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Engadget HD Podcast 393 - 4.10.14
HD news seems to be tumbling out of the sky like big, fat, high-definition raindrops and we've got it all covered in this week's episode. Both Richard and Ben have spent some time with Amazon's Fire TV and now that they've gotten past the unskippable tutorial video, they're ready to share their opinions. Richard also took some time to catch some of the Comcast and Time Warner Cable hearing on C-Span in all its standard definition glory and Ben's just recovering after learning there's yet another Lego videogame that he'll have to tackle -- he hasn't even finished the last one yet. This week's Engadget HD Podcast is chock full of info, so settle in and head to the streaming links below to catch the show. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 392 - 4.2.14
If you have a dozen shows that always seem to overlap and you just can't bear to miss any of them, then Verizon may have just the thing. Its FiOS Media Server has arrived under the name Quantum TV DVR and it's ready to make you master of your multi-room domain. With this week's announcements, some casual competition arises between your hosts regarding the details on what Amazon will (did) release -- congratulations Richard -- and the company has locked in season two of Alpha House, along with six other new shows to satisfy your TV jones. The crew also flashes back to the OG Slingbox and provides you with a pile of Must See HDTV for the week. So grab a seat and head on down to the streaming links below to join us for this week's edition of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 391 - 3.27.14
Keeping it real used to be the goal, but now it seems that real reality just isn't that interesting anymore. Virtual reality, on the other hand, that's taken the tech world by storm lately. Both Sony and Oculus demoed their latest VR wares at GDC last week, and this week Facebook decided to drop some big news. The social network has just purchased Oculus VR for a whopping $2 billion. Ben and Richard dig into the positive and potentially negative aspects of this deal and what it could mean for the future. On top of that, Netflix decides to pay ISP tolls for its heavy bandwidth use, while AT&T feels that these things are really the subscribers' problem. It's a complicated web of news these days, but luckily you have the Engadget HD Podcast to help break it down into a more digestible format. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 390 - 3.19.14
Streaming services, set-top boxes and dongles are dominating HD news this week, and there's quite a few to discuss. Rumors are bubbling up about more Amazon hardware to match the competition's offerings and Chromecast continues to make headlines with the international roll out of its diminutive device. Surprisingly, Richard isn't going on about March Madness and Ben is lukewarm about the arrival of an ACC Sports channel for Apple TV. Signs of the robopocalypse perhaps? We hope not, since there's plenty of Titanfall still to play and the Xbox One was catching up to PlayStation 4 sales numbers. Keep in mind that Microsoft has only just decided to take its console global. We've got plenty in store and its all packed into this episode of the Engadget HD Podcast, conveniently located at the streaming links below. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 389 - 3.12.14
If the Titanfall release had coincided with the start of March Madness, there probably wouldn't have been a podcast this week. As it is, we had to tear Richard away from his Xbox One to help Ben review the HD details that have been pouring in. There's a constant shuffle of content, ISP deals and updates to go through, as well as a certain monstrous LED-lit HD display to ogle. Your hosts leverage their experience and know-how to help speed you through the week's news, leaving some extra time to watch some TV. We hear Neil deGrasse Tyson and Seth MacFarlane's reboot of Cosmos has gotten some great buzz and rated an introduction by the POTUS. As always, there's plenty of HD to go around, so head on down to the streaming links to join us for this weeks episode. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 388 - 3.5.14
It's the week of HD content news in its many various guises: streaming, video, award shows and service cancellations, all wedged in amidst a couple of physical devices. Actually, the hardware is content-enabling as well, with the new Roku Streaming Stick and an N64 mod that gives your classic gear an HDMI upgrade. Ben and Richard get their wish with Netflix's experiments in sleep tracking (courtesy of a Fitbit) and Microsoft continues to fine tune the Xbox One with updates in audio, Kinect options and a UK glitch fix. Just hop on down to the streaming links to enjoy this episode of the Engadget HD Podcast in all its informational glory. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 387 - 2.27.14
