from the comfort of their iDevices (an equivalent app for the Android crowd will launch this fall). If you're interested, you can pre-order the G-Connect from G-Technology's website for $200, or wait until it hits retailers next month. Full PR after the break.

Gallery: G-Technology G-Connect

Continue reading G-Technology's G-Connect offers 500GB of wireless storage, portable WiFi network to smartphone, tablet users

G-Technology's G-Connect offers 500GB of wireless storage, portable WiFi network to smartphone, tablet users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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500GB Virgin Media 'baby' TiVo available for preorders

Richard Lawler — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:28:00 EST

Existing Virgin Media customers can preorder a 500GB version of its TiVo-based DVR now for a mere £49.95 (compared to £149.95 for the 1TB). The boxes are expected to ship in July and as The Virgin Media TiVo Blog notes, these are also available to customers with M+ and L service packages, while the 1TB model is only available with XL service. This is the latest step in Virgin Media expanding TiVo across all of its offerings, just relax and go with it.

500GB Virgin Media 'baby' TiVo available for preorders originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virgin confirms 'baby TiVo,' expects 500GB model to become the new standard DVR

Richard Lawler — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:53:00 EST

Richard Branson apparently wasn't kidding about how much he loved Virgin Media's new TiVo-powered DVRs, as the company revealed this week it will start offering a cheaper model with a 500GB hard drive to all of its customers, differing from the original which is only available to those with the XL package of channels. We can expect the "baby TiVo" -- aside from the HDD space, it is similar to the original in all respects including the three tuner capability -- to start shipping for existing customers May 16th. The up front pricing has been slashed, at just £49.95 (plus installation) while TechRadar mentions the price of the 1TB will be reduced to £149.95 for existing customers with preorders, or £199.95 for new customers but with the £40 installation fee waived.The existing V+ HD service isn't going away immediately, but it seems like the TiVo will have more features for the same price, but we'll wait to hear if our UK readers find the experience worthwhile.

Virgin confirms 'baby TiVo,' expects 500GB model to become the new standard DVR originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Virgin Media planning a cheaper, 500GB TiVo?

Richard Lawler — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:44:00 EST

It appears Virgin Media may be ready to follow up its initial TiVo product with a cheaper version very soon. Just like the TiVo Premiere and XL here in the US, the current model has a 1TB hard drive while forum posts indicate a 500GB "baby TiVo" model could be announced next week and arrive in late spring. We'll wait for some official word before knitting lil' TiVo booties, but if the current asking price for the Virgin Media TiVo -- which recently added BBC iPlayer catch-up support to its list of features -- is just too much for you to take the leap, the situation could take a turn for the better shortly.

Is Virgin Media planning a cheaper, 500GB TiVo? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Echostar Europe launches HDS-600RS SlingLoaded FreeSat+ DVR

Richard Lawler — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:21:00 EST

It's been a surprisingly long wait for a SlingLoaded box outside of the Dish ViP922, but now European customers can do the all-in-one DVR/Slingbox dance with the new HDS-600RS. As a set-top box it can tune into 150 or more digital channels and VOD depending on provider with its own HD EPG and includes access to BBC iPlayer with plans for access to more services like ITV Net Player in the future, and of course it can Sling TV, live or DVRed on the unit's 500GB hard drive. One unfortunate limitation was revealed during a quick hands-on session by Pocket-Lint, if you're Slinging video somewhere else, despite the box having two tuners, it will only display the same thing the remote user is watching on the TV. Otherwise, they believe the box will cost around £300, although all EchoStar has officially confirmed is that it will launch April 1st, with preorders available on Amazon starting March 23rd. Check out the press release after the break and a few more pictures in the gallery below.

