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Cord cutters can have DVRs with multiroom and placeshifting
Most of the developments in DVRs are for people who still have cable or aren't bothered by paying a monthly fee (see the new TiVo Bolt and Dish Network's new Hopper 3), but what about cord cutters? Three new Funai-built, Magnavox-branded DVRs due out later this year have no subscription fee and aren't built for cable at all: They simply record free TV broadcasts via antenna. Better yet, they can stream those recordings to other boxes in your house and stream or transfer the recording to your mobile device (Android or iOS) for watching on the go.
Video game pioneer Ralph Baer dies aged 92
It's a sad day for gamers: Ralph Baer, one of the cornerstones of the early video game industry, has died at 92. Details of his passing aren't immediately available, but there's no question that gaming would be very different without him. He co-developed what would become the first home game console, the Magnavox Odyssey; he also helped make the memory game Simon, and came up with the gameplay concept that would ultimately lead to Nolan Bushnell's Pong. Importantly, he didn't stop inventing. He was still exploring electronics well past the usual retirement age, and had more than 150 patents under his belt. We'll miss you, Ralph. [Image credit: AP Photo]
Internet Archive starts preserving classic game consoles on the web
Many gamers won't load a console emulator for much more than a brief nostalgia kick. The Internet Archive has loftier goals, however. It's expanding its Historical Software Collection to include the free-to-play Console Living Room beta, which recreates classic '70s and '80s systems on the web for the sake of the historical record. The initial library includes hundreds of games for the Astrocade, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision and Magnavox Odyssey. There are gaps in the catalog, and sound isn't working; the CLR isn't yet a match for a conventional software emulator, let alone the real thing. The Internet Archive promises to address both problems in the near future, though, and it shouldn't be long before its collection delivers a complete vintage gaming experience... minus the old-fashioned tube TV.
Walmart launches Black Friday barrage early, $69 Blu-ray player, $89 DS Lite
Sick of waiting outside in the cold on the wee hours of Black Friday, only to get trampled on the way in to the store when the doors open? Walmart has a better solution: they'll open the doors at midnight. Yes, the sales start at the first minute of Black Friday, and the full list is after the break, but to get the really good stuff you'll have to hang around until 5:00am. That's when a Magnavox Blu-ray player (presumably the oft-discounted NB500) will go for $69, with $10 in VUDU credits thrown in for good measure. Or, you can get yourself a Nintendo DS Lite for $89, which is a very solid deal. Sure, it doesn't do 3D, but who says games need depth?
iFixit tears apart a Magnavox Odyssey 100, doesn't find a disco ball inside
The fine people at iFixit have taken the extremely awesome step of tearing down some very retro gear this week, and up first, they've got the Magnavox Odyssey 100 which dates from 1975. The gaming console, which boasted two (count them ) games -- Tennis and Hockey -- was built around four Texas Instruments chips and powered by six C batteries. It was also the first home gaming console, so we were pretty interested in seeing its insides. What struck us in looking at the photos was the most obvious thing: how much emptier it is than modern gadgets. It was also completely dismantled in just seven steps. Hit the source for more photos and keep your eye out for more vintage disassemblies as the week progresses.
Woot.com lines up $60 Blu-ray player, 4 for $10 Blu-ray disc sales
For tightfisted HD fans, Woot.com has a treat. Just a few minutes ago it posted two daily deals on Blu-ray, with the Magnavox NB500 player that we thought was a value at $128 two years ago on sale as a refurb for $59.99, and four "HD Over:" scenic Blu-ray discs for $9.99, plus $5 shipping on the discs or the player. A Bonus View (Profile 1.1) Blu-ray player from two years ago isn't going to compare to the latest and greatest, but at just six Hamiltons we're sure there will be a few of you clicking "I want one!"
