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What to expect at Engadget Live Seattle
We're bringing our Engadget Live event series to Seattle's Showbox SODO on Friday, July 18th, 7PM sharp! We also decided that we really enjoy making our readers happy, so effective immediately, all Engadget Live events this year will be free! (If you bought a ticket already, we'll pay it back).
Engadget took over Austin for a night and here's what happened
Bombs were dropped on our Editor-in-Chief while he innocently drove away in a Jeep. Engadget readers enjoyed alcohol in both vaporized and brewed form. A totally retro retailer crashed the party with its unique helmets. Those are just some of our favorite things that happened last Friday when we took over Austin Music Hall to kick off our Engadget Live series!
Austin: Engadget Live is this Friday!
If you're going to be in Austin, TX this Friday, June 20th, join us as we kick off our Engadget Live series at the famed Austin Music Hall, 7PM sharp! Come join your fellow Austin gadget lovers and the brands that excite them for an incredible night. One of the brands you'll get to interact with is Austin's own Chaotic Moon. The production studio will be showing off the untitled follow-up to Shark Punch (which taught us what the ocean's greatest predators looked like inside-out). One player will put on an Oculus Rift and drive a virtual Jeep, while a second uses an iPad to drop bombs on the other's vehicle. Insane, right?
Qplay's video streaming service is now on Chromecast
When TiVo founders Mike Ramsay and Jim Barton announced their curated video stream service called Qplay earlier this year, the only way you could play those queues -- or "Qs" -- on your TV was if you also purchased the Qplay TV adapter for $49. Otherwise, you could only view them on the iPad app, which was opened up to everyone only a couple of months ago. Starting today, however, you can relay those video playlists to your television with a Chromecast as well, which is about $14 less and a whole lot more versatile. "We wanted to bring Qplay to a larger audience," says Phil Peterson, the CEO of Qplay, as the reason behind opening it up to Chromecast. "We definitely want to expand the number of devices that Qplay can play on."
Austin, get ready... Engadget Live is coming!
We've heard that it's going to be hot in Austin on June 20th. Sure, one could say that's just a typical June day in Austin, but we'd like to think it's because we're coming to town. Our Engadget Live series kicks off at 7PM at the famous Austin Music Hall. Previously, we announced that attendees can expect to see Chaotic Moon, Re3D, Charmed Labs, Techjango and Zero Motorcycles. But that can't be all, right?
Netflix finally comes to cable boxes in the US, but probably not the one you have
For the first time, Netflix will be available in the US from its natural enemy: cable companies. Atlantic Broadband, Grande Communications and RCN all announced that subscribers will be able to access the streaming service through their TiVo DVRs as soon as April 28th. Of course, that's just a different way of delivering regular Netflix streaming; you'll still need a Netflix subscription on top of your DVR TiVo cable contract. However, Atlantic said that accessing it would be as "easy as changing the channel," indicating that it'll at least be well integrated with its regular services. Netflix already has similar deals in Europe through TiVo, but whether it'll hook up with the likes of Comcast soon remains to be seen.
TiVo update lets you set recording defaults, when it isn't creating chaos (update: fix on the way)
TiVo has been rolling out a firmware update that has given some DVR users a lot more than they were bargaining for. Officially, the refresh supplies Mini, Premiere and Roamio units with a very helpful page for default recording options as well as a host of bug fixes. However, that's when it's working -- quite a few subscribers have been dealing with glitches instead. Some Mini users have received an error that prevents installing the update without unplugging the set-top box for up to three days. Meanwhile, others have seen some of their gear roll back to older code, which can wipe out customizations and break multi-device setups. There are reports of spontaneous reboots and other hiccups, too.
TiVo co-founders' new Qplay web video service is now available for everyone
A little over a month ago, TiVo founders Mike Ramsay and Jim Barton announced Qplay, a service that lets users curate personalized video streams, or "Qs," from a variety of different sources. At the time, the only way you could use the iPad app and the service was to purchase the Early Adopter bundle, which gives you both the app and the TV adapter for $49. Today that restriction has been lifted and the app is now open and free to everyone, adapter not required. Along with the general availability of the app, Qplay has also introduced new video content from media curators like Vanity Fair and Reddit plus new video sources like College Humor, Funny or Die and the New York Times. If you'd rather have the service create a Q for you, the company has curated a few more new ones as well, such as Late Night Funny, Movie Trailers and Photography. Further, the latest Qplay update will let you share those videos via Facebook, Twitter and email, just in case your friends aren't hip to the whole Qplay thing just yet. Of course, if you want to watch those Qs on an actual television, you still have to cough up that $49 for the aforementioned adapter. But if you're happy with just your iPad, you can now at least try your hand at this new take on streaming video without spending a dime. If you're still a little fuzzy on how the whole thing works, there's a handy dandy tutorial video after the break.