Gallery: EchoStar HDS-600RS

Continue reading Echostar Europe launches HDS-600RS SlingLoaded FreeSat+ DVR

Echostar Europe launches HDS-600RS SlingLoaded FreeSat+ DVR originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography

Sam Sheffer — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:06:00 EST

Surely you remember Sanho's HyperDrive lineup -- ya know, the only portable HDD that plays nicely with the iPad? Well, if you don't dig the $249 entry level price, you're in luck. The company just announced a bunch of new HDDs for you to take with you and your iPad on that road trip you've had planned for years. As we saw at CES, the new drives no longer sport the QVGA color display or the CF and SD card slots -- instead, the black case has two mini USB ports and a power socket. The HyperDrive doesn't come with the traditional AC adapter but instead a USB-to-DC cable and the user-replaceable battery will allow up to 40GB of transfers on a single charge. And if you're wondering why there's two USB ports, we really couldn't tell you. Perhaps if you choose the right port while connected to your PC and enter the Konami code, unicorns and fairy dust will pop out of your screen -- wishful thinking, we know. The HyperDrives ship in March (pre-ordering is available now) with prices starting at $99 for a bring-your-own-drive housing, 1TB for $349 and various sizes in-between. So, if your photo/video library is worth accessing at all times, well, props to you. Press release is after the break.

Continue reading Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography

Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi GST releases CinemaStar hard drives aimed for a DVR near you

Ben Bowers — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:04:00 EST

Hitachi GST has announced two new drive families that it hopes will find happy homes in living rooms soon. To survive the mean streets of entertainment, both the 2.5-inch CinemaStar C5K750 and the 3.5-inch CinemaStar C5K750 families are lauded as quiet, energy sipping, and compact -- though they're positively fat compared to their 7mm thick Travelstar brethren. The 2.5-inch line ships in capacities of 750, 640, and 500GBs, while sipping 1.5W power during read/write operation and generating 2.3 idle bels. The 3.5-inch family bumps up the storage up to 1.5TB and 2TB capacities and features a CoolSpin Technology for A/V performance when handling the onslaught of recording and playing multiple video streams. For full details check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Hitachi GST releases CinemaStar hard drives aimed for a DVR near you

Hitachi GST releases CinemaStar hard drives aimed for a DVR near you originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast's quad-tuner Xfinity Spectrum DVR with internet access revealed by the FCC

Richard Lawler — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:17:00 EST

Say hello to the future of DVRs, at least from Comcast, as its as-yet unannounced Xfinity Spectrum box passed through the FCC's database shortly after having its existence revealed by the Wall Street Journal. A quick peek at the production-ready manual reveals there's plenty of new features here, including a new guide design including IMDB-style cast & crew info as well as access to internet services. While it's hardware makes this Pace RNG-210n a 500GB HD DVR with four tuners, MoCA and IP access, one of the biggest changes is a software makeover means it pops up notifications prompted by your Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Configurable at Xfinity.com/Spectrum, it looks like it will only pull in information when people you follow share pictures, video, or link to info about TV shows and movies, with "most" viewable right on the box itself, plus the option to share what you're watching on those services. There's less details available about that "apps" section of the menu but weather, traffic, music and games are promised, take a quick peek at the most interesting sections including a look at the guide, remote and box in our gallery or check out the FCC filings yourself for more details -- it's hard to tell if the changes will make all our issues with cable provided set tops go away, but pretty much any new guide has to be better than what's there now, right?

[Thanks, cypherstream]

Gallery: Comcast Xfinity Spectrum DVR in FCC

Gallery: Highlights from Comcast Xfinity Spectrum DVR user manual

Comcast's quad-tuner Xfinity Spectrum DVR with internet access revealed by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi's 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile

Vlad Savov — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:16:00 EST

If you can't beat SSDs (and you can't, we've checked), you might as well try and dress like them by squeezing into the unreasonably low profile of just 7mm. Such must be the reasoning behind Hitachi's svelte 7mm-thick HDD series, which today gets augmented with a new top-of-the-line drive boasting 500GB of storage room. This single-platter archivist measure 2.5 inches diagonally, but as its Z5K500 product name suggests, it only spins at the tame rate of 5400RPM. The less generously proportioned Z7K320 offers 7200RPM if you're after more oomph, but it's most likely that your first real contact with either of these drives will be when you see them built into whatever larger device you're buying. Like, say, an ultrathin netbook or a PMP that's eager to swallow your music collection whole.