Funai, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp and Toshiba to launch Netflix-enabled HDTVs or Blu-ray decks
Having Netflix access on your home entertainment device was a luxury in 2009 -- in 2010, it'll be commonplace. We already heard yesterday that Sharp was fixing to integrate the service into its NetCast library, and today the prolific movie rental service has announced that Funai (which distributes Philips, Magnavox, Sylvania and Emerson brands), Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp and Toshiba will all be introducing Netflix-ready devices this year. That means that each of those outfits will be pushing out Netflix-enabled HDTVs of Blu-ray Disc players in the year 2010, so you can plan on being in quite the pickle here soon if intentionally shopping for one of those two that doesn't have access to your Watch Instantly queue. In fact, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has been quoted as saying that he expects "instant streaming of movies from Netflix to be available on more than one hundred different partner products in 2010," so we're pretty confident that Coby and Hannspree will be joining the fray in short order.
iVictrola amplifies your iPhone or iPod touch's awesomeness (video)
Just to throw in a bit of old school flavor to this week's gorge of high-tech news, here's an entirely acoustic, zero-electronics amplifier for the iPhone and iPod touch. Designed by Matt Richmond, this retro device channels sound through the walnut stand, via the vintage Magnavox horn, and into your appreciative ears. Not much else to it -- no wires, hookups, or batteries to worry about, and you can see how well it works in the video after the break. Now if you want one, just scrape together $400 and head on over to the source link.
Funai, CinemaNow team up to include online video store access in devices worldwide
Expect various movie streaming services to pop up in every store brand TV, Blu-ray player and set-top box around shortly, now that Funai and CinemaNow have announced a business deal. The two companies have a lot in common, while you may see Sylvania, Magnavox, Philips and Emerson as the brand on the shelf, Funai puts together the lower end electronics that end up flying off the shelves of local Wal-marts, while CinemaNow 's movie store is behind the online efforts of giants like Blockbuster. Be prepared to notice on-device streaming as the next checkbox next to "3D digital comb filter" on every generic cardboard box in the electronics aisle, though until the experience improves we don't see too many customers taking advantage.
Wal-mart rolls back cheap Blu-ray player price to $98
Like Blu-ray but hate spending lots of money? The guys at FormatWarCentral spotted the Magnavox NB530MGX Blu-ray player cold lampin' on the shelf of a local Wal-mart now permanently rolled back from $168 to a mere $98. as usual, you'll pass up the newest, fastest, internet-connected-est features of high end Blu-ray players, but for less than a hundred it's hard to complain. We know many probably missed out on the Meijer deal last month, anyone planning on picking this one up for a second -- or first -- Blu-ray player? We'll see how long Sony avoids the "battle to the bottom" now.
Magnavox NB530MGX Blu-ray player shows up in the wild
Our friends at Format War Central have spotted a new Blu-ray deck from Magnavox at their local Wal-Mart -- the NB530MGX. It's a Profile 1.1 player, just like last year's discount darling NB500 model, so this is probably just a new model designation for a Funai-sourced player with NB500 internals. Cynical, we know, but it certainly would fit with the nondescript appearance on the scene. Honestly, we can't hold it against Format War Central for not picking this up and doing a breakdown -- the Funai, Magnavox and Philips nameplates that might be tacked on to this player all fail to get us excited. The upcoming VIZIO VBR100 player looks better and better.
Philips and Magnavox brands licensed to Funai
If you were a bit confused as to how Funai planned on boosting its Q4 numbers with sales of Blu-ray players, maybe this will clear things up. Effective January 1, 2009, Philips Consumer Lifestyles will "license its Philips and Magnavox brands to Funai for Blu-ray Disc players, DVD players, DVD recorders and home cinema products in the US." With the onset of the new year, Funai will take responsibility for the "manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sales activities" for all of the above mentioned items, and of course, Philips will receive royalty payments in exchange. The agreement is set to last for three years with a possibility of extension, and once the transformation takes place, Philips Consumer Lifestyles' "On The Go" portable wares will be the only ones it exclusively offers without any assistance from Funai.
