Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Wall of Sound is loud, prohibitively expensive, and somewhat defeats the purpose]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/wall-of-sound-is-loud-prohibitively-expensive-and-somewhat-def/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/wall-of-sound-is-loud-prohibitively-expensive-and-somewhat-def/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/wall-of-sound-is-loud-prohibitively-expensive-and-somewhat-def/#comments
You know the problem with most iPod docks? They're too compact, too convenient. Luckily the wild men at Brothers in Drottninggatan, Stockholm, have the cure to tinny sounds that come in small packages. Hopefully a nod to the sound generated by "the bruddas" from Forest Hills, Queens (and not that of a certain homicidal record producer), the Wall of Sound is a handcrafted, 4 x 3 foot, 125 watt tube amplified behemoth. Intrigued? We bet you are. Sadly, the company has sold out of its first run, but you'll need time to save up your lunch money for one of these anyways: the asking price is $4,495 (plus shipping). Hit that read link to get started.

Continue reading Wall of Sound is loud, prohibitively expensive, and somewhat defeats the purpose

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Wall of Sound is loud, prohibitively expensive, and somewhat defeats the purpose originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MTube, known most famously in these parts for its diminutive, WiMAX-sportin' media player, seems to be putting some time and effort into Android as of late. While the MTube II hybrid Android / XP / tablet / netbook has certainly inspired its share of techno-lust, the Android MID hits us where it counts: in front of the television. The unholy union of a handheld and a multimedia controller, this guy lets you drag and drop video from the device to your TV, stream media to the TV or vice versa, and transfer files between multiple MTubes -- all this in addition to the core functionality of the OS. Details are still scant: although we know it's rocking an ARM Processor, a 7.6-inch 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen OLED, and Android 1.6, there's no word on storage or memory, or even how the video is streamed (we think that WiFi might be a good guess). As it stands, the thing is most certainly not ready for prime time (as becomes painfully obvious when the system crashes at 1 minute 45 seconds), but as a taste of things to come we're definitely intrigued. Peep the video after the break to see for yourself.

Continue reading MTube Android MID streams media to the TV and back via touchscreen (video)

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MTube Android MID streams media to the TV and back via touchscreen (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid midAndroidMidbroadband show 2009BroadbandShow2009home entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmidmtubemtube android midMtubeAndroidMidportable videoportablevideoWed, 28 Oct 2009 17:56:00 EST<![CDATA[JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/jvc-joins-the-sub-200-blu-ray-player-game-with-ultrathin-xv-bp1/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/jvc-joins-the-sub-200-blu-ray-player-game-with-ultrathin-xv-bp1/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/jvc-joins-the-sub-200-blu-ray-player-game-with-ultrathin-xv-bp1/#comments Sub-$200 Blu-ray players certainly aren't new -- heck, some guys have been doing it since the year 2008 -- but you'll never catch us kvetching about a little more competition. JVC has today introduced (in the briefest way possible, might we add) its newest Blu-ray player just ten months after deciding to play the BD game here in the States. The ultrathin (and "now available") XV-BP11 should slide into just about any AV rack, bringing Blu-ray / DVD playback, AVCHD support, HDMI 1.3, a USB socket and compatibility with a slew of audio formats. Curiously enough, the outfit doesn't bother to mention if this thing is Profile 2.0, but we're guessing (read: hoping) that it wouldn't do something as ludicrous as charge two bills for a Profile 1.1 deck in late 2009. Then again, we've seen zanier things go down...

Update: Ouch -- this thing is only Profile 1.1. Dud. [Thanks, Aaron!]

Continue reading JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11

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JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avchdbdblu-rayblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentjvcjvc XV-BP11JvcXv-bp11XV-BP11Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Rocketfish wireless whole home audio system cuts the cord on all your speakers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/rocketfish-wireless-whole-home-audio-system-cuts-the-cord-on-all/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/rocketfish-wireless-whole-home-audio-system-cuts-the-cord-on-all/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/rocketfish-wireless-whole-home-audio-system-cuts-the-cord-on-all/#comments Anyone stumbling into a Best Buy looking for some sort of wireless speaker solution has probably been ushered over to the Rocketfish section, but up until now, only a few devices have been available. Now, the Best Buy staple is introducing an all-encompassing system that aims to cut the (speaker) cable to all of your speakers. The wireless whole home audio system, which is obviously only available at the yellow-tagged retailer, is comprised of a Wireless Amplified Audio Receiver, a Wireless Sender / Receiver, a Wireless Outdoor Speaker and a Wireless HD Audio Starter Kit, which includes both a sender and receiver. The whole rig is designed to work with standard connections for speaker line and line level inputs, so most any speaker assortment should play nice. All told, the devices combined can send up to five sources to nine receivers throughout the home, but not surprisingly, there's no mention made of the presumably lofty price tag.

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Rocketfish wireless whole home audio system cuts the cord on all your speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just a quick note to all you HAVA Player enthusiasts: the iPhone app that Monsoon announced at CES is finally ready for public consumption. Available from the App Store (of all places), the software lets HAVA owners control it all remotely -- including cable, satellite, and DVR. What's more, you can stream your recorded programming right onto the handset for all those times when you can't stand to be apart from Jim Cramer (few and far between, we know). Supports iPhone and iPod touch (with OS 2.2.1 or higher) and goes for $9.99. PR after the break.

Continue reading HAVA media streamer for iPhone available now

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HAVA media streamer for iPhone available now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp storeappleAppStorecellphoneshavahava dvrHAVA PlayerHavaDvrHavaPlayerhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentiphonemonsoonmonsoon multimediaMonsoonMultimediativoThu, 15 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital WD TV Live HD media player gets official]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/western-digital-wd-tv-live-hd-media-player-gets-official/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/western-digital-wd-tv-live-hd-media-player-gets-official/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/western-digital-wd-tv-live-hd-media-player-gets-official/#comments
Hope you didn't spend your well-earned shekels on a WD TV Mini -- it turns out that the HD-less wonder was just a waypoint to Western Digital's latest. The WD TV Live HD media player is an unassuming sort that doesn't really offer any surprises: 1080p video playback, support for all your favorite codecs, both Pandora and Live365 Internet radio apps, WiFi, two USB ports for external storage, HDMI, composite and component video outputs, SPDIF audio output, and more. No big whoop, right? All this can be yours for an MSRP of $149.99, but we hear that Best Buy has 'em for $119 -- and we wouldn't want you to pay any more than that. PR after the break.

Update: "That's WiFi ready." As in "WiFi adapter sold separately."