Continue reading Hitachi's 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile

Hitachi's 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon FiOS starts rolling out 500GB DVRs

Richard Lawler — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 22:37:00 EST

Other than clunky GUIs and a lack of modern features, the most common complaint about most DVRs provided by cable, IPTV and satellite providers is their small hard drives, but Verizon's FiOS is the latest to take a step in the right direction, offering a 500GB Motorola QIP7232 HD DVR to customers in Texas, New York and Pennsylvania. Add in the software update on the way that spruces up the interface and adds support for external storage, and you have plenty to get excited about. Check the thread on DSLReports to see what availability in your neck of the woods is like

Verizon FiOS starts rolling out 500GB DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verbatim's USB 3.0 Store 'n' Go external drives play nice with magnets, your data

Tim Stevens — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:05:00 EST

We're guessing from the photo up there that Verbatim is saying your data is safe even if you happen to drop a magnetic paperclip dispenser on it. That's cool, because we happen to have one of those sitting right here on the desk, and for too long we've lived in fear of the thing toppling over and wiping the bits right off of our drives. But, the real talking point here is the interface: Verbatim's first USB 3.0 external storage. It'll be available in your choice of three sizes, with 500 and 750GB models shipping later this month and a 1TB monster coming in November. Naturally they're also backwards compatible with last-gen USB but will surely cost well more than those drives who are exclusively down with 2.0. How much more? That we just don't know right now.

Continue reading Verbatim's USB 3.0 Store 'n' Go external drives play nice with magnets, your data

Verbatim's USB 3.0 Store 'n' Go external drives play nice with magnets, your data originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp releases 8 new DVR-packing LED backlit LCD TVs into the wilds of Japan

Ben Bowers — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:53:00 EST

Sharp's 46-inch Quattron LE821E caught our eye in the UK a few months back thanks to its addition of yellow at the pixel level and its integrated Freeview HD DVR. Now Sharp Japan has jumped in on the all-in-one action with their announcement of two new series of LED backlit LCD TVs. On the higher end, the DR series will feature built-in BD burners and 500GB hard drives, while supporting full HD in the 40-inch version -- but only 1366 x 768 HD resolution in 32-inch model. Similarly, the DZ3 series will come with USB HDD DVR features and sell in full HD sizes of 32, 40, 46 and 50-inches, while 20 and 26-inch sizes will only support 1366 x 768 HD resolution. These combo sets are scheduled to hit Japan later this year, but if you ask us, we'll be waiting for even more bullet point features... 3D, anyone?

Sharp releases 8 new DVR-packing LED backlit LCD TVs into the wilds of Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3view launches first hybrid Digital/IPTV HD DVR with DVB-T2 tuners

Ben Bowers — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:39:00 EST

Considering our frustrations with the closed nature of most DVRs stateside, now that 3view has started shipping pre-orders of its first £299 [$472] Hybrid Digital / IPTV HD DVR set- top box, we're certainly jealous. That's because for starters, it performs all of the basic functions of a 500GB HD DVR and provides viewers with access to 50+ TV channels, as well as all free OTA HD channels, thanks to partner MaxLinear's dual MxL5007T DVB-T2 broadcast tuners. There's also integrated support for YouTube and IPTV sources like BBC's iPlayer, with Sky Player slated to join the mix soon. If that wasn't enough to make you pity your recorder, UK owners can even view digital media content via the box's HDD, external USB storage, or DLNA networks, and easily rub in their gleeful media freedom via Twitter or Facebook. No, it may not be fair, but it seems remembering that we don't have to pay a license fee just to get basic national news is the only cheap shot worth clinging to for solace in this situation.

