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Orb MP-1 music player pulls Sonos-like tricks for way less than a Benjamin
Streaming music from a computer to all manner of home audio devices is an area Sonos, Logitech, and Apple have been competing in for years. The recently-released MP-1 music player from Orb, though, is a surprise contender that can perform a host of streaming duties for less than $70. Like the competition, it works by connecting to a powered audio device via an in-line jack, and can play music stored locally, on a network, or from services like Pandora when streamed over 802.11b/g/n WiFi through its companion Orb Caster media server software. To sweeten the package, the company is also throwing in their Orb Controller app for iOS devices -- which normally costs $10 -- for a low price of free, and apparently has plans to release an Android version of the remote sometime in the near future. Sure, it's a little strange for us to see a company known for their free media streaming software jump in the hardware game so abruptly, but the MP-1's mixture of functionality for the price is a pretty enticing first step. Plus, if the move ignites a price war to the bottom with the aforementioned competition, who are we to complain? [Thanks, Tom]
Loewe shows off new Connect LEDs, wallets cringe
Ultra high-end German television maker Loewe revealed at IFA that its 32-inch and 42-inch Connect LED line will be refreshed with 200Hz edge LED backlit panels and improved MediaNet connectivity. Specifically MediaNet has been revamped to feature a new LAN interface for streaming local video or audio content on the TV's integrated DVR as well as from DLNA compatible devices and online sources. A so-called "Follow Me" feature is another handy addition that allows users to easily transfer a program in progress from TV to another display for completion -- which should prove useful to shipping magnates who prefer passing out to Titanic in bed after starting in the jacuzzi. Trusted Reviews also reports that Loewe, along with Sharp and Philips, is promoting web-based services built on CE-HTML that are optimized for TV displays, and even demoed a version of the BBC's iPlayer using the technology behind closed doors. Style-wise, the luxury set will ship in three colors along with a choice of stand and a 2.1 speaker setup when it hits the UK this November. Official pricing however is still unknown, but don't expect to find it at Asda. %Gallery-101499%
Netgear announces NeoTV 550 & 350 HD Media Players plus other networking goodies
This week Netgear made a battery of new product announcements related to home entertainment and Powerline networking. On the media side, the NeoTV 550 & 350 HD players look a lot like last year's Digital Entertainer Elite, minus the 500GB of internal storage and access to VOD services like CinemaNow. Both are however capable of playing a robust list of codecs in full HD from a variety of attached sources like USB, eSATA (in the case of the 550) or SD storage, as well as streaming content from UPnP, DLNA or WMP11 networks. The 550 adds in support for external Blu-ray drives and BD-Live too, all for $219, which should appeal any of the poor souls with an unused standalone drive. Three new Powerline kits -- AV 200, AV 500, and AV+ 500 -- were also announced to help consumers avoid the pain of stringing Ethernet in every direction. The entry level AV 200 appears to improve on the previous HDXB101 kit by offering the same theoretical 200mbps in addition to push button security enhancements and greener power consumption. The AV 500 kit provides the same and ramps the networking speeds to up to -- you guessed it -- 500mbps, while the "+" version throws in a pass-through filtered AC socket to avoid sacrificing precious outlets. Priced all below $200, every kit will available be by mid November for all the fall home networking your heart could desire. Peep the galleries and PR below for further details. %Gallery-100540% %Gallery-100541%
3view launches first hybrid Digital/IPTV HD DVR with DVB-T2 tuners
Considering our frustrations with the closed nature of most DVRs stateside, now that 3view has started shipping pre-orders of its first £299 [$472] Hybrid Digital / IPTV HD DVR set- top box, we're certainly jealous. That's because for starters, it performs all of the basic functions of a 500GB HD DVR and provides viewers with access to 50+ TV channels, as well as all free OTA HD channels, thanks to partner MaxLinear's dual MxL5007T DVB-T2 broadcast tuners. There's also integrated support for YouTube and IPTV sources like BBC's iPlayer, with Sky Player slated to join the mix soon. If that wasn't enough to make you pity your recorder, UK owners can even view digital media content via the box's HDD, external USB storage, or DLNA networks, and easily rub in their gleeful media freedom via Twitter or Facebook. No, it may not be fair, but it seems remembering that we don't have to pay a license fee just to get basic national news is the only cheap shot worth clinging to for solace in this situation.