Continue reading Western Digital WD TV Live HD media player gets official

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Western Digital WD TV Live HD media player gets official originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuyhdhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmedia streamerMediaStreamerset top boxSetTopBoxstreamerwd tvwd tv 2wd tv livewd tv-2WdTvWdTv-2WdTv2WdTvLivewestern digitalWesternDigitalTue, 13 Oct 2009 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Just Add Power introduces Projector Connector HDMI-over-IP solution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/14/just-add-power-introduces-projector-connector-hdmi-over-ip-solut/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/14/just-add-power-introduces-projector-connector-hdmi-over-ip-solut/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/14/just-add-power-introduces-projector-connector-hdmi-over-ip-solut/#comments
It looks like the gang over at Just Add Power have cooked up a device that will let you manage multiple HDMI sources without the limits of traditional HDMI switches (and no, it isn't an HDMI Balun). The Projector Connector consists of an encoder unit that converts your HDMI source signal to IP packets and a networked receiver that decodes the signal at the display end. Add a managed switch and you can keep adding sources and display devices to your heart's content (up to 200 displays). Controlled by a PC over HTTP, this is definitely a product that will see more use in large organizations than it will in home theater setups. But still, what HD aficionado wouldn't love to get his hands on something this powerful and (relatively) inexpensive? The encoder (VBS-HDMI-308A) sells for $299, while the decoder (VBS-HDMI0108A) will run $250 -- you'll have to buy your own switch. Supports 1080p, HDCP, and up to 5.1 digital audio. Hit the read link to pick one up for yourself.

[Via CE Pro]

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Just Add Power introduces Projector Connector HDMI-over-IP solution originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cediacedia 2009Cedia2009hdhdmi switchHdmiSwitchhome entertainmenthome theaterHomeEntertainmentHomeTheaterJust Add PowerJustAddPowerprojector connectorProjectorConnectorMon, 14 Sep 2009 17:53:00 EST<![CDATA[IOGEAR unveils new HDMI Control Center for well-heeled A/V fiends]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/iogear-unveils-new-hdmi-control-center-for-well-heeled-a-v-fiend/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/iogear-unveils-new-hdmi-control-center-for-well-heeled-a-v-fiend/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/iogear-unveils-new-hdmi-control-center-for-well-heeled-a-v-fiend/#comments Sure, for some folks a simple 4-port HDMI extender is all that's needed, but you're not playing around, are you? If "overkill" is the only way that you roll, check out IOGEAR's latest: the HDMI Control Center includes a wireless keyboard with built-in laser trackball, supports 1080p (1920 x 1200) and HDMI 1.3, is HDCP compliant, rocks Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Support, and ships for the princely sum of $499.95. Definitely not for the weak-willed. PR after the break.

Continue reading IOGEAR unveils new HDMI Control Center for well-heeled A/V fiends

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IOGEAR unveils new HDMI Control Center for well-heeled A/V fiends originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you're very clumsy (or you love watching TV in the bathtub) Sony Japan has just the thing for you. The Rimotokomanda RM-PZ3SD universal remote comes in a palette of soothing colors, works with a wide variety of sets (including those by Panasonic / National, Toshiba, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Victor / JVC, Sanyo, Aiwa, Sharp, Funai / PRECIOUS, NEC, Fujitsu, Pioneer, Philips, and, of course, Sony), and offers at least a modicum of water-resistance for wet-handed TV viewing (we'll leave that part up to your imagination). To be unleashed on the Japanese buying public "soon" for ¥2,468 (around $26). More pics after the break.

[Via Boing Boing]

Continue reading Sony unveils waterproof universal remotes for deep-sea TV addicts

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Sony unveils waterproof universal remotes for deep-sea TV addicts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>falsehome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentremote controlRemoteControlRimotokomandasonysony japanSonyJapantvuniversal remoteUniversalRemotewater proofwater resistantWaterProofWaterResistantMon, 31 Aug 2009 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS O!Play HDP-R1 media player gets the hands-on treatment]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/asus-o-play-hdp-r1-media-player-gets-the-hands-on-treatment/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/asus-o-play-hdp-r1-media-player-gets-the-hands-on-treatment/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/asus-o-play-hdp-r1-media-player-gets-the-hands-on-treatment/#comments
Our amigos over at Engadget Spanish have managed to get their hands on ASUS' O!Play HDP-R1 media player and they've taken it for a spin. The player, which supports a HD video playback in a multitude of codecs, including MPEG1/2/4, H.264, VC-1, and RM/RMVB in a multitude of packages including .mp4, .mov, .avi, .divx, and .mkv (and that's not an exhaustive list by any means). There is still no word on pricing or release date in the US, but the one Engadget Spanish laid hands on seemed to be for sale in Taiwan for around €119, or about $169. There are a few more shots after the break -- but hit the read link for a full gallery.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Continue reading ASUS O!Play HDP-R1 media player gets the hands-on treatment

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ASUS O!Play HDP-R1 media player gets the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS has taken a pretty basic USB Blu-ray drive and given it a fine veneer of high-gloss looks. The SBC-04B1S-U isn't fancy stuff -- 4.8x maximum Blu-ray disc reading, 8x DVD burning, a USB 2.0 connection, and Windows (but not OS X) compatibility. The bright blue 'X' on the side also flashes and has a dedicated app just to control its brightness. None of this will help, of course, when the strobing 'X' attracts the attention of the entire underground world of paranormal conspiracy theorists to your bedroom as if you threw up the alien Bat-Signal -- but, you know, whatever. There's no word yet on pricing or availability for this attractive, skinny dude.

[Via SlashGear]

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ASUS unleashes USB 2.0 Blu-ray drive -- government denies knowledge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asusblu rayblu ray playerblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerBluRayBluRayPlayerhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentSBC-04B1S-Uusb 2.0 blu-rayUsb2.0Blu-rayMon, 29 Jun 2009 15:39:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Boombox looks sweet, still can't make your kid's music sound good]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/17/lego-boombox-looks-good-wont-make-your-kids-music-sound-good/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/17/lego-boombox-looks-good-wont-make-your-kids-music-sound-good/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/17/lego-boombox-looks-good-wont-make-your-kids-music-sound-good/#commentsThe collaboration between LEGO and Digital Blue has already produced a couple of interesting gadgets for the wee ones, so here's another one to add to the stack. The LEGO Boombox is a decidedly low-techish CD player / AM/FM radio, with two 1 watt speakers, and a few buttons to boot. The saving grace of this little guy is obviously its shape -- which is awesome -- but we really need to know if its going to come in other colors (like hot pink) before we can think about buying it. This bad boy is going to be available sometime this summer, and it'll run $39.99