Continue reading 3view launches first hybrid Digital/IPTV HD DVR with DVB-T2 tuners

3view launches first hybrid Digital/IPTV HD DVR with DVB-T2 tuners originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR

Richard Lawler — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST

Oregon and Southwest Washington are enjoying more than just the launch of Comcast's updated A28 guide today, the company also announced it has begun offering Anyroom DVR (not to be confused with Anyroom On Demand) setups in the area. It's a pretty standard MoCA implementation, one central HD DVR that allows customers to watch and control recorded programming from other hard drive-less set-top boxes in the same house. Comcast say Anyroom DVR is available in 20 markets including the Bay area, Western Mass, Augusta, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Little Rock and others, while forum posts on DSLReports indicate promos have been spotted in Chicago and Pennsylvania with a price tag of $19.95 for the main DVR, and the usual fees for the other boxes (maximum of 3).

We ~~couldn't get an official confirmation on the amount of storage available~~ 500GB is an all too welcome improvement over the 160GB / 250GB drives still sitting in most standard DVRs Comcast issues or the FiOS one we tested a while back, outpaces the 250GB / 320GB options in AT&T's U-verse setups and would put it on par with DirecTV's HR24 (can be upgraded) and the new Cox Plus Package. Sure, it's a little late to record every World Cup match in HD (or 3D) but we're sure you'll find something to fill the space.

Update: Check after the break for specs on the main DVR and networked set-top boxes. (Thanks, Robert!)

Continue reading Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR

Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iomega's 500GB 'Skin' external HDDs boast designs your mom wouldn't approve of

Darren Murph — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:39:00 EST

For better or worse, these ain't your grandmother's hard drives. Iomega has teamed up with Skin Industries in order to debut some of the wildest, zaniest looking 2.5-inch portable HDDs this planet has ever seen, with a trio of designs shipping today. When speaking with the company, we were told that these three were sort of a trial run to see if consumers were actually into such exotic pieces, but we got the impression that we may end up seeing more if this does indeed spark a new craze. The Iomega Skin drives -- outside of the exterior -- aren't that radical within; you'll find USB 2.0 connectivity and a single 500GB option to choose from. For now, $119.99 gets you a Knock Out, Red Hot or Radical (shown above and throughout) skinned hard drive, and while we didn't exactly expect these to be crafted with precision, we were thrilled to find that our own unit had the logos baked into the plastic -- no stickers or decals here. If you're into the graphics, the drive itself looks pretty sharp, but we can't help but wish there was an option to slap our own Photoshop creations onto this thing. In related news, SIIG managed to push out the world's first 4- and 7-port USB 3.0 hubs, which handled a multi-drive transfer with poise and precision during our brief testing; of course, we couldn't push the new Iomega drive to SuperSpeed or anything, but if you're in need of a product to help you simultaneously connect all seven of the USB 3.0 devices in existence today, they're available in the US for $59.99 a pop.

Gallery: Iomega 'Radical' Skin hard drive (and SIIG USB 3.0 hub) hands-on

Gallery: Iomega 'Skin' external hard drives

Continue reading Iomega's 500GB 'Skin' external HDDs boast designs your mom wouldn't approve of

Iomega's 500GB 'Skin' external HDDs boast designs your mom wouldn't approve of originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cox 'Plus Package' brings advanced Trio UI, 500GB multiroom DVR and more HD channels

Richard Lawler — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:52:00 EST

Cox is ready to make a major leap forward in its user interface -- goodbye SARA and Passport, we won't miss you -- with the newly developed "Plus Package" rolling out in limited areas during Q2 and throughout its service area by the end of the year. For the hardware Cox is bringing a Whole Home DVR solution to bear based on a Cisco 8642 HD/DVR with 500GB (3x more than the sizes currently offered) of storage, and MoCA-connected 1642 HD receivers, which are also necessary to tune to the new HD channels on the way delivered over Switched Digital Video (SDV) in the 860-MHz band.

