TV tuner
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This PlayStation DVR add-on is coming back in Japan, and it will get PS5 support
Nasne still has PS3 styling, but later this year it will let Japanese gamers watch live TV and DVR recordings on their PS5.
Xbox One Digital TV Tuner hits the US and Canada today
The Xbox One is already an entertainment powerhouse. But, starting today, those of you in the US and Canada will have the chance to get even more out of it. Microsoft has announced that the official TV tuner for its Xbox One, which lets people watch over-the-air channels directly from the console, is now available in these two countries. As a refresher, this feature first hit Europe last year, so it's taken a decent amount for it to arrive in North America. You can get the Hauppauge Digital TV Tuner for $60, though you'll also need an HDTV antenna for it to work as intended.
Hands-on with the Xbox One's TV tuner
The Xbox One's €29.99/£24.99 TV Tuner is now available, but it's far from just a glorified channel changer for Microsoft's console. As we mentioned, it came out only in Europe because many of us across the pond get our TV fix from over-the-air (OTA) digital TV, while most Americans have cable. But it's opened up a lot of handy new TV watching features on the Xbox and on mobile devices with SmartGlass, too. You can now watch DVB-T, DVB-T2 and DVB-C digital TV, pause, rewind or fast forward live TV, change channels using SmartGlass and even watch TV directly on a mobile device. For a console that wants to be your entertainment hub, that's a load of pertinent features -- to see how it works, read on.
NEC Medias Tab UL runs Android 4.0, weighs just over half a pound (hands-on)
Folded in between DoCoMo R&D prototypes and One Piece-themed smartphones unlikely to make it across the Pacific, NEC's new Android tablet caught our eye. The 7-inch NEC Medias Tab UL is one very svelte slab. Measuring in at just 7.9mm (0.3 inches) thick and weighing a mere 250g (0.55 lbs), the tablet still manages to house a 3,100mAh battery, and a Snapdragon MSM8960 1.5GHz dual-core processor. If you'd compare it to the Nexus 7, Google's own effort look a little weighty and thick against this white-finish tablet. Performance from the dual-core chip is also suitably impressive, despite the curious DoCoMo-decked Android skin coating the Ice Cream Sandwich OS. In true Japanese style, there's a TV aerial embedded within the side and while it won't broadcast the crisp high-definition delights of NOTTV, there's plenty of terrestrial viewing available -- if you stay in the Land of the Rising Sun. We were pleasantly surprised with its crisp WXGA screen, which looks to be TFT. The 1,280 x 800 resolution display meant videos and websites looked sharp, while there was barely any color degradation at wider angles. On DoCoMO's network, users can expect to see download speeds up to 75Mbs, and upload speeds hitting up to 25Mbps. The tablet is now on sale across Japan, but there's still no word yet on it launching elsewhere.
Toshiba's Regza SD-P100WP does TV, DVDs and doesn't mind a bit of water
Other manufacturers may be jumping off DVD bandwagon, but Toshiba's still got some love for the format -- not to mention the waning days of summer. The Regza SD-P100WP is more than just a portable DVD player, of course -- for one thing, the gadget's got a 1024 x 600 display, for watching your stories on the go. There's also a built-in TV tuner and wireless LAN, so you can watch content recorded on network-connected Toshiba TVs and Blu-Ray players. Oh, and then there's the IPX7-level waterproofing, for when you absolutely need to catch up on old seasons of Breaking Bad on the beach. The SD-P100WP has an SD slot for playing music, looking at pictures and the like, and should give you about eight hours of DVD-watching on a charge.
Elgato outs smaller EyeTV Mobile for iPhones and iPads, EyeTV Micro for Android
It was at the last IFA we got some time with Elgato's EyeTV Mobile for the iPad, and this year they're at it again with a redesigned iDongle and a brand new model for Android gear. The smaller EyeTV Mobile will have you watching DVB-T broadcasts on your iPhone 4S or iPad (2 or new), while the EyeTV Micro swaps Apple's dock connector for, you guessed it, microUSB. Not all Android devices support the Micro -- you'll need a dual-core CPU, Neon support and at least the 4.0.3 build of ICS. That said, the Micro's a generous little chap, as you can use the included USB cable to hook it up to your PC or Mac and get your TV fix on bigger screens, too. Both peripherals can be used with myriad aerials to meet your reception needs, provided you're in Europe, of course. The Mobile and Micro will be available in September for £89.95 and £54.95 (around $143 and $87), respectively, and we hope to see one on the show floor before IFA 2012 is done, so stay tuned.
