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A&E, History and Lifetime arrive on Sling TV this month
If you're still on the fence about committing $20 a month to Sling TV's "Best of Live TV," the streaming option is adding a few more channels. Before the end of March, A&E, History, H2 and Lifetime will be available on the service that's hoping you'll ditch cable. That handful of channels will be part of the core live TV package, which will tally 20 networks once those arrive. Of course, this means shows like Vikings, Bates Motel, Duck Dynasty and Project Runway are all joining the streaming lineup. In addition to the new channels, Sling TV is adding two new add-on packs that expand the basic channel library. "Lifestyle Extra" includes things like truTV, Cooking Channel and DIY, while the new "World News Extra" provides access to Bloomberg, HLN, and other news networks around the world. If you'll recall, the additional bundles cost $5 per month, and will be offered alongside the "Sports Extra," "Hollywood Extra" and "Kids Extra" packages, bringing the total "Extras" to five. [Image credit: History Channel/Bernard Walsh]
You can now watch A&E and History live on iOS and the web
A&E Networks is regularly finding ways to make its programming more widely available, particularly by having on-demand options through TV providers and its own apps. To help boost these efforts, the company's now bringing live streaming into the fold, at least with a couple of properties. As of today, viewers can now watch a real-time feed of A&E and History, via each channel's website and their applications on iOS -- no word on when, or if, the feature will head to Android. Naturally, you'll need a cable subscription to enjoy this, as is often the case for most services that use the internet to broadcast entertainment content.
Must See HDTV for the week of February 17th: Winter Olympics, Daytona 500 and Strider
This is the final week of the Winter Olympics, with the closing ceremonies scheduled for Sunday night. Bob Costas is back (with less creepy demon-possessed eye infection stare) plus plenty of action including bobsled, short-track speed skating, hockey finals and of course, curling. Game of Thrones season three will hit the shelves on Blu-ray, so whether you're looking for a recap or just getting your first look in 1080p, now is the time. Racing fans can also look forward to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, while gamers can enjoy a remake of the classic game Strider on current and next-gen systems this week -- although honestly, many of us are just trying to finish off House of Cards before the spoilers become impossible to avoid or filter out. Usually we don't point out the late-night weekly shows, but tonight Jimmy Fallon takes over the Tonight Show chair from Jay Leno. Check after the break for trailers plus our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and gaming.
Time Warner Cable customers can now stream on-demand shows from A&E Networks
Sure, Time Warner Cable already provides a way to view on-demand A&E Networks programming via its set-top boxes. But in an era where watching stuff on different types of screens is key, service providers and creators alike know how important it is for people to consume as much content as possible, regardless of where they are. Today, as part of the TV Everywhere initiative, TWC struck a deal which lets its subscribers have full on-demand access to a number of channels from A&E Networks -- such as History, Lifetime and, of course, A&E. Naturally, this means being able to use the desktop site and mobile apps of each network to watch a variety of shows at any given time, including ones like Duck Dynasty, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Swamp People and Project Runway. We should mention that, as is often the case, Bright House Networks customers will also benefit from Time Warner Cable's latest content agreement, though they won't be able to use their subscription credentials until next week. A&E Networks has a number of apps across iOS and Android, so now might be a good time to download and set them up using your TWC ID -- because, let's face it, you can't wait to binge-watch Storage Wars: Texas.
Ask Engadget: best music player and service to start fresh?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Sarah, who has a clean slate to begin using music services and wants a device to help her along. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hello! Long story very short, I don't own any CDs anymore, or HiFi gear, and all I'm doing for music is playing the odd track on YouTube and listening to 6Music. I'd really like some sort of HiFi that I could just hook up to Spotify without having to sit in front of a computer to pick out tracks. Is there anything that exists that could help me? Thanks!" If we're honest, we're not sure the device you describe exists, but there is a reasonably useful (albeit expensive) alternative. For instance, Spotify Connect is now available on a fair few pieces of audio gear, so all you'd need then is to grab a mobile device (cheapie tablet, for instance) as a controller. That's as far as our thinking goes, so perhaps now we can turn this one over to the Engadgeteers in the hope that they can suggest something better.