TiVo's co-founders want you to use internet video for your own TV network
When TiVo co-founders Jim Barton and Mike Ramsay reunited a couple of years ago to come up with a new venture (Barton left TiVo in 2012, while Ramsay left almost seven years ago), they knew internet video was the next big frontier they wanted to conquer. To their dismay, they found it to be a mess. "There are all these different sources of video, and its search is just a mess," says Ramsay in an interview with us. They also discovered that the social aspect of recommendation and sharing doesn't seem to be as prevalent for videos as it is with music services like Spotify and Rdio. After some trial and error, the two finally came up with the idea of QPlay, a streaming-video service that launches today. According to Ramsay, the driving force behind QPlay is entirely focused on making sure there's always content you want to watch. At the core of QPlay are "Qs," which is the company's term for personalized video streams. Think of them as playlists, but ones that you curate and share with friends. You can create these fancified queues with videos from a variety of sources such as Vimeo, YouTube, Vine, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. It's not just limited to adding individual videos either; for example with YouTube, you can create a Q of just your channel subscriptions, and that Q will update automatically each time there's new content. Right now, you can add videos to your Q via a browser bookmarklet, though there might be additional ways to do so in the future.
TiVo reportedly lays off industrial design team, sees its future in DVR software (update)
According to a rumor from Wired, the network DVR prototype TiVo showed off at CES is much more than a dream, and could be a big part of its future. The unnamed internal sources claim TiVo laid off 5 employees that make up most of its hardware team (which just celebrated its four Emmy awards), leaving just two engineers to handle support for its current devices, and those yet to come from third parties. We contacted TiVo and received the same response as Wired (available in full after the break), saying it's going to "allocate resources where strategic growth opportunities exist...we expect growth in the cloud-based delivery aspects of TiVo's business." TiVo has talked up the possibility of delivering a cloud-based DVR experience since last fall. After releasing the highly-regarded Roamio line, it's possible the company feels there's little growth left in set-top box DVRs, especially considering the current state of FCC regulations and CableCARD. Microsoft's Media Center project appears to be over, and very few new third-party devices have shipped recently. We pinged investor Sam Biller for ideas on what other plans TiVo might have, and he pointed to a lack of detailed forecasts for the company's nearly $1 billion in cash, seeing the possibility it could acquire another company to build hardware. Whatever TiVo does from here, it's finally delivered on the promise of a capable do-it-all box with the Roamio -- hopefully that essence remains in future products. Update: In a phone conversation, VP of PR Steve Wymer told us the company remains "fully committed" to Roamio, and called it the crown jewel of TiVo. In his view, it's not accurate to say that TiVo is exiting the hardware business as it continues to expand current products and plan future ones, but that it is reallocating resources with an eye towards the future -- a future that hopefully includes both the sweet nDVR prototype, and even better set-top boxes for those that want or already have them.
TiVo prototype DVR recordings stay in the cloud, watch them anywhere on any screen
All of our favorite TV shows, accessible anywhere, anytime? That's what we can expect if the prototype DVR TiVo is showing off at CES ever actually launches. Intended as a service that your local cable operator could offer, the TiVo Network DVR project brings the Roamio experience we already enjoyed on its latest DVRs to the cloud, letting them push recordings out over the internet. Dubbed NDVR for short, the preview images show how viewers could get their TiVo on an iPad or via Roku, manage program recordings, see what's on and, if necessary, buy more storage space in the cloud. That last bit is key, because this isn't just for consumers -- TiVo needs to convince cable operators (the smaller ones; we figure Comcast and the rest will probably stick with their custom solutions) they can make more money and have a simpler setup with its product. One other cable company-friendly feature is the ability to target advertising within the recordings, as we've seen TV companies start doing with video on-demand. We'll stop by TiVo's booth once the show floor opens in a few hours to get some hands-on time with its prototype and see what else is new, and hopefully see what the next generation of TV is like.
Daily Roundup: NSA iPhone malware, Mac Pro teardown, this year in reviews and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
TiVo co-founders joining forces for yet another set-top box
How on earth are you supposed to fill your days after leaving the successful set-top box company you created? Well, if you're TiVo co-founders Mike Ramsay and Jim Barton, the answer is to start all over again. You see, after Barton resigned from TiVo in early 2012, he and long-gone chum Ramsay set up InVisioneer, which has the pair "gearing up to do it again." Domain registrations, online polls and a barebones Twitter account serving up YouTube links are among the footprints Zatz Not Funny has been following to see what the new company is up to. Job listings say the outfit's crafting "a product that sits at the nexus of exciting trends in video, mobile, and social." It seems to have already passed through the FCC in the form of Qplay, a small TV adapter with HDMI-out and an iPad app for controlling it (according to the user manual). Most recently, a little more info popped up on InVisioneer's site, but has subsequently been taken down. This included word that Qplay will provide "new ways to discover, play and share video content," as well as imagery of an iPad app with YouTube and Vine among the tabs. With so many ways to get content from the web to your TV already, we'd hope for Ramsay and Barton's sake that Qplay has an innovative hook. They probably don't need reminding, though -- they're partly responsible for how saturated the market is in the first place. [Image credit: Zatz Not Funny]
TiVo's new Slide Pro Remote pairs nicely with your Roamio, costs $50
Sure, it's not a new gaming console, but a remote is still a very essential part of most everyone's living room -- at least for the time being. With that in mind, TiVo has announced the successor to its Slide Remote, adequately dubbing it the Slide Pro Remote. The company's quick to point out its freshly minted slide-out QWERTY remote is more than just a prettier face: it features backlit keys, a more powerful signal thanks to RF support, search and back buttons, plus the ability to learn multiple commands (i.e. input, power, volume and more). TiVo's Slide Pro Remote is not only compatible with the Roamio, but also the Premiere and Mini DVRs. Better yet, it's available now for a mere $50, which, by the way, is about $40 cheaper than its predecessor was way back when.