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LEGO Boombox looks sweet, still can't make your kid's music sound good originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boom boxboomboxcd playerCdPlayerdigital blueDigitalBluehome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentkidslegolego boomboxLegoBoomboxportable audioPortableAudioFri, 17 Apr 2009 11:27:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change the Apple TV?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/how-would-you-change-the-apple-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/how-would-you-change-the-apple-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/12/how-would-you-change-the-apple-tv/#comments
Any time Apple enters a new product category it's obviously a fairly major development -- we're still getting bombarded with iPhone news over one month post-launch -- so now that you've had some time to play with it, it's only fair that we give the Apple TV the same vulture-like evisceration that we do any other high profile consumer electronics product. The little box seems to have received a warm welcome for the most part, with hackers quickly tearing it apart and adding all sorts of new capabilities to boot, but what we're interested in is how you'd change the device out of the box. Would you make it more or less integrated with the iTunes ecosystem? Should it be friendlier to a wider variety of codecs? Maybe open up the USB port? Okay, have at it...

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How would you change the Apple TV? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tvAppleTvhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmenthow would you changeHowWouldYouChangeitunesmedia streamersMediaStreamersSun, 12 Aug 2007 21:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Monster's Linux-based network media and automation devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/monsters-linux-based-network-media-and-automation-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/monsters-linux-based-network-media-and-automation-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/monsters-linux-based-network-media-and-automation-devices/#commentsMonster Nucleus head-end
Monster Cable, the company best known for its, um, cabling, has announced more information about its network media and home automation devices recently displayed at CEDIA. Everything in the Monster Einstein system is controlled by the Nucleus head-end, which runs the home automation and control elements, using Z-Wave and Bluetooth to control sensors and devices throughout the home, as well as interfacing with the media devices on the network. It has gigabit Ethernet and 802.11n network capabilities as well as a VOIP interface, and should retail for around $4000. The $2500 Electron components are the client end points and connect to the televisions and receivers on the network. You'll want at least one Photon 200-disc DVD changer in the system, because even though they're $2400 they have dual transports, meaning two different discs can be played simultaneously over the network. Also plan on attaching one or more of the $4900 Neutron RAID5-capable storage boxes -- each comes with 960 gigs of storage standard but can scale up to 7.2 terabytes. Other devices in the chain include the $1500 Astro Sirius satellite radio tuner with three zones, and the $1300 Tron seven-inch touch panel. Keep reading for more specifics, as well as another shot of the "monster" Photon changer...

Continue reading Monster's Linux-based network media and automation devices

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Monster's Linux-based network media and automation devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astrodvdeinsteinelectronhome automationhome entertainmentHomeAutomationHomeEntertainmentlinuxmonsterneutronphotonwifiwirelessFri, 06 Oct 2006 13:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City site adds TiVo Series 3, cites October release]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/11/circuit-city-site-adds-tivo-series-3-cites-october-availability/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/11/circuit-city-site-adds-tivo-series-3-cites-october-availability/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/11/circuit-city-site-adds-tivo-series-3-cites-october-availability/#comments
So the worst-kept secret in the consumer electronics industry right now is that TiVo is on the verge of releasing the CableCARD-sportin', HD-recordin' Series 3 box -- but no one seems to know exactly when you'll be able to buy one. We heard from Todd the Best Buy employee that the new machines will be in stock on the 17th of this month, and now our friend Dave over at ZatzNotFunny has spotted the highly-anticipated DMR (remember, they're not DVRs anymore, and TiVo won't sell you one if you use that terminology) on Circuit City's website showing an October availability. Now does that mean October 1st? The 15th? The 31st? Well if we knew, we'd tell ya, but at least now we seem to have an actual release window: the Series 3 will (probably) be available sometime between September 17th and October 31st. As usual, we'll keep you posted as more information comes to light, but if that's not good enough, you're always welcome to switch over to satellite and pick up on of DirecTV's new HR20-700 HD DVRs -- thanks to HDBeat, we know that Best Buy will ship you one of those post haste.

Read- Series 3 [Via ZatzNotFunny]
Read- HR20-700 [Via HDBeat]

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Circuit City site adds TiVo Series 3, cites October release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>directvdmrdvrhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmenthr20-700release windowsReleaseWindowsseries 3Series3tivoMon, 11 Sep 2006 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Lifetime TiVo subs transferrable to Series 3 -- for a price]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/lifetime-tivo-subs-transferrable-to-series-3-for-a-price/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/lifetime-tivo-subs-transferrable-to-series-3-for-a-price/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/lifetime-tivo-subs-transferrable-to-series-3-for-a-price/#comments
Ever since TiVo realized that it was actually going to be around for awhile and that lifetime subscriptions no longer made financial sense, those subscribers already locked into the $300 lifetime deal found themselves in a bit of a quandary -- how would they be able to upgrade to Series 3 without becoming one of the plebes paying for service by the month? Well current Series 1 and 2 owners looking to get their HD recording on need no longer worry about losing their lifetime subs, thanks to a just-announced offer by TiVo that will allow them to transfer that all-you-can-eat goodness to newly purchased Series 3 boxes -- with a few catches, of course. The TiVo Community forums are buzzing about a recently-recorded Teleworld-broadcast promotion, wherein lifetime subscribers who purchase their Series 3 devices prior to December 31st can transfer those subscriptions before January 31, 2007 for exactly $199; and what's more, this offer gives them a full year of free service on the box that they already own. Yeah, we know, you'd think that paying $800 for a new DVR would be enough to get those subs switched over for free, but considering that a transfer was previously thought to be impossible at any price, in the long run this is still a great deal -- plus, now the rest of us know that Series 3 will be available by the end of the year at the latest. See, everyone wins.