Ask Engadget: best online photo album with public contributions?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Jeff, who wants to crowdsource his wedding photography without any mess. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "As part of my wedding plans, we're expecting plenty of our friends to take pictures of the big day on their smartphones and cameras. I'd like to create a public online photo album to let everyone upload the pictures to one place, and then I can download them later. I'd really rather not have anyone set up an account anywhere (so Flickr won't work) and, ideally, I'd like those who shoot in .RAW to be able to upload the full sized files. Any ideas and suggestions of places would be great, thanks!" Well, actually, your humble narrator has this same problem early last year. My solution, which won't work for you, was to sign up with a Flickr Pro account and set up a new group. As you can email in images to a specific group email address, we sent this address out on our invitations. That way, anyone who took pictures could just email them straight to the site. As you've said, that's not going to work with .RAW images, so let's turn this question over to the community and see what they can come up with.
Ask Engadget: best sub-$500 laptop?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Joel, who has one eye on our archives and another on his wallet. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "It's been a while since you had a Best Laptop under $500 question. I'd be curious to know what all of the Engadget readers would suggest?" It certainly has, Joel, so let's throw this open to the bounty of real-world testers that we have in the Engadget community. If you've spent $500 on a laptop that you love, share the details in the comments section below.
Ask Engadget: best wireless trackball mouse?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Andrew, who loves his trackball and needs to help find a wireless replacement. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm a huge fan of trackball mice, and I've been using a Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman since 2002. They can't be popular, because the company no longer makes them, and I haven't been able to source one except at ridiculous prices on eBay. I've even tried the Logitech M570, but I simply can't use it. I've looked at Kensington's offerings, but they are geared towards thumb-ballers rather than index-finger ballers, so what I want to know is: is any company making a wireless trackball mouse that offers the same experience as my beloved Optical Trackman? Thanks!" Now, if we're honest, we did some digging and we really do feel your pain. In our searches, it looks as if the wireless trackball world has collapsed down to the Kensington Orbit or the M570, which you've already discounted. So, do any of you, out there in the ether, use a suitable trackball from a niche manufacturer? Heck, are you a niche manufacturer looking for an audience? The comments section below is where you need to go.
Ask Engadget: best home backup system?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Stevie, who wants to get into the archival game. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'd like to set up a central backup system for all four of our home computers. I'd like to have a wired and wireless option as they're all scattered around the place, and would need to have a very safe redundant disk system of some kind, and also to act as a media storage device for future HTPC uses. Am I wanting too much? Is there some hope out there for me? Thanks!" Now, in our humble opinion, what you're really looking for is a beefy NAS with enough speed to pump backups in and movies out at a comfortable rate. Our first thought, therefore, is to suggest the LaCie 2big, which'll throw information around your network at 100MB/s and can be picked up for under $500 (if you go for the non-Thunderbolt version). The big upside of using a device like this, of course, is that it'll happily work with both Windows and OS X backup software, taking a lot of the hard work out of your hands. Still, that's just one suggestion from us, we're reasonably sure that the mavens who lurk in our comment threads will more than happily oblige you with some more suggestions.
Ask Engadget: best stepper motor and drive?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Dylan, who has the rarest of all beasts: a question relating to engineering for us all to get our teeth into. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I currently own a Koyo Click programmable logic controller and I'm looking at getting a Raspberri Pi. What I need to ask you, is what would be a good and versatile stepper motor and drive combination that is both cheap (sub-$50) and doesn't tie me down to a specific hardware platform? All of my searches seem to converge to Arduino stuff that, while cool, isn't the platform I'm investing in. I know cheap motors and drives can be found on eBay and the like, but can you suggest a proven and reliable name? Thanks!" If there's one thing we love, it's meaty questions that venture beyond asking us which smartphone you should buy. The question here is to find a platform-agnostic stepper motor and drive for under $50, so let's turn this puzzler over to you, our brilliant community, in the hope that together, we can come up with the perfect solution.
