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Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle gets an ICS update, we swing by for a taste (video)

Zach Honig — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:50:00 EST

Always Innovating appears to be living up to its name, making significant progress on that clever HDMI Android dongle that we first heard of way back at CES. Now the company's TI OMAP4-based television companion is rockin' some Ice Cream Sandwich madness, drawing curious Mobile World Congress attendees into the Texas Instruments booth for a look. We happened upon the device on the last day of the show, and we couldn't help but be impressed. The premise here is quite simple: your "dumb TV" (i.e. one that isn't Internet-enabled) gives up one HDMI and one USB port (for power), in return connecting you to the wonderful world of Android 4.0. Think web browsing, tweeting, gaming (yes, even Angry Birds), video streaming -- that same experience you'll get with any Android tablet can now be had on your aging flat-screen TV.

Always Innovating isn't feeling inspired enough to take the lead on manufacturing, instead licensing the technology to third parties, but with some agreements signed and others on the way, this ICS solution on a stick may be hitting stores just in time to become this holiday season's ultimate stocking stuffer. Pricing is of course up to the manufacturers, but TI reps suggested that we might see these things pop up later this year in the $50-99 range, finally making Google on every TV a much more reasonable proposition. Care to take a gander at this stick-based wunderkind? Jump past the break for our hands-on.

Gallery: Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle

Continue reading Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle gets an ICS update, we swing by for a taste (video)

Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle gets an ICS update, we swing by for a taste (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Always Innovating HDMI dongle brings Android to your 'dumb TV' (video)

Darren Murph — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

Google TV's looking for a second wind here at CES, but for those of you uninterested in buying a new TV (or a new set-top box, for that matter), here's a little diddy that just might tickle your fancy. Always Innovating is making a triumphant return to Las Vegas with what might be the raddest little gizmo of the show. The simply-titled HDMI Dongle is effectively an entire system on a ~~chip~~ dongle (and yeah, it looks a lot like Roku's Streaming Stick), boasting a Cortex-A9, between 256MB and 1GB of RAM, inbuilt WiFi / Bluetooth, an NFC module and even an accelerometer. The goal here is to convert your completely vanilla HDTV into an internet-connected device; just plug it into your HDMI port, grab the bundled RF remote and start enjoying Android on the big screen. It's capable of streaming content at 1080p, and accessing Hulu, Netflix or Amazon's video store shouldn't cause a fuss. We're told it'll start at $79, but an actual release date seems to be eluding us. Head on past the break for a couple of in-action videos.

Continue reading Always Innovating HDMI dongle brings Android to your 'dumb TV' (video)

Always Innovating HDMI dongle brings Android to your 'dumb TV' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vestel, Exent bring Android games to TVs, with 'all-you-can-eat' subscription service

Christopher Trout — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:21:00 EST

Just last week Vestel was busy showing of its BitTorrent Certified Television, and now the company's teaming up with Exent to deliver Android games to your boob tube -- and it's doing so by playing off your love of a bottomless buffet. Described as "the world's first all-you-can-eat Android TV game subscription service," GameTanium allows users of Vestel's Smart Box set-top box to access a suite of TV-optimized games in the comfort of their living rooms, using their Android phones as controllers. What's more, the service lets them switch between their PC, cellphone, tablet or TV without ever losing their place in a game. The service will be debuted at this week's IBC, but if this announcement has left you hungry for more, there's always the Golden Corral. Full PR awaits you and your belly after the break.

Continue reading Vestel, Exent bring Android games to TVs, with 'all-you-can-eat' subscription service

Vestel, Exent bring Android games to TVs, with 'all-you-can-eat' subscription service originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bonux's Android set-top box is pretty much Google TV lite... really lite (video)

Darren Murph — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST

No patience left to wait for Google TV? Tough luck, bubs -- 'cause Bonux's Android set-top box ain't shipping till the year's end, either. Tucked away in a small corner of Computex was the gem you see above: an Android 2.1-based set-top box designed to bring... well, Android to your television. The white mockup box was strictly in place to demonstrate the software, and the inability to find a live internet connection on the floor crushed their desires to demonstrate connected extras. Essentially, this STB would scale a mobile OS up to TV size, which isn't exactly the most elegant of solutions. That said, it does "work," and the idea of using Android to pull in local media and web content may tempt those who aren't willing to deal with the expense and complications of snagging a full-blown HTPC. We were told that the box could play back nearly every major file format known to man, and the HDMI output ensures broad compatibility with practically every HDTV ever sold.