[Via TiVoBlog]

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Lifetime TiVo subs transferrable to Series 3 -- for a price originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dvrhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentlifetime subscriptionsLifetimeSubscriptionsseries 3Series3tivotransfer feeTransferFeeThu, 07 Sep 2006 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Was TiVo invented by aliens?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/05/was-tivo-invented-by-aliens/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/05/was-tivo-invented-by-aliens/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/05/was-tivo-invented-by-aliens/#comments
We've always suspected that TiVo was a little ahead of its time (ever try explaining its purpose to people immediately after it came out?), but none of us could have imagined that the original DVR technology was actually discovered among the ruins of an alien spacecraft that crash landed in the southern Nevada desert on March 31, 1973. Well, at least that's the premise of a new viral video making the rounds on the old internets, presented as a "top secret" training film for the "Bluemoon" project and designed as a primer for those with the proper security clearances to help Uncle Sam make the most of this wild new tech. Although the "leaked" vid doesn't reveal any clues about upcoming TiVo products or services, it is rather amusing to watch a fictional retelling of the device's origins, complete with 70's-style fonts and "dramatic recreations" of how its amazing functionality was first uncovered by stereotypically nerdy scientists. Best line of the movie? Project director A. Watterman claiming that "There are some who believe the potential uses for the box lie primarily in the consumer and household entertainment realm; others believe that the box will help us create an army of advanced super robots!" Cut to scene of a giant Robosapien attacking Leave it to Beaver-type family, and roll credits -- another Emmy-worthy presentation from the good folks at TiVo.

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Was TiVo invented by aliens? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Question: how do you make a ginormous 100-inch LCD display even better (aside from actually releasing it to the public at a very reasonable price)? Well if you're Royal Philips Electronics, you endow that bad boy with some of your sweet, immersive Ambilight technology -- we've known since CES that Philips had both three-sided Ambilight Surround and four-sided Ambilight Full Surround in the pipeline, but we had no idea that the company possessed the strength, the courage, the sheer willpower to roll out ambient lighting on such a massive scale. Unfortunately for us consumers (and by "us," we actually only mean Mark Cuban), this monster display is only a prototype being shown off at IFA as a way for Philips to flex its technological muscle, so don't expect to see it at your local Costco anytime soon. Plus, even if you could buy one of these retail, it would probably cost approximately one million dollars; so for now, at least, you'll have to settle for plasma if you want a 100-inch set, or a relatively tiny 70-inch screen if you absolutely need to go LCD.

[Via HDBeat]

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Philips flaunts 100-inch LCD with Ambilight Full Surround originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100-inchambilightfull surroundFullSurroundhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentifalcdphilipsFri, 01 Sep 2006 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's iMac-like Vaio VGC-LS1 announced, reviewed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/22/sonys-imac-like-vaio-vgc-ls1-announced-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/22/sonys-imac-like-vaio-vgc-ls1-announced-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/22/sonys-imac-like-vaio-vgc-ls1-announced-reviewed/#comments
Back in our former lives as sales drones for the big box retailers, we used to cram all our computing gear onto the coffee table, because, well, we couldn't afford a proper desk. We sure wish Sony had been around back then with its all-in-one Vaio VGC-LS1 Media Center desktop, which like the latest generation of iMacs, packs all of the PC components neatly in and around a flat-panel LCD. First appearing in Japan several months ago, the LS1 will finally make it stateside come September, and PC Mag finds the Core Duo-equipped multimedia powerhouse to be a worthy adversary for similar machines from Apple (a wireless keyboard and mouse come standard here) and especially Gateway (its horribly-designed Profile 6 isn't even fit for public display). The LS1 improves upon Sony's previous all-in-one offering, the VA11G, by getting rid of the hardware at the base of the display as well adding ExpressCard and SD slots -- though you still have to deal with an unsightly appendage in the form of a tethered USB IR receiver dongle. The built in TV tuner, dual-layer DVD burner, and 250GB hard drive make this model sound perfect for college students or as a bedroom PC, but the main drawback lies in its lack of HD support: not only is it missing a Blu-ray drive, you're not getting a single HDMI, DVI, or component input for filling that 19-inch, 1,680 x 1,050 screen with high definition goodness. Overall, though, the $2,100 machine comes across as a pretty capable performer with an eye-catching design and only a few, mostly minor drawbacks -- meaning that we would have been proud to give it a home in our dingy little studio apartment.

Read- LS1 announcement
Read- PCMag review

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Sony's iMac-like Vaio VGC-LS1 announced, reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>19-inchcore duoCoreDuoexpresscardhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmedia center pcmedia pcmedia pcsMediaCenterPcmediapcmediapcssonytv tunerTvTunervaio vgc-ls1VaioVgc-ls1webcamwsxgaTue, 22 Aug 2006 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Sirius Conductor enables whole-house sat radio fun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/21/sirius-conductor-enables-whole-house-sat-radio-fun/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/21/sirius-conductor-enables-whole-house-sat-radio-fun/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/21/sirius-conductor-enables-whole-house-sat-radio-fun/#comments
Breaking with the tradition of beginning nearly all of its product names with the letter "S" (see the recently released Stiletto, Starmates, Sportsters, Stratus and old school S50 for reference), Sirius has announced a new in-home satellite radio tuner known as the Conductor. Instead of lugging your Sirius boombox all over the house, you'll now be able to hook the tuner directly into your rack-mounted receiver (though you'll still need to snake that antenna outside) and operate it from almost anywhere in your pad thanks to the handy RF- and IR-equipped remote. The LCD-sporting universal remote can also control up to five other members of your home theater family, and if you're willing to shell out for an extra Sirius subscription, it has the ability to rock two separate audio zones with a compatible SiriusConnect tuner. (Howard in one room and Martha in the other -- does life get any better than that?) Scheduled for a November release, the Conductor system will set you back $150, but if you've already got yourself a lifetime sub, this would seem like a must-have item (well, as long as you don't mind eating the transfer fee).

[Via Orbitcast]

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Sirius Conductor enables whole-house sat radio fun originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conductorhome entertainmenthome theaterHomeEntertainmentHomeTheaterirmulti-zone audioMulti-zoneAudiorfsatellite tunerSatelliteTunersiriusuniversal remoteUniversalRemoteMon, 21 Aug 2006 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cima Lab's new DVD player rocks DivX, card slots, and USB]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/17/cima-labs-new-dvd-player-rocks-divx-card-slots-and-usb/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/17/cima-labs-new-dvd-player-rocks-divx-card-slots-and-usb/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/17/cima-labs-new-dvd-player-rocks-divx-card-slots-and-usb/#comments
We remember when $70 wouldn't even buy you a decent VCR, but oh, how times have changed. With upscaling DVD players -- not to mention next-gen optical formats Blu-ray and HD DVD -- currently all the rage, now that same $70 will buy you a device that not only plays DVDs but features memory card slots and a USB port as well. Coming in September for about 7,980 yen ($68 -- why, that's even less than 70 bucks!), the CDP-200UCR from Cima Laboratory will happily spin all of your plain jane DVDs and CDs, but ups the ante by including DivX, MP3, and WMA support as well. You're also getting 5.1 analog audio, an integrated card reader with SD / MMC, MemoryStick, and yes, even SmartMedia slots (do they even sell that format anymore?) plus a front-panel USB jack for piping in content from compatible devices. Sure this player may never make it Stateside, but its nice to know that our friends in Japan have all their bases covered.