Ask Engadget: best device for the elderly?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Douglas, who wants to help his aunt get online. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I live in California and my elderly aunt lives in New York. I'm looking for a way to get her online in an easy and accessible way. I've looked at a Chromebook, but I'm worried that it'll be too intimidating and the text will be too small for her weak eyes. I've also looked at a first-gen iPad, since I can find one for $150 which is about my budget. All she really needs to do is run Skype and Facetime, Facebook, email and looking at pictures." Well, if you're concerned that a Chromebook will be too intimidating, then perhaps a first-generation (or second-hand iPad 2) will be just the thing. Then again, you can't just take our word for it, so let's open this up to the commenters to see if they've found something even easier for getting your elderly relatives online.
Ask Engadget: how can I bring WiFi to my shed?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Jonathan, who has the age-old problem of how to bring the internet to his outbuilding. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi Engadget, I'm more of a DIY-er than a technophile, so I need your help with a project of mine. I live out in the middle of nowhere and have just finished fixing up my shed as a place where I can work and write. Alas, it's too far away from my house to be within my router's WiFi signal and, as I understand it, ethernet cables don't work if they're longer than 20 meters. I could buy a repeater, but there's no power or waterproof areas between the home and the shed -- so would I just have to hang it from a tree and hope? Please help me!" We're not sure where you heard about the 20 meter limit, but we can assure you that it's not true. In fact, the rule-of-thumb is that you can work up to 100 meters of cable without worrying about the signal degrading. That said, we'd recommend snapping up some Cat 6 cable rather than anything cheaper to ensure that you're getting the best level of signal there. All you need now is a long pipe to run the wire down without getting it exposed to the elements. At least, that's our opinion. Now it's over to the Engadget community for their opinion, so, what say you?
Ask Engadget: best way to get Skype on my HDTV?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Brian, who wants to video-chat in his living room without having to buy a whole new HDTV. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi Engadget, love the site! I'm looking to get Skype functionality onto my HDTV. What's the best standalone device with a camera and microphone that I can use without having to go out and buy a camera-enabled smart TV? Thanks!" Well Brian, there are some options, but as far as we know, the market's not particularly wide-ranging. For instance, the only two models that spring instantly to our mind is Logitech's TV Cam HD and Tely Labs telyHD. At least, those are our suggestions. Now it's time to turn this question over to the readers and let them suggest items to you that they've used, loved and would recommend to a friend. So have at it!
Ask Engadget: best entry-level 3D printer?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Andrew, who wants to print all the things, you know what we mean? If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi, I've been looking into 3D printers for some time, and I think I'm ready to take the plunge. Do you think it's worth getting an entry-level (sub-$500) model for tinkering, and if so, is there one that you'd recommend? Thanks!" Given the number of entrants into the 3D Printing market of late, we're reasonably sure there's something that'll let you whet your appetite for additive manufacturing. Solidoodle's second-generation printer, for instance, retails at $499, while the Portabee is similarly priced. Now, the only question is, of course, down to which of these two (or any others) our audience has tried and prefers. So, dear friends, which one do you suggest?
Ask Engadget: best next-gen console projector?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from "Eager Gamer," who has asked a question that's appeared more than a few times in our inbox over the last month. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "With next-gen consoles around the corner, could you please help me out with some of the best gaming projectors to choose from? I'm looking for something in the $2,000 - $2,500 in the price range. Thanks for any and all advice you can offer, as buying my first projector is much harder than I thought it'd be." Never fear Easy Gamer, as we'd rather you ask us than run the risk of buying a bad gadget. On the upside, both the Xbone and PS4 will support 4K video (the Xbone will also be able to run games in 4K where supported). On the downside, the cheapest 4K projector is more than ten times your top budget. So instead, let's look at a high quality projector that you can grab that is within budget. Sony's VPLHW30ES, for instance, offers 3D projection, a 1,300 lumens bulb an HDMI-in for $2,500, while ViewSonic's PRO9000 can be snapped up for $1,800. Still, those are just two options from us -- we're reasonably sure that the Engadget community can suggest something even more suited to your tastes.