The star of the show however is the new "Trio" program guide (video embedded after the break), a 16:9 interface that spaces out program info over three panes -- channels on the left, programs in the middle, details on the right. TV programs can also be sorted grid-style, by themes, HD-only or favorite channels, while VOD lists titles, box art and detailed info in the three window style. There's personalization for up to eight members of a household, as well as TiVo-style suggestions and related programming searches based on metadata. An exec told Multichannel News the new tru2way-built software started by realizing that "our guides were, in fact, broken" and this all-new approach is a step towards fixing that. Besides the TiVos and Moxis of the world, other service providers with similar setups include DirecTV, FiOS, Dish Network and U-verse and while we'd definitely like to see that middle pane expanded a bit to show more of each title, Cox could be the first cable company offering a set-top box that actually competes with any of them.

Gallery: Cox Advanced TV Plus Package

Continue reading Cox 'Plus Package' brings advanced Trio UI, 500GB multiroom DVR and more HD channels

Cox 'Plus Package' brings advanced Trio UI, 500GB multiroom DVR and more HD channels originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StreamTV's 42- and 37-inch 3D TVs don't require glasses, do include Blu-ray, might not exist

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:48:00 EST

Ever heard of StreamTV? Us neither. Yet there it is, a pair of entries just added today to Amazon.com. Most interesting is the 42-inch 3D TV that, like its 37-inch bro, includes a built-in 500GB HDD, Blu-ray player, and "full browsing capabilities using Entertainment Portal." Oh, and it doesn't require 3D glasses. Do you believe it? Take our advice and wait for a bit more info before entering your $5,999.99 pre-order. May 7th isn't too far away.

StreamTV's 42- and 37-inch 3D TVs don't require glasses, do include Blu-ray, might not exist originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's XF2 media player does 1080p with subtitles, blows budgets, ships next month

Tim Stevens — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:14:00 EST

When it comes to storage-based media players that you connect to your TV, it all boils down to performance, compatibility, and capacity. LG's XF2 player ships in April and, with its 1080p video and 5.1 audio output over HDMI, has the performance side covered. In terms of compatibility it hits all its marks (MPEG 1/2/4, h.264, Xvid, DivX, FLAC, WMA, AC3, etc. etc.), also supporting subtitles and captions in a number of formats. Capacity, well, 500GB is good, but more would have been better, especially given the lack of a network interface -- and the price. This one will retail for 270,000 won, or about $240. Yeah, ouch.

LG's XF2 media player does 1080p with subtitles, blows budgets, ships next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JVC brings Blu-ray burning set-tops to the U.S., leaves all the fun overseas

Richard Lawler — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST

U.S. buyers wanting to slide a Blu-ray playing & recording deck into their setup finally have an option coming from JVC, but the domestic limitations are almost as high as the pricetags. Unlike their Japanese and European cousins, there isn't any support for DVRing television content to the hard drive or discs here, with support limited strictly to unprotected Blu-ray content, or imported video from cameras or other sources via the Firewire, SDHC and USB ports. Still, professionals and prosumers interested in easily duping their own Blu-ray discs, video editing or quickly creating one-offs the SR-HD1500 (250GB, $1,995) and the SR-HD1250 (500GB, RS-232, Final Cut Pro .mov file support $2,550) may find a home for these when they ship in October.