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Cima Lab's new DVD player rocks DivX, card slots, and USB originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Aug 2006 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>card readerCardReaderCDP-200UCRcima LaboratoryCimaLaboratorydivxdvdhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmemorystickmmcoptical discsOpticalDiscssdsmartmediaThu, 17 Aug 2006 05:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 HD DVD drive to cost just $200?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/xbox-360-hd-dvd-drive-to-cost-just-200/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/xbox-360-hd-dvd-drive-to-cost-just-200/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/xbox-360-hd-dvd-drive-to-cost-just-200/#commentsWell, well, isn't this a pleasant surprise. With prices for Microsoft's impending Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on having being quoted as high as $500, it's certainly reassuring to hear DigiTimes confirm reports that the movie-playing optical drive will cost just $200 at its holiday release. Now it's not clear if this will be the price for stand-alone units or those that come as part of a "value" bundle (perhaps the one that Richard Teversham recently referred to?), but either way, the low cost would definitely help reinvigorate interest in the 360 in the face of fresh competition from Sony and Nintendo. So please, Microsoft, do us cash-strapped gamers a favor and make this happen -- we promise that we won't even feel too guilty if you're taking a huge loss on the hardware.

[Via HDBeat]

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Xbox 360 HD DVD drive to cost just $200? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gaminghd dvdHdDvdhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmicrosoftpricingrumorsvideogamesMon, 14 Aug 2006 18:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft demos Xbox 360 HD DVD, names price bracket]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/09/microsoft-demos-xbox-360-hd-dvd-names-price-bracket/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/09/microsoft-demos-xbox-360-hd-dvd-names-price-bracket/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/09/microsoft-demos-xbox-360-hd-dvd-names-price-bracket/#comments For Microsoft to demo their forthcoming Xbox 360 HD DVD isn't that surprising; to see them show off some UI mockups, ok, maybe a teensy bit surprising; to hear them give a price? Pretty shocking -- but they didn't, they gave a price range, and a nebulous one at that. HD Beat has it that during Microsoft's presentation at the North America DVD Forum Conference, the 360's HD DVD drive was said to "be the cheapest HD DVD player on the market for consumers who already own an Xbox 360 console." In other words, means it'll cost you less than a half a grand -- which is even less encouraging than what we heard before. Gee, thanks; playing this one close to the chest, are you Microsoft? Don't make us consult inside sources, because you know what happens when we do.

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Microsoft demos Xbox 360 HD DVD, names price bracket originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 03:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd dvdHdDvdhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmicrosoftxboxxbox 360Xbox360Wed, 09 Aug 2006 03:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Teac's Tannoy ST-100 super tweeter]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/teacs-tannoy-st-100-super-tweeter/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/teacs-tannoy-st-100-super-tweeter/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/teacs-tannoy-st-100-super-tweeter/#comments Oh you know how we're such suckers for anything that's extravagant, Japanese, and that would make a completely superfluous addition to our mounting collection of, um, unnecessary ridiculous and absurdly overpriced Japanese toys. Enter the Tannoy ST-100 super tweeter, the black truffle of high-end high-range speakers. If a 24K gold "evaporation" titanium dome diaphragm (we'll take their word for it) capable of playing back audio frequencies up to 100kHz -- far outside the range of normal human hearing -- gets the ink flowing in your check-writing pen, be warned: Teac expects you to part with yen;252,000 (about $2,200 US) for a pair of these things, so be damned sure your source plays DVD-Audio and SACD.

[Via AV Watch]

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Teac's Tannoy ST-100 super tweeter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiophilehome audiohome entertainmentHomeAudioHomeEntertainmentspeakersst-100super tweeterSuperTweetertannoyteacTue, 01 Aug 2006 08:43:00 EST<![CDATA[LG intros two DVR-equipped 1,080p LCD TVs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/27/lg-intros-two-dvr-equipped-1-080p-lcd-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/27/lg-intros-two-dvr-equipped-1-080p-lcd-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/27/lg-intros-two-dvr-equipped-1-080p-lcd-tvs/#commentsWhen it comes to improving their HDTV lineups, manufacturers generally go one of two routes: either they try to push out the biggest set possible, or they decide to pack more pixels into their smaller models. LG has chosen the latter path with its new 37-inch 37LB2DR and 42-inch 42LB2DR LCDs, which not only boast full 1,080p resolutions, but manage to sport a built-in 250GB DVR as well. Both models -- which will initially be released in Korea before gradually spreading out to the rest of the world sometime this quarter -- also rock some pretty impressive specs, as evidenced by their 6000:1 contrast ratios and 6-millisecond response times. Pricing on these sets is still somewhat of a mystery, but using LG's own formula of 1,080p models costing only 10% more than their 720p counterparts, we imagine that they'll go for between $4,000 and $5,000 -- still a pretty big window, but that's the best we can do for you right now.

[Via HDBeat]

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LG intros two DVR-equipped 1,080p LCD TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1,080p250gb37-inch37lb2dr42-inch42lb2dr6-millisecond6000:1dvrhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentkorealcdlgThu, 27 Jul 2006 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Time Warner won't provide CableCARDs for Series 3 TiVos?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/time-warner-wont-provide-cablecards-for-series-3-tivos/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/time-warner-wont-provide-cablecards-for-series-3-tivos/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/time-warner-wont-provide-cablecards-for-series-3-tivos/#comments
Remember how TiVo recently sent that letter to the FCC and cable operators telling them to be prepared for the Series 3 rollout, partly because of reports that some providers were refusing to hook up beta testers with the necessary CableCARDS? Well now it looks like the company's concerns may be completely legitimate, as a complaint on the website ConsumerFury contends that Time Warner Cable's Raleigh division responded to a recent customer inquiry on the matter by stating that "Time Warner Cable of Raleigh does not provide support for or allow TiVo devices on our cable network...CableCARDS will only be installed on cable-ready, CableCARD-slot-available television sets." Pretty harsh, especially considering the fact that Time Warner's policy may not even be legal: federal regulations concerning CableCARDS seem to indicate that providers must support them for any unidirectional TV, set-top-box, or recording device connected to a digital cable system. We certainly understand that cable companies see TiVo as a direct competitor to their own DVR offerings, but we're not sure that alienating customers with such a hard-line stance is the best move; after all, isn't a customer who brings his/her own DVR to the table better than no customer at all?