The HD news heap has reached a toppling point, so Ben and Richard get to work sifting through all the insanity from the past week. One of the major talking points is the streaming bottleneck of Netflix's content on various service providers. This prompts Ben to provide an overview of the labyrinthine inner workings of the internet, a tall task for anyone to attempt. In another bold move, Disney Movies Anywhere service launched recently with iTunes on board to help deliver some of its content. There's definitely some twists and turns, so head to the streaming links below for a bit of navigational assistance on this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 386 - 2.19.14
Updates, apps and mergers are piling up as we head deeper into 2014, leaving little room for idle chatter as Ben and Richard get down to business. The Comcast and Time Warner Cable deal is still reverberating through the news and it's dovetailing with yet another Apple TV rumor. Google's giving Chromecast apps the green light following a period of Android device updates and AllCast has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Mountain View's dongle. Showtime hits Roku, Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show gets companion apps and Netflix adds new seasons to its stable of shows. The Engadget HD Podcast is dropping some science this week, so be sure to tune in at the streaming links below. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 385 - 2.12.14
Olympic fever is gripping the nation, but Ben seems immune. Perhaps he hasn't discovered short track speed skating, a sport that Richard enjoys for its Michael Bay-like pace and frequent wipeouts. Comcast is even delivering its online coverage of the action in Sochi to its Xfinity TV subscribers, and the wintry sport is dominating prime time slots across the board, leaving Must See TV content a bit sparse. The one thing that is burgeoning, though, is the Xbox One's upcoming content projects. With Bonnaroo concert access from your couch and an exclusive Nas biography series in the works, things are looking up for Microsoft's new console. All this and more is packed into this week's edition of the Engadget HD Podcast, so settle in and head to the streaming links for a piece of the action. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 384 - 2.5.14
While the Northeast is suffering through some heavy weather, Ben is getting ready to enjoy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 on Blu-ray, from a significantly sunnier locale. Regardless of your local forecast though, there's definitely a deluge of HD news and content to catch up on. After all, the recent Superbowl pulled in a live streaming record and was a testbed for NFL content services, which didn't necessarily make the grade for cord-cutting football fans. There's plenty in store this week, so don't miss out. Just head on down to the streaming links below for this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 383 - 1.30.14
The rumor mill has been grinding away this week, providing juicy bits of Apple and Amazon news for Ben and Richard to chew on. Netflix also announces its new 'post-play' feature, which prompts the crew to request a sleep detection feature. While a Kinect-type solution may seem invasive, it would be great for knowing when you konk out so it could stop episode playback. You won't be catching any Zs during this show, however, with Q4 updates on major manufacturers, discussion about the upcoming Super Bowl and the Fantasy Football league results. So hop on down to the streaming links below to catch the latest episode of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 382 - 1.22.14
It's that time of year again, CES is fading from memory, football season is wrapping up and Ben is tempted to cut the cable cord with less of his favorite sports programming on the air. The lull in pigskin-based TV probably doesn't have much to do with reports of declining subscribers for premium channels, but with content like Netflix's oscar-nominated documentary The Square, streaming services are proving to be tough competition. All this and more is packed into this week's episode; simply head to the streaming links below for another edition of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 381 - 1.16.14
As the dust settles on the Las Vegas Convention Center, Richard and Ben regroup to take a brief look at the highlights from CES, but for the most part, there's still fresh HD news to discuss. There's been a storm brewing over at DirectTV and if you're a subscriber, you'll have to hear about it on a brand new channel, assuming you get your weather updates on TV. Netflix's Lilyhammer nabs a third season and Ben has finally come around to John Fusco's latest creation -- let's just hope it has more staying power than Young Guns II. We've got a great episode here, so find some time and dig into another informative episode of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 380 - CES Special #2 - 1.10.14