Continue reading JVC brings Blu-ray burning set-tops to the U.S., leaves all the fun overseas

Filed under: Home Entertainment

JVC brings Blu-ray burning set-tops to the U.S., leaves all the fun overseas originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JVC brings Blu-ray burning set-tops to the U.S., leaves all the fun overseas

Richard Lawler — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST

Continue reading JVC brings Blu-ray burning set-tops to the U.S., leaves all the fun overseas

Filed under: Blu-ray, Recorders, JVC

JVC brings Blu-ray burning set-tops to the U.S., leaves all the fun overseas originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Hitachi LCDs & plasmas take all the thrill out of the Wooo

Richard Lawler — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:44:00 EST

Look here Hitachi, according to our extensive community college experience "Wooo" is always an indicator of a good time to be had by all, new experiences, possible overnight police station stays and most recently, UWB wireless shenanigans, super slim HDTVs or other examples of display imagination. Following that trend from your Japanese arm, these 5 spec bumped models of XP035 series plasmas (42-, 46- and 50-inch, pictured) and XP35 LCDs (42- and 47-inch) don't quite live up to the name, while spec bumps over last year's edition with thorough DLNA and DTCP-IP support and 500GB hard drives with iVDR slots to add even more space might impress some, we've come to expect more. Come 2010, we're looking for super resolution or something else you haven't done before, don't let us down this time. Click through for even more detailed prices and specs, we'll be in the corner checking our CES reservations one more time.

Read - Hitachi, 500GB HDD built-in full HD plasma / LCD TV - High-definition recording eight times / DLNA support "Wooo" 5 models
Read - Hitachi Announces Several PDPs and LCD TVs with Both a 500GB HDD and DLNA Support

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Latest Hitachi LCDs & plasmas take all the thrill out of the Wooo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Hitachi LCDs & plasmas take all the thrill out of the Wooo

Richard Lawler — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:44:00 EST

Filed under: Displays, Hitachi, Plasma

Latest Hitachi LCDs & plasmas take all the thrill out of the Wooo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo HDS-PH500U2 gives you 500GB of rugged, encrypted storage

Vlad Savov — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:29:00 EST

Buffalo's MiniStation DataVault series of drives is focused on data protection, from hackers and clumsy owners alike, with features like automatic full disk encryption and ruggedized shock-resistant design. The latest model, identified in Japan by the dry alphanumeric title you see above, sticks to the security-centric formula but bumps the storage to a sweet 500GB. ¥23,200 ($244) will be enough to snag the USB-powered 5,400RPM device in mid-August, and a prompt US / European release also seems highly likely. Judging by what's already available in the US, you can expect a three year warranty plus preloaded auto-backup software and mobile versions of Firefox and Thunderbird for avoiding the scourge of IE wherever you may roam.

[Via PC Watch]

Filed under: Storage

Buffalo HDS-PH500U2 gives you 500GB of rugged, encrypted storage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's 1TB Spinpoint F3 hard drive serves 500GB per platter

Darren Murph — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:57:00 EST

Oh sure, Seagate did it first, but since when have we been ones to kvetch about one-upmanship? Over in South Korea, Samsung has debuted an all new high-density hard drive family for use in "high-end computing environments," or in more comestible terms, your next desktop / workstation. The Spinpoint F3 hums along at 7,200RPM, uses a 3Gbps SATA interface, packs 16/32MB of buffer memory and will be made available in sizes as large as 1TB by utilizing a pair of 500GB-per-platter disks. The boost in areal density provides up to 30 percent higher performance when compared to a three platter 1TB drive in the same 3.5-inch form factor, and the reduction in mechanical parts also makes it less likely to fail prematurely. Sammy isn't being too forthright when it comes to MSRPs, but those looking to snag one regardless can find the 500GB model on shelves now and the 1TB edition later next month.

Filed under: Storage

Samsung's 1TB Spinpoint F3 hard drive serves 500GB per platter originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo adds Ministation Metro to its external HDD lineup

Vlad Savov — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:04:00 EST

The Ministation Metro, coming in a variety of tastefully named colors, such as Black Crystal, represents a continuation of Buffalo's recent efforts to beautify its portable hard drive offerings. The drive's design is highlighted by a handily integrated USB cable that sits flush with the Metro's externals when not in use. It's also noteworthy that this latest entry in Buffalo's Ministation series looks remarkably similar (i.e. identical) to the recently announced HD-PXU2 in Japan. We can only surmise that the company believes the term Metro carries more positive connotations with Western consumers than the otherwise catchy jumble of letters and digits. Capacity choices range all the way up to 500GB, and the new drives are expected to reach American and British shores in August, with a US price somewhere in the vicinity of $200 for the most capacious models.