[Via TiVoBlog]

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Time Warner won't provide CableCARDs for Series 3 TiVos? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecarddigital media recorderdigital video recorderDigitalMediaRecorderDigitalVideoRecorderdmrdvrhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentseries 3Series3time warner cableTimeWarnerCabletivoWed, 26 Jul 2006 21:25:00 EST<![CDATA[DirecTV delays its HD DVR (again) until the fall]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/25/directv-delays-its-hd-dvr-again-until-the-fall/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/25/directv-delays-its-hd-dvr-again-until-the-fall/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/25/directv-delays-its-hd-dvr-again-until-the-fall/#comments
We can't blame DirecTV subscribers for getting a little antsy over the company's HD DVR that has yet to materialize -- after all, it was originally scheduled to drop early this year -- so the fact that this highly-anticipated product has once again been delayed until the fall will probably cause some very understandable frustration. The satellite TV provider recently sent wait-listed customers a letter explaining that the box is undergoing additional testing to ensure smooth operation (yeah, we've heard that line before), and that it's now set to ship in "the September/October time frame." One skeptical analyst over at Sanford C. Bernstein, however, feels that the delay is actually due to inventory shortages, and that DirecTV is only putting off the inevitable cost it will incur from a new product deployment. Bernstein's Craig Moffett went on to speculate that the company's procrastination may actually cause some subscribers to flee to (future partner?) Dish or cable, but his analysis doesn't seem to take into account the somewhat-crippled and limited HD TiVo already available to DirecTV's customers. Still, these habitual delays are certainly doing nothing to bring new subscribers into the fold, so we humbly suggest that DirecTV give their testers a few cases of Red Bull and some serious overtime to get this thing out the door as quickly as possible.

[Via HDBeat]

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DirecTV delays its HD DVR (again) until the fall originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craig moffettCraigMoffettdelaysdigital video recorderDigitalVideoRecorderdirectvhd dvrHdDvrhdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentsanford c. bernsteinSanfordC.BernsteintivoTue, 25 Jul 2006 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Slim Devices Transporter unwires high end]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/24/slim-devices-transporter-unwires-high-end/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/24/slim-devices-transporter-unwires-high-end/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/24/slim-devices-transporter-unwires-high-end/#comments Audiophiles, listen up. (Oh, how we do love saying that.) Slim Devices has got something you'll want to check out if you've been on the hunt for a Sonos alternative: meet the Transporter (and we ain't talking about Jason Statham). Slim's new wireless audio distribution system moves your music (in WAV, AIFF, MP3, WMA, and FLAC up to 96KHz sample rates) via 802.11g or Ethernet, and outputs in XLR, with optical, S/PDIF, and coax ins and outs. But thats not all, you've also got RS-232, infrared, even a clock input port to make sure using and controlling the audio chugging through its Super Regulator-driven 120dB SNR AKM-built AK4396 DAC is a pleasurable experience. They're not going to let you off easily though, this piece will set you back two grand when it debuts September 18th. Slim Devices will, however, throw you a bone for your hard earned thousands; pre-order the Transporter before it's released and they'll toss in a free Squeezebox to say thanks for skipping out on rent (yet again).

Continue reading Slim Devices Transporter unwires high end

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Slim Devices Transporter unwires high end originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>home audiohome entertainmentHomeAudioHomeEntertainmentslim devicesSlimDevicessqueezeboxtransporterwirelessMon, 24 Jul 2006 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[CableLabs approves Motorola's multi-stream CableCARD]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/22/cablelabs-approves-motorolas-multi-stream-cablecard/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/22/cablelabs-approves-motorolas-multi-stream-cablecard/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/22/cablelabs-approves-motorolas-multi-stream-cablecard/#commentsIt's not really clear why the old CableCARD hasn't taken off as expected -- consumers blame their cable providers, who blame the card manufacturers, who blame device makers -- but nonetheless, the technology is far from dead, and now it looks like those long-awaited multi-stream CARDS could be available before the end of the year. CableLabs recently announced that Motorola's "M-Card" has joined Scientific Atlanta's offering in finally earning the organization's coveted "qualified" status, paving the way for such great functionality as picture-in-picture on compatible TVs and multi-channel recording for properly-equipped DVRs. Although the M-Card does improve upon current-gen CableCARDs by delivering access to more than one channel at a time, it is still classified as a version 1.0 device, and therefore won't allow the bi-directional communication necessary for on-demand or pay-per-view goodness. Still, this development is good news for consumers, as it should lead to increased demand for the cards, which will hopefully serve as a kick in the pants for the weak link in the CableCARD chain, whoever it is.

[Via HDBeat]

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CableLabs approves Motorola's multi-stream CableCARD originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Jul 2006 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecardcablelabsdvrhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentm-cardmotorolamulti-channel recordingMulti-channelRecordingmulti-streampicture-in-pictureSat, 22 Jul 2006 07:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Syntax-Brillian announces three new series of Olevia LCD TVs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/syntax-brillian-announces-three-new-series-of-olevia-lcd-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/syntax-brillian-announces-three-new-series-of-olevia-lcd-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/syntax-brillian-announces-three-new-series-of-olevia-lcd-tvs/#commentsPrepare yourselves for a slew of new LCD sets from Syntax-Brillian that will be released in the coming months, as the newly-merged company has announced three new series of TVs under the Olevia brand that each consist of numerous different models. Out of the 3-series, 5-series, and 7-series lineups, the most is known about the fives, as these four units -- the 27-inch 527V, 32-inch 532H, 37-inch 537H, and 42-inch 542i -- are shipping immediately. Like the as-yet-unannounced members of the 3-series, these models all sport a 1,366 x 768 resolution, and also feature 8-millisecond response times, 1600:1 contrast ratios, built-in digital ATSC tuners, and HDMI, VGA, and HD component inputs. All that's known about the 7-series, on the other hand, is the fact that its constituent models will all offer full 1,080p resolution and RS232C control capability, along with what's being touted as "Hollywood Quality Video," which either means that picture quality is very good or stifled by DRM restrictions. No pricing or release details are available for any of the 3- or 7-series models -- they're scheduled "to be introduced to the market incrementally through September" is all we can say for sure -- and out of all the 5-series models that are supposedly shipping right now, we could only find a price for the 527V, which you can pick up for $800 or less.

Update: It would appear Hollywood Quality Video refers to Silicon Optix's Reon-VX chip, a "Hollywood Quality Processing" video system with a bunch of things HD nuts are sure to love (or love to laugh at), like four-field per-pixel SD/HD deinterlacing, film cadence processing, multi-direction diagonal filter, random noise reduction, and so on. Thanks, Jason.