Magnavox Blu-ray player to be $128 at Walmart on Black Friday
We casually mentioned this here deal a few days back upon spying Walmart's leaked Black Friday list, but just in case you missed it, there will be at least one Blu-ray player out there for well under $150. The Magnavox NB500MG9 (which is really a Funai NB500 underneath the logo) will be offered for just a buck twenty-eight on the day after Thanksgiving here in the US, and while it's far from the most highly acclaimed BD deck in existence, there's no denying that the price is right. Our hopes and dreams? That five other players undercut it.[Via DVICE]
Walmart Black Friday doorbuster deals leak out early, we'll sleep in
If you skipped Walmart's pre-Black Friday festivities pat yourself on the back, as -- despite its lawyers hard work C&Ding unauthorized early ad postings into oblivion -- CNNMoney reveals the "doorbuster" highlights probably not worth getting trampled for this year. Between 5-10 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving the already-discounted Magnavox Blu-ray player drops from $198 to $128 (a BDP-S300 might still be a better value), 50-inch Samsung plasma of unspecified resolution is only $798 (720p, bet on it), and Xbox 360 + Guitar Hero III & wireless guitar pack (all the real plastic guitar aficionados have moved on to Rock Band 2) drops in for $199. Slightly lower profile are a $398 HP desktop PC and $175 gas grill but c'mon, we all know it's the high definition (it'll be a lonely holiday without the suddenly too-good for us Vizio) that will have you shivering outside your local retailer with the soccer moms and other deal hunters.[Thanks, Jason]
Funai's NB500 Blu-ray player sliding into Wal-Mart for $298
It's funny, in a sad sort of way -- in January of this year, we reckoned that a no-name Profile 1.1 player hitting in Q2 at $300 would seem grossly overpriced. Sadly, it still seems like a fairly decent deal. As BD players refuse to fall in price, Funai's NB500 (which is being spotted in Magnavox and Sylvania attire) has found its way into a number of Wal-Marts. Judging by the picture snapped above, you can bring home the somewhat outdated deck for a mere $298. Unfortunately, we aren't entirely sure how the unit performs, but if anyone's man / woman enough to take the leap and check it out, please toss out your impressions in comments below.[Thanks, Fernando]
The quest for a DTV converter box
We've had digital TV tuners for years, but for many there's a lot of anxiety associated with trying to ensure you're ready for the analog shutoff. So to do our part in helping to make the digital transition a success -- and to get some much needed cred' with the mother-in-law -- we set out on a quest for a DTV converter box. Finding a DTV converter box that is eligible for the $40 voucher is pretty easy, in fact, in almost every place we looked, we found 'em. The problem is that the voucher is only for $40 and since those who actually need one in the first place are too cheap frugal to pay for cable or buy a new TV, every penny counts.
Verizon runs into short supply on Sharp LCD offer
Good news / bad news here, folks. First, the good: HD is seeing some impressive uptake amongst everyday consumers. Now the bad: there are isolated shortages of the associated gear. Verizon's FiOS has already been bitten by set-top box shortages, and now is a victim of its own successful promotional offer that promised 19-inch Sharp Aquos LCD TVs to new "triple-play" (internet, video and phone) subscribers. Those LCD TVs are a little short in supply, so affected customers can choose to either wait an additional five weeks for their TV, substitute a Magnavox (used in later promotions) set or take a $200 Best Buy gift card. Our advice -- wait on the Sharp. Meanwhile, let's hope that there's some way Verizon can coordinate the set-top box and TV shortages -- nothing is more frustrating than having new HD service but being stuck with an old SD set![Image courtesy GreatLittleBox]
Wal-Mart gets dirt cheap on digital-to-analog TV converters
Attention Wal-Mart shoppers -- you're about to get a sweet deal on a digital-to-analog TV converter box. According to an excited press release from the company, your local stores are now stocked from floor to ceiling with an ultra-cheap Magnavox converter, selling for the shockingly low price of $49.87. Of course, since households across the US are about to get those succulent $40 coupons for converters, this little puppy won't cost much more than about two gallons of gas. We kid, we kid. But seriously, they're pretty cheap.
Philips DTV converter boxes get approved, pictured
Up until now, we've heard a whole lot about what these things will do, where you can eventually pick one up and how to apply for your government-issued coupon, but outside of a stray Zenith, we really haven't seen what many DTV converter boxes will actually look like. Now, Philips has announced that three of its digital-to-analog converters have been approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the trio will be sold under the Magnavox / Philco brand names. Reportedly, the Magnavox TB-100MW9 (pictured above), Philco TB-100HH9 and Philco TB-150HH9 (pictured after the jump) will be "available through large retail stores beginning in early 2008" for those in need, and yes, your handy coupon will indeed apply to any of the (admittedly unsightly) three.
Funai to produce inexpensive Blu-ray players
The key to success of any new technology in this country is to drive the price down so much that it becomes affordable for everyone to own, and while Blu-ray still has a long way to go to hit that level, it looks like they might be on their way. Recently in a financial report from Funai, -- a Chinese manufacturer who brings us value products like Sylvania, Emerson, and Magnavox -- they announced plans to launch a Blu-ray player. While the details were left out for the most part, we'd expect to see them within the next year. Either way we will have to wait and see if these show up next to Fuh Yuan's HD DVD players at a Wal-Mart near you.