Filed under: Storage

Buffalo adds Ministation Metro to its external HDD lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's recession antidote: win a 500GB Toshiba USB 2.0 portable HDD!

Darren Murph — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got an 500GB Toshiba USB 2.0 portable hard drive, complete with a swank black / white motif and a nearly unlimited amount of room for, um, whatever the heck you want. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!

Huge thanks to Toshiba for providing the gear!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) 500GB Toshiba USB 2.0 portable HDD, model number HDDR500E03X. Approximate retail value is $139.99.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Friday, April 24th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Filed under: Announcements, Storage

Engadget's recession antidote: win a 500GB Toshiba USB 2.0 portable HDD! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's M7 500GB laptop drive can take a licking

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:40:00 EST

While we've seen plenty of 500GB hard disks for laptops but Samsung's SpinPoint M7 is the first with the guts to call itself "rugged." The dual-platter, 2.5-inch drive spins at 5400rpm and features a 400G operational shock tolerance -- that's about 50G better than the claimed tolerances of other 500GB drives and 75G better than Sammy's own Spinpoint M6. Expect to see the M7 ship sometime this month.

Filed under: Storage

Samsung's M7 500GB laptop drive can take a licking originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell adds 256GB SSD option to XPS M1330 and M1730 laptops

Paul Miller — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:20:00 EST

Oh, how the times change! In August of last year we were talking up a 128GB SSD drive for Dell's XPS laptops like it was some kind of hotness -- and only $450! Now that same drive is a mere $200 upgrade, while a new 256GB SSD has been introduced to Dell's XPS M1330 and M1730 laptops for "only" $400. Sure, six months from now we're gonna be chatting up a slightly cheaper 512GB SSD and laughing at our January selves, but we just can't help ourselves and this pesky linear of progression of time we're so beholden to. Dell's also now offering a 7200RPM 500GB HDD as well, and plans to introduce both of these upgrades to additional laptops in the next few weeks.

Read - Dell XPS M1330
Read - Dell XPS M1730

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

Dell adds 256GB SSD option to XPS M1330 and M1730 laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba adds 500GB external hard drive to their line

Laura June — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:23:00 EST

Toshiba's added to the ever-expanding offering of 500GB external drives with its newly released HDDR500E03X. The USB 2.0, 2.5-incher is on offer in a totally sweet array of colors, and comes pre-loaded with NTI Shadow backup software. It's available now for somehwere in the vicinity of $140.

[Via PC World]

Filed under: Storage

Toshiba adds 500GB external hard drive to their line originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate's Barracuda 7200.12 HD packs 500GB per platter

Darren Murph — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:19:00 EST

Around 1.5 years ago, we were all sitting around in awe of the ultra-dense Barracuda 7200.10. Now, Seagate has doubled up on that gigabyte-per-platter milestone with the Barracuda 7200.12. As of this week, the desktop hard drive with the industry's highest areal density (329 Gigabits per square inch, for those curious) is shipping, as the firm's engineers have somehow figured out how to squeeze 500GB onto a single disk. The 3.5-inch 7,200RPM drive touts a SATA interface, a sustained data rate of up to 160MB/second and a burst speed of 3Gb/second. It's available as we speak in 500GB, 750GB and 1TB capacities, though there's no telling how much coin you'll be asked to lay down in order to take home the bragging rights.

