homezone
Latest
Beyerdynamic brings trio of "5.1" headphones to America
Beyerdynamic's "head tracking" Headzone Home (pictured) system has been available across the pond for quite some time, but the outfit has just announced that it, along with the Headzone Home HT and Headzone Game, are now headed stateside. The headzone tech promises a "virtual 5.1 experience," which links together the processor, headphone and Head tracking receiver, and while we don't doubt that this rig would sound pretty darn good, we're a bit scared by the omission of US price tag. You know, given that the Home setup ran well over $3,000 when it launched overseas.
Singapore's StarHub launches first commercial 3G femtocell service
Generally speaking, when cable providers offer up "triple-play" packages, that third leg is a digital phone that acts as a standalone landline. Singapore's StarHub has a better idea, and it's calling it Home Zone. Hailed as the first commercial 3G femtocell service, the setup puts a MaxOnline-enabled router (free on loan) in the home "so that users can make voice and video calls and send SMS over StarHub's cable network from their mobile phones." Any 3G phone is compatible, and up to four calls can be made simultaneously on a single box. Moreover, all outgoing local voice calls, video calls and SMS are free, though the Home Zone subscription will run customers $30 per month -- unless they get in prior to the start of '09, which will give them half off for the next twelve months. Better hurry, too, as the whole shebang is only available to the first 200 customers at present time.[Via RCRWireless]
Home Zone
A while back we mentioned MarcoPolo, a location manager for the Mac that can change certain system settings based on the particular wireless network or devices you're connected to. Home Zone offers a similar capability allowing you to set up a variety of actions (e.g. changing the default printer, starting/stopping the screen saver, starting iSync, etc.) that are triggered either by changing your Airport network or by bringing Bluetooth phone close to your Mac.Home Zone is presently in beta and a free download from Jonas Witt.Update: MarcoPolo also does Bluetooth.
AT&T Homezone launches scheduled recording by cellphone
There's no question that the DVR is a welcome advancement over the old school VCR, but even the new tech won't do much for you if you leave the house and forget to set your box to record. Certain services like TiVo let you program your machine from a distant PC -- and let's not forget how easy Orb makes remote recording -- and now AT&T is offering its Homezone subscribers an even sweeter deal, allowing them to get their record on directly from web-capable cellphones. At the office but forgot to set your box to capture Guiding Light? No problem. Out to dinner on a Monday when you realize Heroes starts in five minutes? Again, you're golden. You're upstairs playing WOW on a Friday night and can't tear yourself away from the current raid to tape a Full House marathon on Nick at Night? Um, you may have bigger problems than AT&T and your cellphone can solve. Anyway, Homezone customers can access this new feature immediately -- along with an influx of 10,000 downloads from Akimbo -- so things should get just a little more exciting while you bide your time waiting for U-Verse.[Via textually]
Akimbo's VOD content now available to AT&T Homezone subscribers
When AT&T's Homezone service launched several months ago, we were dismayed to learn that what appeared to be a pretty capable high definition box, didn't actually have any HDTV content available for it. That shortcoming may be on its way to a resolution as Akimbo has revealed its VOD content, including HD, will be available to subscribers this month. We talked to "Mr. Akimbo" Josh Goldman himself this evening, and while we weren't able to take a look at the box in action we're definitely excited to hear there is some worthwhile (read: HD) content on the way, which should be enhanced soon by more content providers joining the platform.
AT&T's Homezone all-in-one box & service now available [Update 1: Not high-def yet]
AT&T is bringing all-in-one television and internet to customers without access to fiber connections with their new Homezone box. We had to get pictures from one of our tipsters back in May, but now just anyone can call them and order a box. The dual-tuner DISH Network DVR, MovieLink & Akimbo VOD, Yahoo Photo and much more-enabled package is rolling out in July as promised, although currently only for Ohio & San Antonio, Texas residents. While AT&T is also rolling out their FTTH-based service U-Verse, they think this will give them a leg up on cable competitors offering phone/internet/TV packages. Depending on choice of calling, television and internet features the service can run from about $80 to $140 per month and will launch in other areas in a few months. A quick check of the AT&T website with a San Antonio address didn't yield any new information, who will be the first HD Beat reader with one?[Update: As Dave Zatz points out in the comments, this AP article mentions the inital box released is SD only, so the purpose of the HDMI out on the box we've seen is unknown so far, maybe HD VOD only. He also mentions the price will be a $9.99 premium over customers' current service]
Akimbo still in the game with a new RCA box and MovieLink content
Akimbo, as we all know, made their debut as a set-top box maker, entering the market with lukewarm reviews (at best), and a slew derisive criticism about set-top box saturation, and the need for Akimbo pushing their IPTV content platform onto HTPCs (much of which probably came from this here camp). Which, of course, they did -- unlike TiVo, which should have ported their platform to PCs long, long ago -- as Akimbo says this was always a part of their master plan. Apparently their early STB was just a way to get their platform in the market, but besides their integration with AT&T's forthcoming HomeZone service they've also got a new RCA box on the way, slated to feature an 80GB drive, Ethernet, S-Video, composite, component, digital audio out, and USB for a WiFi adapter. No, it won't have high definition support (yet), but it will indeed be able to suck down MovieLink content if you don't feel like waiting around for the mysterious Netflix box and/or download service to appear one of these years (or just snagging Vongo for your Windows PC today). When the RCA box drops this fall you'll apparently be able to get your Akimbo on, yet again, for between $200 and $300.[Via Zatz Not Funny]