SiliconDust HDHomerun Prime CableCARD tuners hit Woot for $130
If you've been thinking about building an HTPC without spending a lot of money then first of all we have a post that can help you with that (and a comment section of folks saying they can do even better), and second, it might be time to grab one of SiliconDust's HDHomeRun Prime TV tuners. The three tuner CableCARD device can turn your computer into a cable box, and Woot is selling brand new units for just $130 (plus $5 shipping) in this morning's one day sale, a decent discount form the $180 - $200 prices we found elsewhere. Still not convinced this is for you? Check out our hands-on with the device or a quick video trailer embedded after the break. Oh, and if you need a new HDTV to plug it into, Woot's also running a sale on some LG LCDs with 3D and connected apps for $650 / $900 (47-inch / 55-inch).
Sony Japan blends the Torne PS3 TV tuner with 500GB of NAS, calls it Nasne
While the PS3's media abilities in the US are limited to what it can access via discs or over the network, in Europe / Australia (PlayTV) and Japan (Torne) TV tuners stretch things further. Now, Sony Japan has followed those up with the Nasne headless media box shown above. A combination networked recorder and media storage device with a 500GB SATA HDD and tuners for both antenna and satellite TV built-in, it pulls in broadcasts and either records it or streams to up to two other Sony products (Vita, PS3 with Torne app, Vaio PC, Sony Tablet or Xperia phone) on the same home network at once. It will also support streaming of stored media via DLNA, once its software is updated to version 1.5. The capabilities of the Nasne vary depending on the hardware it's used with: PS3 users can connect up to four of the devices to one console, however it can also export video files formatted for offline viewing on the Vita or transfer recorded files to PCs for Blu-ray archival. Is this a promising example of the "One Sony" synergy Kaz so recently promised? We'll have to wait until the Nasne ships July 19th for 16,980 yen ($211) to find out for sure. Sadly, like the Torne (which will receive its own 4.0 software update this summer) and Blu-ray recorders that came before it's unlikely we'll ever this one in the US, but that won't stop us from dreaming. A press release with full specs follows after the break, check out Engadget Japan for a few more pictures.
Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Dual Core hands-on (video)
Everything Samsung seems to be just a touch better in Seoul, and the South Korean giant's Galaxy Player 70 is no exception. For starters, it ships with a dual-core 1GHz processor -- a first for the WiFi-only Galaxy Player series. The 5-inch capacitive-touch LCD offers 800 x 480-pixel resolution, and can display whatever the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS throws its way, but it also packs a unique Korea-only punch: a DMB TV tuner, for pulling in terrestrial programming only available in Samsung's home country. There's also a requisite 8-inch retractable antenna, in addition to the standard micro-USB port, microSD card slot, headphone jack, built-in mic and stereo speakers around back. Like most Samsung portables, it's also photo friendly, with a 5-megapixel camera with flash on the rear and a VGA cam up front. The 2500mAh battery isn't easily swappable, unfortunately, since the PMP's backplate is screwed to the housing.Considering that the Player is only going to be available for purchase in Korea, the only opportunity to go hands-on at this point is at Samsung HQ, which we just happen to be visiting this week. We spent some time with the device today, and while there's no chance of this iteration ever making an appearance on U.S. shores, we certainly wouldn't mind if it did. The plastic housing has the same look and feel as most other Galaxy devices, so there were no surprises there. It does bear a striking resemblance to the Galaxy S II, though the LCD here doesn't offer contrast or color reproduction that's anywhere close to the Super AMOLED Plus display on that record-breaking smartphone. Navigating the TouchWiz interface felt snappy, as it should given the processing duo on board, and the DMB television viewer worked flawlessly -- at least once we had a chance to take it away from the rumored-frequency-jamming R&D facility. Join us past the break for a closer look at the Galaxy Player 70 -- for those of you living outside of Korea, this may very well be your only chance.