TiVo Stream update brings TV to mobile devices, even away from home
TiVo promised that the placeshifting TV capabilities recently added to its Roamio Plus and Pro DVRs would expand to its older hardware, and now they have. Updated TiVo owners with a Stream transcoder plugged into their Premiere or standard Roamio DVR can start streaming and downloading live or recorded TV from anywhere, so long as it's over WiFi. This functionality is rolling out starting today, and all users should have it within the next couple of weeks. If this pace keeps up, it shouldn't be too much longer before the devices and services that can't stream live TV anytime, anywhere, will be outnumbered by those that can.
Daily Update for October 24, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
TiVo updates its iOS app for out-of-home streaming
Owners of certain models of TiVo's digital video recorders will be able to watch their favorite shows outside the home, thanks to a new version of its iOS app that was released today. The app enables streaming of live and recorded TV shows to an iPad or iPhone, which is what the company promised at the launch of the Roamio DVR in August. Version 3.2 of the universal app provides out-of-home streaming from a Roamio Plus or Roamio Pro DVR to iOS devices on WiFi networks, or downloading of shows to devices on LTE networks. These Roamio boxes will receive a software update today to enable the functionality on the DVRs. For anyone owning a base-level Roamio with TiVo Stream, the out-of-home streaming and downloading capability will be arriving in November.
TiVo Roamio DVRs can stream or download TV to iPhones, iPads
It's just over two months since the release of the TiVo Roamio Plus and Pro, and the namesake feature is now available. Beginning today, iOS device users can update their TiVo apps and start streaming live or recorded content from TiVo Roamio Plus or Pro DVRs while connected via WiFi. Users can also instead choose to download recorded shows for offline viewing over WiFi (assuming the content provider's copy protection allows it) whether at home or away, and even start watching while it downloads. Android support and streaming via 4G/LTE is on the schedule next year -- on iOS the minimum supported bandwidth needs more tweaking to meet Apple's maximum bitrate for cellular. Slingbox owners have enjoyed no-strings streaming for years, and others like Monsoon have pushed downloads while TV providers like Comcast and Time Warner offer their own apps; but TiVo's setup promises the most streamlined solution this side of the similar Dish Hopper DVRs. TiVo Premiere and standard Roamio owners with a TiVo Stream attached will have to continue to wait a few more weeks before they too can enjoy this new freedom.
TiVo Premiere update coming with improved Netflix app, HD wishlists (updated)
TiVo's Premiere Fall Updates are about to roll out, and according to Zatz Not Funny, it'll bring some joy to streaming video users. The biggest change for most Premiere 4 or XL4/Elite owners will be an updated Netflix app that should be less painful to use, along with HD wishlists, a dynamic tuner allocation and numerous bug fixes. A UI change that brings Roamio's new fonts and colors to Premiere devices is reportedly not in the cards until next year, however. The update will arrive in phases, as usual, but you can move closer to the front of the line by hitting TiVo's priority update request. Update: We're told that two tuner models will also get the Fall Update, though dynamic tuner allocation may not be supported on those models if TiVo Mini extenders remain restricted.
WSJ: Netflix could come to US cable boxes soon, Comcast and Suddenlink in talks
Over the last few years cable providers have begun rolling out cable boxes with extra features and internet hookups, but almost all of them -- even TiVo, when provided by a cable service -- have been missing access to subscription video apps like Netflix. That could change soon according to a Wall Street Journal report today, that Netflix has renegotiated studio deals that made it difficult to provide the app and is negotiating with cable providers to put it on their boxes. RCN representatives have publicly stated it's asking for Netflix, while the report names Suddenlink and Comcast as two services in talks. Suddenlink has provided TiVo DVRs since 2010 that lack the Hulu Plus and Netflix apps of their retail cousins, while Comcast's X1 platform has built-in internet support, but no video apps to take advantage of it. Additionally, the report mentions that Time Warner Cable and Cox have had discussions about adding a YouTube app, and that Comcast is talking to other services as well. Netflix has recently worked out deals with providers overseas like Virgin Media and Com Hem, and its app has been a part of Google Fiber TV since it launched. According to the Journal however, a similar rollout in the US faces hangups not only because cable companies may see it as a competitor, but also because of its desire to add them as partners to its OpenConnect CDN. The first may not be much of an issue as providers use it to push high speed internet tie-ins -- something we've heard about before. We'll see how opening up Super HD streaming to all enables the second portion, hopefully having Netflix and other services as an option in more places is something that happens soon.