It's time for a rundown of all the best in HD news from CES this week and it's a heckuva long list. Ben Drawbaugh joins Richard Lawler to hash it out and discuss whether 4K has matured enough to settle in for the long haul. LG, Sony, Samsung and surprisingly Vizio were among the key players this past week, providing massive screen sizes, amped-up projectors and even exhuming an old software platform for the 2014 market. Head on down to the streaming links below for all the info in this week's second installment of the HD Podcast, CES edition. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 378 - 12.11.13
While Ben digs into his holiday movie archive and Richard warms himself by a virtual yuletide fire, HD news continues to pour forth. The Xbox One received some post-launch updates, Dolby demoed some tech you might not have thought you needed, Google's Chromecast added more apps to its streaming quiver and Netflix announced a director for its Daredevil series. Add to that, an extensive review of Must See HDTV and some disappointing fantasy football stats, and you've got another informative episode of the HD Podcast, patiently waiting for you at the streaming links below. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 377 - 12.3.13
It's been a relatively slow week for news due to the holiday, but there's still plenty for your hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler to chat about. While Sony is bragging about it's November PS4 sales, Microsoft is keeping quiet and dealing with a few compatibility issues on the UK front. Looking forward to the next round of holidays, Ben is predicting a rush on the affordable Chromecast device and Netflix is offering up a new animated series to bulk up its Christmas programming -- which it's definitely lacking. There's still plenty of football going on -- both real and imaginary -- and Richard takes a moment to lament both his fantasy picks and Michigan's ability on the field. All this and more is waiting for you at the streaming links below, so head on down for another edition of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 376 - 11.27.13
The Xbox One has finally arrived at chez Lawler, so Richard and Ben gets things headed in Microsoft's direction right off the bat. As with the PS4, this console still could use some time in the oven, but it probably could take the heat -- its fan hasn't made a peep after days of "always on" use. This show isn't just about consoles though; LG's nefarious activities fall under scrutiny and service updates are popping up all over, including Chromecast's adoption of HBO Go. So please join us for this pre-holiday edition of the Engadget HD Podcast at the streaming links below... before your food coma sets in. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 375 - 11.20.13
It's HD time again and your hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler are here to give you the weekly rundown. It won't include the Buccaneers vs. Lions results though; that happens this Sunday, with both Ben and Richard looking forward to their respective local team taking the win. For PlayStation fans, though, the score is PS4 and the consoles have arrived, regardless of a little wobble. Sling fans hit the endzone this week as well, with a host of new updates arriving on its iOS app, and a Windows 8.1 version announced for December. So while Ben regains his hearing after a recent visit to the Formula 1 track, you can fasten your seat belts and switch it to cruise control as we present the Engadget HD Podcast; conveniently located at the streaming links below. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 373 - 11.5.13
Your hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler are back after a short hiatus, and the HD-related news queue has gotten fat. This week's show begins with the end ... of Panasonic's plasma line, but that's OK as long as a 60-plus-inch 4K OLED arrives to fill the void. Jameis Winston definitely won't see those extra pixels with all his squinting, but Ben and Richard have come to the conclusion that most other people won't see them either. Ultra High Definition is possibly more about prestige at this stage than it is about clarity. That's not about to stop Netflix from rolling out UHD streams by next year, though. For the end of this year, we're beset with new gaming consoles that offer an array of streaming options as well as games, although some are more media-capable than others. So, put down the remote, turn off all of those screens (just kidding) and head to the streaming links below for another informative edition of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 372 - 10.22.13
With this week's big keynote failing to produce any Apple TV-related products, our hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler are left to speculate on the reasons behind Amazon's recent stock issues with the little hockey puck. As the discussion moves over to the streaming front, U-Verse live TV arrives on Android, NVIDIA's Shield is breaking out of the small screen with its new Gamestream tech and Sky / Roku's Now TV box bundles have arrived at retail. Join us after the break for this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast, but you'd better hurry, before Ben gets roped into another round of Lego Star Wars. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