[Via TG Daily]

Filed under: Storage

Seagate's Barracuda 7200.12 HD packs 500GB per platter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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500GB Moxi HD DVR now available, really

Richard Lawler — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST

Someone's on a roll, after starting out this year the wrong way with layoffs and product cuts, Digeo appears to have its second new DVR ready for your home theater. The Moxi HD DVR is now available, promising its 500GB, dual-tuner multistream CableCard support to anyone with $799.99 to spare. Why opt for this over the 1 TB TiVo HD XL? Hopefully the MR-1500T3's remote web scheduling, news & weather browsing, Flickr / Finetune support and DLNA access to your PC's stored MP3 collection can tip the balance in its direction. Congratulations Moxi, you've beaten the skeptics and made your product available, now to decide if it's time to jump on this or wait for tru2way.

Update: Via Dave Zatz comes word that this is a soft launch with a limited number of boxes available on Amazon, and we should expect an official reveal next month at CES, so decide fast if you want one early or all the other kids will be telling you how great theirs is when they come back from break.

[Thanks, Mike]

Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes, Others, Cable

500GB Moxi HD DVR now available, really originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba's 500GB laptop drive is ready for the Christmas ball

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:09:00 EST

Oh hey, welcome to 500GB laptop drive announcement party Toshiba. Shame you had to come dressed in the same 9.5-mm slab, 2.5-inch 3Gbps SATA interface, 1.4 watt idle power draw, 5,400rpm spin, and 25dB hum as everyone else in the room. Pretty, but still embarrassing. No full-disk, hardware encryption but at least you can take comfort at besting some (but not all) of your competition by actually shipping your drive in December.

[Via Impress]

Filed under: Storage

Toshiba's 500GB laptop drive is ready for the Christmas ball originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi joins 500GB laptop disk party, brings encryption and a bit of whine

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:59:00 EST

It's all here: 2.5-inch, 9.5-mm thick form factor; 3.0Gbps SATA interface; 250GB per platter for a 500GB total capacity; 5,400 RPM spin; and hardware-based data encryption using a 128-bit key (we presume, they don't say). That puts Hitachi's new 500GB Travelstar hard disk drives on par with pretty much everyone else. Even the 1.4 watt read/write power draw that Hitachi says, "is lower than any other 500GB 2.5-inch hard drive on the market today" was just matched by Fujitsu who goes even further with 256-bit encryption. No use crying Hitachi, that's what happens when you show up late for a party. Expect to see the 5K500.B disk ship worldwide in December while the 1.4 watt E5K500.B ("E" for Eco) is expected by the end of March 2009.

Filed under: Storage

Hitachi joins 500GB laptop disk party, brings encryption and a bit of whine originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu announces world's first 500GB laptop disk with 256-bit AES encryption

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:53:00 EST

Take 1TB and divide it by two and you've got a pair of new 2.5-inch 500GB disks just introduced by Fujitsu. Fujitsu's MJA2 series of 9.5-mm tall, SATA 3.0Gbps, 5400 RPM disks consume just 1.4 watts during read/write -- that's a 33% reduction from its previous drives while still boosting transfer rates by 27%. Model MJA2 CH even adds the world's first automatic, full-disk, 256-bit AES encryption without any performance penalty due to the hardware level of encryption. Take that Seagate and your weak-sauce 128-bit key. To be fair, any successful attack on a 128-AES key would likely apply to a 256-bit key as well. Expect these to pop for retail (with Western Digital branding too, presumably) sometime in the first quarter of 2009, a bit earlier if you can do without the encryption.

Filed under: Storage

Fujitsu announces world's first 500GB laptop disk with 256-bit AES encryption originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western Digital My Passport Studio: now with FireWire 800

Laura June — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:22:00 EST

Western Digital announced a new member of their wannabe-buddies-with-Mac My Passport Studio line today -- it's the exact same drive as the previous Studio model, only this one comes etched with your favorite character from "Friends" on it! Not really: it's got a FireWire 800 port in addition to the old hat FireWire 400 and USB interfaces, perfect for those brand new MacBook Pro owners -- if they have any cash left, that is. The 400GB model is going to run you $229.99, 500GB will be $249.99, and they're available now.

Filed under: Storage

Western Digital My Passport Studio: now with FireWire 800 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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