FilmOn finds another way to put live TV on your mobile, but it's still awkward
FilmOn's TV streaming ambitions haven't exactly gone according to plan since it got into legal hot water with a bunch of not-so-minor broadcasters last year -- including CBS, FOX and plenty others. Until that dries off, the company wants to bring TV to your phone, tablet or laptop using an additional route: a portable ATSC tuner. It's shown off a receiver dongle that it claims can enable watching and recording of free-to-air shows on iOS, Android, PC and Mac, with an in-built five-hour battery and pass-through charging. The FilmOn AIR device will start shipping in February with a $95.95 standalone price tag, or $149.95 when packaged with a year's subscription to the main FilmOn service that streams 120 channels over the web -- well, for now at least.
Boxee Box Live TV dongle shipping for $49 in January 2012, pre-orders open today
No point in hiding in plain view, eh? Boxee has just affirmed that the leaked Live TV dongle is legit, and it'll be splashing down on North American shores in January. The Boxee Box Live TV dongle will allow North American users to connect an antenna to their Box to watch channels like ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC in HD with no monthly fee -- assuming you're close enough to an OTA tower to receive said signals, of course. Once equipped, a Box will be able to fetch content from the major networks, Vudu, Netflix and Hulu, though you may want to spring for that bolstered internet connection. Boxee Live TV works with signals from HDTV antennas (using ATSC) or an unencrypted cable connection (using ClearQAM), and a portable antenna is included. Users who live out in the 'burbs may want to consider something a bit beefier, and if you're hoping to use this thing with something other than the Boxee Box... well, keep dreaming. In fact, Boxee has confirmed that even the forthcoming update of its Boxee software for Mac and PC won't support the device, so you'll be forced to pony up for D-Link's hardware if you're looking to party. There's also no DVR function in sight (sort of defeating the purpose, given just how many TVs have tuners already), but hey -- who knows what'll roll out at CES. Pre-orders are available down in the source link, with $49 claiming your spot in line. %Gallery-139570%
Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video)
Elgato's been experimenting with live TV on the iPad for over a year now, but until now, that meant streaming programs that were already broadcast online anyway -- a mighty large limitation, wouldn't you say? This week, though, the company announced EyeTV Mobile, a TV tuner that plugs into the iPad 2's 30-pin connector, allowing it to pull in broadcast television. We just happened to stumble on Elgato's booth here at IFA and treated ourselves to a short TV break. The tuner, which fits easily in the palm of your hand when the antenna is collapsed, only allows you to draw in signals using the DVB-T standard, so make no mistake this is a product just for our European readers. (Although Elgato says it hopes to release something similar in Japan.) Even more than the hardware or the programming selection (fútbol, anyone?), we remain impressed by the free EyeTV iOS app, whose interface is pretty much the same as the HDHomeRun for iPad app, with the ability to swipe the screen to change channels and, in this case, save your location. It'll be available across the pond for €99.95 / £99.95 at the end of this month. Until then (or if you're just stuck in the states), check out our hands-on photos below and a video demo after the break. %Gallery-132551%
Elgato EyeTV Mobile dongle brings live TV to the iPad 2
Sure, Elgato already has an app that lets you stream TV to your iPad -- but that's only if they're being broadcast online. To pull in live TV over the air you'd need a TV-tuner, something that has, until now, been unavailable for Apple's popular slate. By the end of September that lack of broadcast television will become just a distant memory with the release of EyeTV Mobile, a £100 (about $163) dongle that connects to the iPad's proprietary port. The tuner will be able to pull in MPEG 2 streams over DVB-T, but won't work with DVB-T2 broadcasts like Freeview HD. Check out the source for more details.
Elgato offers HDHomeRun TV tuner bundled with its EyeTV software for $180
Elgato has been pushing EyeTV for Mac software alongside its own various TV tuner devices for a while now, but if you prefer Silicondust's HDHomeRun it's added a new package to the list of offerings. For $179.95 the dual-tuner HDHomeRun comes with EyeTV3 software for Mac, drivers for a PC and the requisite cables for you to watch some TV on your computer. It's not a major leap for the hardware or software involved, but if you're a fan of both they're now available in one convenient package at the Apple Store, Amazon and other retailers.