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Syntax-Brillian announces three new series of Olevia LCD TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1,080p1600:13-series5-series7-series8-millisecondatschd componentHdComponenthdmihdtvhollywood quality videoHollywoodQualityVideohome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentlcdoleviasyntax-brillianvgaWed, 19 Jul 2006 19:17:00 EST<![CDATA[CinemaNow launches "Burn to DVD" service for select films]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/cinemanow-launches-burn-to-dvd-service-for-select-films/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/cinemanow-launches-burn-to-dvd-service-for-select-films/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/cinemanow-launches-burn-to-dvd-service-for-select-films/#comments
Just days after MovieLink announced that it has licensed technology for burning flicks to DVD, rival download service CinemaNow has stepped up to the plate and begun actually offering consumers this very option. Starting today, about 100 titles are available for download through the "Burn to DVD" beta service, complete with all the interactive menus and bonus features you'd find on a store-bought DVD. Burnable titles start at $8.99, though if you're looking for the latest releases, you won't find them here -- Disney, Sony, Universal, and friends have only provided older films for the initial roll-out. While MovieLink partnered with Sonic Solutions for its presumed entrant into this space, CinemaNow decided to go with technology based on fluxDVD from Germany's ACE GmbH. Even though there may not be a lot of demand for the current crop of titles, assuming that the encryption scheme is able to ward off pirates and at least a few folks show some interest in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "About a Boy," among others, it's likely that newer and more popular films will be added to the library in the near future.

[Thanks, Michael]

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CinemaNow launches "Burn to DVD" service for select films originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace gmbhAceGmbhburn to dvdBurnToDvdcinemanowdigital downloadsDigitalDownloadsdvdsencryptionfluxdvdhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmovielinkpiracyWed, 19 Jul 2006 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[TiVo tells FCC, cable operators to expect Series 3 boxes "soon"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/tivo-tells-fcc-cable-operators-to-expect-series-3-boxes-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/tivo-tells-fcc-cable-operators-to-expect-series-3-boxes-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/tivo-tells-fcc-cable-operators-to-expect-series-3-boxes-soon/#comments
So it looks like TiVo is finally getting ready to roll out the long-awaited Series 3 DVR Digital Media Recorder, and just in the nick of time, it would seem; from what we can tell, consumers are chomping at the bit to start capturing the growing variety of high definition broadcasts available to them, making HTPCs a more attractive alternative as the days, weeks, and months pass with no HD TiVo. Zatz Not Funny is reporting that the DVR giant recently sent letters to both the FCC and major cable operators stating that Series 3 boxes are already being beta tested around the country and will be available "soon," though no actual release date is given. According to the letters, the CableLabs-certified device will sport two separate UDCP CableCARD slots, and TiVo is concerned about reports that certain cable installers have been refusing to provide beta testers with the necessary support -- no big surprise, as the industry has never shown much love for CableCARDs in the first place. Now, of course, we all want to know how TiVo defines the word "soon" -- previous speculation has centered around a September or early October release -- but we've been covering this beat long enough to know that hazarding a guess is pretty much useless, and that we won't find out any more info until the company is good and ready to reveal its launch plans. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

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TiVo tells FCC, cable operators to expect Series 3 boxes "soon" originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecablecardcablelabsdigital media recorderDigitalMediaRecorderdvrfcchdtvhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentrelease datesReleaseDatesseries 3Series3tivoudcpWed, 19 Jul 2006 09:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony unveils CPF-IX001 wireless streaming music system]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/sony-unveils-cpf-ix001-wireless-streaming-music-system/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/sony-unveils-cpf-ix001-wireless-streaming-music-system/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/19/sony-unveils-cpf-ix001-wireless-streaming-music-system/#comments
There are about a million ways to stream music from your PC to other locations in the house, and now Sony has added yet another solution to this lengthy list: the 2.1 channel CPF-IX001 wireless streaming music system. The compact device uses your existing 802.11b/g setup to pull tunes from iTunes, Windows Media Player, Sony Connect, or other applications, and creates a unique IP address so multiple units can operate simultaneously over the same network. To cut down on wire clutter, Sony employed a so-called power line transmission technology that allows the main component to send both juice and audio signals to its subwoofer over a single cable -- pretty handy, especially if you'll be moving the system from room to room.. Expect to see these in stores sometime next month -- although we don't actually know what to look for, because Sony is being a little stingy with the product pics -- for about $300.

Update: Thanks to Christopher over at ATRACLife for hooking us up with a pic.

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Sony unveils CPF-IX001 wireless streaming music system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Home theaters in a box are not for everyone -- most people we know prefer to assemble their entertainment systems piecemeal -- but if you're in the market for such a product, then Philips is offering a fairly stylish new HDMI-equipped system with convenient wireless rear speakers that may be right up your alley. The Cineos HTS9800W is a 6.1-channel package (three 125-watt fronts, three rears, and a 150-watt subwoofer) with a slimline, upscaling DVD player that supports DVD+/-R discs, DivX-encoded video, and MP3 CDs, along with all those Super Audio CDs that we're sure you've been collecting over the years. Not a bad setup, especially for your bedroom or guest house, and it's available now for around $650.

[Via Shiny Shiny]

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Philips' Cineos HTS9800W HTIB with wireless rears originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Jul 2006 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lately it's been the Blu-ray camp cruelly torturing us with product delays, but in a refreshing change of pace, today it's rival format HD DVD's main proponent Toshiba announcing that a next-gen optical disc device won't be shipping as scheduled. Unlike Sony's procrastination in releasing the PS3 and BDP-S1, though, Toshiba claims that it only needs two more weeks to get its RD-A1 HD DVD recorder out the door, citing inadequate inventory stemming from component shortages as the reason for putting off tomorrow's scheduled launch. Since this model, with its 1TB storage capacity and OTA digital tuner, is only headed for Japan anyway, the delay probably doesn't concern the vast majority of our American readers -- nor most Japanese, for that matter, as the $3,500 pricetag will likely dissuade all but the most fervent early-adopters.