When speaking with company representatives at its booth, they asserted that their goal was to shrink the white box down to the size of the black unit sitting beside it, or something barely larger than a deck of cards. If all goes to plan, they should be shipping worldwide by the end of this year, but they stated that it would be awhile before Froyo (Android 2.2) was supported given the intrinsic need for more potent hardware. Speaking of which, they've yet to actually nail down a final processor, and they're still debating whether they'll have WiFi as an option. In the end, consumers should expect "between one and three" variants (including one with an integrated TV tuner, possibly), and a retail starting price of around "$120 to $130." So, found that patience you were looking for yet? Per usual, a video demonstration awaits you after the break.

Gallery: Bonux Android 2.1 set-top box at Computex 2010

Continue reading Bonux's Android set-top box is pretty much Google TV lite... really lite (video)

Bonux's Android set-top box is pretty much Google TV lite... really lite (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola cable boxes to get Blur, connect with phones

Nilay Patel — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:56:00 EST

Now that Moto's phone and set-top box divisions are being split out into their own company, it looks like there's some convergence afoot: the MOTOBLUR interface found on the CLIQ and the Backflip is currently being tested on the company's cable boxes with a tentative release scheduled for this year. That's the word according to CEO Sanjay Jha, who also told the Wall Street Journal that he wants Moto's phones and set-top boxes to eventually support a common platform so they can "share media and features" -- lending credence to those old rumors about Android-powered Moto cable boxes. Of course, getting custom software on cable boxes requires negotiating with cable companies, which is an even slower and tougher process than working with cell carriers, so we're not holding out hope that we'll see the fruits of this labor any time soon -- but it's nice to think about, isn't it?

Motorola cable boxes to get Blur, connect with phones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ISB Corp assimilates Android into STB

Ross Miller — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:47:00 EST

Netbooks and digital picture frames aren't the only new territory Google's Android can be found exploring. ISB Corp is tinkering with the platform as a way of powering a set-top box. A reference board powered by TI's OMAP 3530 processor was on display last week, strutting its video playback and web browsing capabilities at the 12th Embedded Systems Expo in Tokyo, and there the company said it was in the process of optimizing the software for a smooth HD video experience. It's also reportedly demonstrating support for wireless keyboards and Bluetooth. Frankly, we haven't been 100 percent sold on a lot of these Android implementations, but there's definitely potential here. Hopefully we can get some more glimpses of it in the not too distant future.

Filed under: Set-top boxes, Others

ISB Corp assimilates Android into STB originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ISB Corp assimilates Android into STB

Ross Miller — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:47:00 EST

Filed under: Home Entertainment

ISB Corp assimilates Android into STB originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola building Android-based cable boxes for Japan's KDDI?

Nilay Patel — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:52:00 EST

Don't know why the Motorola rumors are flying hot and heavy today, but right on top of that connected GPS whisper comes word that the struggling device manufacturer is being tapped to build a new version of KDDI's multifaceted Au Box set-top unit that runs Android instead of the previous custom Linux build. The Au Box, if you'll recall, is a trick little IPTV box with a DVD drive that can rip audio and video and transcode it for transfer or streaming to your cellphone -- kind of like a more flexible Slingbox that costs $3/month for KDDI subscribers. Definitely interesting, especially since Android could make browsing and email extremely easy to implement as well -- hey Moto, maybe you want to ditch your current garbage Stateside cable box lineup and start shipping these things at home?

Update: Turns out there's no Android here at all, according to Moto. Instead it's running on KreaTV platform. Is it just us or did this thing just lose about 50 megafonzies on the cool-o-meter?

[Via CNET]

Filed under: KDDI, Misc