Ask Engadget: best job search tools?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Hildy, who's looking for a new job and doesn't just want to trawl the back page of the local newspaper. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm on the hunt for a job, but I was wondering if there's a site or service that people think is better than the rest? Is there perhaps a service, like Kayak, that pulls together all of that data from various sites and aggregates it all together? The other thing I want to know is if there's a program that would track applications at their various stages and offer reminders rather than just using a spreadsheet? Any ideas and help would be fantastic, thank you!" So, what do you all think? Have any of you managed to avoid a pink slip with job search website or app that you'd like to recommend? Did you pay for a month's free LinkedIn premium and you'd never turn back? Let us know in the comments below.
Ask Engadget: best mobile printer?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Ryan, who needs a device that'll save him time out on the job. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi. I'm an electrician that travels around in a van all day. Right now, I can either write receipts by hand or email to my customers after the fact. Is there any printer that I can use in the van and print from a phone or tablet? I only need to print out black and white on standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper, but nothing online seems to be what I need. Any help you can provide would be great, thanks!" Well Ryan, we always feel a bit icky recommending printers, since we all know that they are the devil's work, but you've got a specific need, so we shall do our best. Assuming you can grab a power inverter and therefore use any consumer-level printer that runs WiFi Direct or AirPrint (if you have an iOS device). Some examples include Brother's HL5470DW or the HP 1102W. Beyond that? Well it's time to turn this shebang over to our commenters, who will be happy to share some knowledge.
Ask Engadget: best soundbar?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Shoheb, who wants a soundbar and doesn't want to miss his surround sound set up. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm looking for a reasonably-priced soundbar that's got the power and quality that I won't miss 5-point surround sound set up. Is such a thing possible? Thanks!" A few months back we saw a demonstration of the Orbitsound M12 and we were blown away by its ability to dominate the sound even in a crowded trade-show hall. We've also heard plenty of good things about Sony's HT-CT260, given its reasonable price, and we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Philips' Fidelio HTL9100 with detachable speakers (should you need more immersive sound). Of course, that's three from the top of our heads, we dare the Engadget community to suggest some more.
Ask Engadget: share a single muni-fi account with multiple devices?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Zoe, who needs to help out her mum (she's in the UK) with a tricky WiFi problem. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "My mum's retirement community offers a municipal WiFi service for £130 per year, but only provides a login that can be used on a single device at a time. More annoyingly, that device has to use a web browser, which means that you can't access it using an Apple TV at all. To get around that, I've leant her my Mac Mini, and then I share the WiFi connection over Ethernet to an Airport Extreme. Unfortunately, this only works for short bursts at a time before the DHCP or connection sharing goes screwy and needs to be reset. My question, therefore, is what can I buy that will connect to this crappy WiFi and share that connection to the other wireless devices around the home? Would it be possible to use Raspberry Pi or some other small device to do the job? All it has to do is be stable and have an uptime longer than 2 hours. Thanks!" This is the sort of question that most geeks love getting their hands on, because it's a good old-fashioned problem. You'll just have to ignore all of the people who tell your mom to move house instead of coming up with a useful solution. Either way, we did think that perhaps there was a way to share this connection using a hotspot device, but they primarily use Ethernet. As such, we're going to turn this question open to our community for some sage advice. Surely there must be a simple way to do this without depriving Zoe of her Mac Mini?
Ask Engadget: best device locator?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Eric, who needs help overcoming a memory condition with regards his wallet. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hello! I've got a problem whereby I can forget things, and I've lost my wallet on more than one occasion. Naturally, the lack of technology makes it difficult to find, so is there a way I can add a tether (to alert my phone when it goes out of range) or a GPS tracker to save yet more tedious calls to cancel my credit cards? Thanks!" That's an interesting puzzler, and certainly one that we think we should throw straight out to the wider community. What have y'all seen that'd help our friend Eric overcome his burdens and keep his wallet close to hand? You know where to leave your comments.