[Via HDBeat]

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Toshiba delays RD-A1 HD DVD recorder launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jul 2006 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Having been burned oh so many times by the notorious Phantom from Infinium Labs -- perhaps the most infamous piece of vaporware this side of Duke Nukem Forever -- we're more than a little skeptical of any company that comes out of nowhere to offer a "media entertainment console" targeted at gamers. And we're even more skeptical when that company -- in this case, Alabama-based Envizions Inc. -- claims to have been showing off their console at a major trade show that we attended -- in this case, E3 -- but somehow managed to keep it under our radar. We're still going to give the so-called EVO: Phase One the benefit of the doubt, though, as Envizions has just announced October 20th as a solid North American release date for what seems to be little more than a souped-up media center PC out of the box -- although the unit comes with one wireless controller, it will only "have console-like features upon future upgrade applications and hardware assistance." Not a good sign. For $680 you're supposedly getting a machine with an unspecified processor and RAM configuration (also a bad sign) along with a 500MHz Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro graphics card sporting 128MB of 800MHz DDR3 RAM, a liquid cooling system, and oddly enough, a built-in fingerprint scanner (to protect all of your valuable saved game-states, perhaps?). Again, we'll wait until October to pass final judgment here, but lets just say that we're not going to be the ones throwing down $25 to place a pre-order. Keep reading to check out some of the company's over-the-top marketing, direct from CEO Derrick Samuels' MySpace page...

[Via IGN]

Continue reading EVO: Phase One promises to touch down in October

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EVO: Phase One promises to touch down in October originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddr3derrick samuelsDerrickSamuelse3envizions incEnvizionsIncevo:phase oneEvo:phaseOnegaming consoleGamingConsolehome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentinfinium labsInfiniumLabsmedia center pcmedia pcmedia pcsMediaCenterPcmediapcmediapcsphantomsapphire radeon x1600SapphireRadeonX1600videogamesTue, 11 Jul 2006 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[SageTV bringing place-shifting to Linux]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/sagetv-bringing-place-shifting-to-linux/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/sagetv-bringing-place-shifting-to-linux/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/sagetv-bringing-place-shifting-to-linux/#commentsDespite Major League Baseball's disdain for the practice, place-shifting is a hot feature that will only get more popular as it becomes easier for people to stream their content -- and software company SageTV is at the forefront of the movement to make that happen. Less than two months after adding the feature to its media center package for Windows, the company is supposedly on the verge of offering similar "slinging" functionality to open-source fanatics, with GigaOM reporting that we can expect to see SageTV Media Center for Linux V5 announced within the week. Until the official unveiling, not much is known about this product save for its Media Extender support, although we've also learned that Mac users will be getting their own version at some unspecified future date. There are certainly other ways for the Linux faithful to place-shift their content -- we recently saw a rather convoluted how-to on Engadget Mobile which uses MythTV -- but if you're willing to pay for commercial software, it sounds like Sage's upcoming solution will be the easiest way to go.

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SageTV bringing place-shifting to Linux originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jul 2006 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>connected homeConnectedHomecontent streamingContentStreaminggigaomhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentlinuxmedia pcmedia pcsMediaPcmediapcsplace-shiftingremote accessRemoteAccesssagetvslingboxTue, 11 Jul 2006 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Haier, Metalink show off draft-n-equipped TVs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/haier-metalink-show-off-draft-n-equipped-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/haier-metalink-show-off-draft-n-equipped-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/haier-metalink-show-off-draft-n-equipped-tvs/#commentsIt's been over a year since we first spotted Metalink's draft-802.11n components designed for networked home theater gear, and now it seems that the company has finally found a partner willing to include the technology in a slew of next-generation products. Known as WLANPlus, the chipset family is poised for integration into TVs, DVRs, and DVD players from Chinese manufacturing giant Haier -- perhaps best know around here for the pen-like P7 cellphone -- which will allow consumers to broadcast multiple high definition streams around the house thanks to draft-n transfer speeds in excess of 200Mbps. The two companies revealed their partnership at this year's SINOCES, where Haier had several WiFi-equipped TVs on display in a multi-room setup meant to simulate simultaneous streaming in a household environment. GigaOM points out, however, that it may be awhile before we see actual products stemming from this deal hit the marketplace -- if we ever see them at all -- as Metalink doesn't seem to be in the best financial shape, having already lost $4.1 million in the first quarter of this year alone.

[Via GigaOM]

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Haier, Metalink show off draft-n-equipped TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>200mbps802.11nchinadraft-nhaierhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmetalinknetworkingp7sinocestvwifiwlanplusTue, 11 Jul 2006 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XI - ABC exec takes on DVRs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/07/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xi-abc-exec-takes-on-dvrs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/07/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xi-abc-exec-takes-on-dvrs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/07/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xi-abc-exec-takes-on-dvrs/#commentsWe know that as a network executive, ABC's President of Advertising Sales Mike Shaw has a vested interest in the survival of the traditional 30-second commercial, but his recent assertion that consumers don't really care about the ad-skipping functionality of their DVRs strikes us as being way off the mark. Following ABC's latest rate-setting powwow with advertisers, or upfront, Shaw opined that he wasn't sure "the driving reason to get a DVR in the first place is just to skip commercials," and that the appeal of such devices "really is just a matter of convenience -- so you don't miss your favorite show." He even went so far as to say that he "would love it if the MSO's...would disable the fast-forward [button]" on their next generation of set-top boxes, suggesting that "people can understand in order to have convenience and on-demand, that you can't skip commercials." Once again, we follow the logic here -- commercials do help keep programs we enjoy on the air -- but instead of embittering folks by forcing them to sit through ads, maybe Shaw should encourage his advertising partners to follow KFC's lead and create spots that people actually want to watch. Remember, Mike, that'll you'll catch more flies with delicious honey than the sour vinegar you're currently trying to force down our throats.

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CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XI - ABC exec takes on DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jul 2006 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abcadvertisingce-oh no he didn'tCe-ohNoHeDidn'tcommercial-skippingdvrfast-forwardinghome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentkfcmike shawMikeShawoff the markOffTheMarktime-shiftingupfrontFri, 07 Jul 2006 12:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony BDP-S1 delayed again... until October 25]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-delayed-again-until-october-25/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-delayed-again-until-october-25/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-delayed-again-until-october-25/#comments It's delayed, it's not delayed, it's delayed -- further. That's right, Sony's BDP-S1, the Blu-ray player subject to a delayed news reaction over its quiet shove into an August launch timeframe, was today discovered to once again be pushed back, this time until late October. We can't confirm whether this release demotion is also going to affect the Japanese launch of the player, but this old song is getting pretty sad. We know Sony wants to get the player right before they push it out the door (while also protecting their margins and ensuring supply, etc.), but at this point we're going to be less than surprised if the launch date "accidentally" slips past the PlayStation 3, which Sony may stick us with in order to better to parade their big Blu-ray push around the nascent console.

[Via HD Beat, thanks, Randy and Josh]

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Sony BDP-S1 delayed again... until October 25 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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