NEC spits out LaVie L and S Series laptops, ValueStar W and N Series all-in-ones
Like your computers Japanese and fire engine red? You might want to have a gander at the quartet of PCs NEC just churned out, including twin LaVie notebooks and ValueStar all-in-ones. The laptops both have 15.6-inch displays, optional Blu-ray drives, and hard drives as large as 750GB, but the L series packs a TV tuner and maxes out at a Core i7 processor, while the S series' top CPU option is a Core i5-2410M. On the desktop side, the W series has a 23-inch screen, Core i7 processor, a 2TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M card, a TV tuner, and a Blu-ray drive with an optional 3D display. Moving on down the line, the N Series offers a 20-inch screen, Core i5 processor, and integrated Intel graphics, though it, too, will be offered with a 3D panel. No word on pricing or availability, but for now you can check out hands-on photos aplenty at the links below.
NEC's MEDIAS N-04C is only 7.7mm thick, has Android 2.2, NFC, and no ambition to leave Japan
It's only been three months since the last avalanche of NTT DoCoMo phones, but that's not stopping the Japanese carrier from scheming up another hardware refresh. Leaked out ahead of what's expected to be a February 24th launch, we've now laid eyes on what's likely to be the highlight device of this year's spring batch : the 7.7mm-thick NEC MEDIAS N-04C. It follows last year's N-04B in nomenclature only, what with the older model being a flip phone, and offers a spacious 4-inch touchscreen, a 1seg TV Tuner, NFC contactless payments using Sony's FeliCa standard, and a skinned version of Android 2.2. Look out for it in Japan soon, but don't hold your breath if you live outside the sunlit kingdom -- history has shown devices like the N-04C tend to stick to their native market.
Sony launches six new DVRs, all write to BDXL and play back in 3D
Well, Sony is a little late to the party on this one, two days behind Panasonic announcing six new BDXL-writing DVRs. But, the company is definitely still on the BDXL bleeding edge, announcing its own suite of six devices, ranging from 320GB to 2TB of internal storage and all but one offering dual tuners. When those tuners have filled that storage they can all write to 100GB BDXL discs, which we'll remind you one more time are not backwards compatible with current Blu-ray players. Finally, all six of them support 3D playback, because if you're already jumping on the BDXL bandwagon you surely have your 3D HDTV well and truly dialed in by now. Sony isn't saying just how much these six will cost, but the premium model with 2TB of storage ships in Japan on September 25. For the rest you'll have to wait until October 22.
DISH Network's DTVPal DVR bites the dust after a short, troubled life
It's only a few days shy of 13 months since we released our mixed review of DISH Network's DTVPal DVR, and yet Zatz Not Funny reports that DISH will no longer offer the niche recorder. While it's not particularly shocking news given the device's performance issues and befuddling connection to the satellite provider, it does imply that finding an affordable, modern, and subscription-free solution for over-the-air recording will soon go the way of the dodo. So all issues aside, if you're in need of a ATSC dual-tuning HD recorder with 250 GB of space for $250, we'd suggest you snag one of the dwindling units available online before it's too late (or, as CNET notes, keep an eye out for its Channel Master CM-7000PAL doppelganger.) Otherwise, be prepared to either upgrade to the pricier world of full-fledged DVRs, or more unthinkably, dust off the VCR sitting in your attic. If you do choose the latter option though, for the love of humanity do not allow those taped episodes of Dragon Ball Z to ever see the light of day.
Elgato rolls out smaller, Windows 7-supporting EyeTV Hybrid
Elgato's original EyeTV Hybrid USB tuner wasn't exactly oversized, but the company has nonetheless managed shrink things down a bit for the device's latest revision, and it's added some Windows 7 support for good measure. Most of the size reduction comes from ditching the analog connector found on the previous model (you'll still get an adapter), and you'll also now get a sturdier aluminum enclosure that stays in line with the company's Mac-only roots. Otherwise, you'll get the same support for over-the-air HD broadcasts as before, along with Elgato's EyeTV 3 software, and an included remote control -- all for the same $150 that the original model cost.
EyeTV Netstream DTT tuner streams reruns of The Fall Guy to your entire home network
If you're looking to bridge the gap between the boob tube and YouTube, Elgato (literally, "the gato") has always been a good bet. The company's newly announced EyeTV Netstream DTT takes the ol' EyeTV tuner we've all grown to know and love and lets you connect it to your router, allowing you to watch DTV on any computer connected to your network, provided it's a Mac or a PC. Plays well Windows 7 Media Center and ships with both TerraTec Home Cinema (Windows) and EyeTV 3 (OS X). Available now for €250 (about $350). Hit the source link and never miss an episode of The New Benny Hill Show again. PR after the break.
