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D-Link's Boxee Box gets VUDU streaming rentals
We're just weeks away from the Boxee Box bringing its pan-dimensional shape to your home entertainment center, but still the surprises keep rolling. VUDU has announced that it too will be making an appearance on the thing, offering streaming downloadable rentals of big hits with some, like Avatar, having special features to boot. Viewers will have 1080p on tap along with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround and the pleasure of knowing that their $2 per rental is going straight into Walmart's pocket. Who doesn't love Walmart? Update: To be clear, VUDU will be available to users of the PC and Mac Boxee clients as well.
Boxee Box shipping November 10th in US and Canada
And with that, the long (long!) wait is (just) about over. Boxee just announced this morning that its long awaited Boxee Box (you know, the one built by D-Link) will be shipping out on November 10th for customers who have pre-ordered from Amazon in the United States and Best Buy or Future Shop in Canada. Furthermore, pre-orders taken in Australia / New Zealand and other nations across Europe will start heading out "shortly thereafter." For those looking to pick one up after the initial rush, it's expected to start splashing down in retail on November 17th. So, you in?
Boxee Box on display at FCC, inside and out
We've already seen its remote go through the FCC, and now we've got the whole D-Link-produced Boxee Box kit and caboodle receiving the same treatment. There's an assortment of pictures both of its shiny exterior and circuit-laden interior (surprise, surprise, no Tegra 2 in sight). Additionally, we've got the full manual at our disposal. That one's fairly straightforward, no surprises that we can see. All the same, check it out in the gallery below. %Gallery-103226% %Gallery-103227%
Boxee Box ditches NVIDIA's Tegra 2 for Intel CE4100, pre-orders start today at $199
The wait for the Boxee Box is nearly over -- pre-orders begin today -- but before you drop a stack of change on D-Link's half-sunk cube, know that there's no longer an NVIDIA Tegra 2 under that tiny hood. At the last minute, Boxee switched to the Intel Atom CE4100, the same up-to-1.2GHz Sodaville chip powering Google TV. That's not all, as manufacturer D-Link told us our good friend Avner Ronen may not be able to keep his promise -- though the company still expects the Box to hit the streets at under $200, we're now looking at a $229 suggested retail price. What could possibly have happened to make these drastic changes? We visited Boxee in person to get an explanation, and you'll find the surprisingly simple (yet NVIDIA-damning) answer right after the break. Update: We just learned that Amazon will be selling it for $199, though the MSRP will remain $229. %Gallery-101976%
Boxee's new browser is built on Webkit and HTML5 ready
Expect to see some changes to Boxee when its $199 D-Link-built Box ships in November, as Lead Apps Developer / Community evangelist Rob Spectre tells NewTeeVee that among them will be a new Webkit based browser. The current Mozilla based browser is clearly useful for some quick & unblocked Hulu viewing, but still doesn't render many sites properly. According to Spectre, HTML5 "absolutely should be the future for the browsers you use on your TV," with competition from Google TV we can see why he'd say that, and it should be ready to stream video from even more sites that don't build Boxee apps. The desktop versions of the software will get the new browser in version 1.0 after the Boxee Box is released, so make sure your comparison charts are appropriately updated.
Boxee Box delayed until November
We were starting to think something was up with the Boxee Box as Q2 started to fade away without any word on the scheduled launch, and unfortunately we were right: Boxee has just confirmed to us that its hotly-anticipated media streamer will be delayed until November in the US and Canada. Boxee says the original launch plan has proven to be "overly ambitious," and that the delay is purely software-related -- the Tegra 2 based hardware we saw at CES will remain the same. If we had to guess, we'd say at least part of the delay can be attributed to Adobe, since Flash 10.1 just went final yesterday and Boxee is depending on it as a core feature, but either way, the company's goal to provide the full PC Boxee experience complete with full-res 1080p video playback from virtually any local or remote source on a small embedded platform is an ambitious one -- we've got our fingers crossed, let's hope we hear good news from Avner Ronen and crew come November.
D-Link DWM-351 turns the doorbell into a 3G video intercom
In lieu of a cost-effective, consumer-friendly home automation standard being available, products like the D-Link 3G Door Phone have emerged to address ad hoc automation needs. This suped-up, waterproof doorbell allows home owners to monitor the front door over a 3G cellphone or PC via the unit's integrated 0.1 megapixel camera, SIM card, speaker, and mic. Home owners can then see the visitor as a snapshot or over one-way 3G video while interacting over a two-way voice call. Unfortunately, it won't allow you to remotely unlock your door; for that you'll need something like a Schlage lock and a fussy Z-Wave network to go with it. Alternatively, devices like the Siemens Gigaset HC450 intercom has the option to control your electronic door lock from your home landline (accessible via your mobile phone) but lacks video and direct 3G data access. Hey, nobody said home automation was going to be easy.
D-Link's adorable myPocket 3G router gets FCC approval
Announced last month, D-Link is entering the mobile 3G router space with a suspiciously MiFi-esque product dubbed "myPocket" that pushes up to 7.2Mbps worth of HSPA over a portable WiFi cloud. The device -- model number DIR-457 -- has just been blessed with FCC approval today, which is a particularly good thing considering that it offers North American 3G compatibility on the 850 and 1900MHz bands. D-Link is no stranger to the 3G router market -- it's been making them for several years, actually, but this would be the first model that looks pocketable (hence the name, we suppose). It's not shipping Stateside just yet, but between this and Novatel's offerings, AT&T's got to make a move at some point.
Boxee Box interface demo video
We're already gone hands-on with the Boxee Box and its sweet QWERTY RF remote, but now that we know there's a dual-core Tegra 2 in there it's time for a little interface demo with founder Avner Ronen. First things first: yes, it ran Hulu in the browser -- but the network connection on the show floor was acting up, so we couldn't demo it very well. Avner tells us the built-in browser IDs itself as essentially standard Mozilla, so we'll have to see if Hulu goes out of its way to block it --it's definitely still possible, but it'll take some work. Apart from that minor drama, we've got to say we're incredibly impressed -- the interface was lightning fast, the remote's keyboard felt great, and we're liking the Facebook / Twitter integration, which mines your feeds for videos posted by your friends and displays them on the home page. Avner tells us he thinks D-Link will be "aggressive" with that under-$200 price point when the Box launches in Q2, and there'll be tons of content partners at launch. Video after the break! %Gallery-82343%
D-Link's DIG-1320 Powerline router eyed at CES
Looks like Netgear isn't the only one bringing its Powerline data-over-power line devices to Las Vegas this week! Our fine friends at gdgt have just hepped us to a couple new D-Link boxes, including the DIG-1320, the company's first Powerline router -- with 802.11n WiFi to boot!. If using the ominous power of electricity to watch The Fall Guy on Hulu seems a bit much, the company has also unveiled DIR-632, its first consumer dot-n router with (count 'em!) 8 Ethernet ports. No word on price or release date, but if any of these things "fall off the back of a truck," we'll drop you a line. We know a guy.
D-Link Pebble media streamer isn't the Boxee Box
Sort of funny that D-Link is calling its other new media streamer the Pebble, since it's just about as anonymous -- especially compared to the company's own Boxee Box, which is also launching this week for just slightly more than this thing's $119 list price. We're sure the Pebble will do a fine job streaming local and network media to your TV, but c'mon -- have you seen the Boxee Box's remote? Case closed.
D-Link announces Touch and Pocket 802.11n routers, Rush wireless accelerator
D-Link just dropped a bunch of new 802.11n gear here at CES -- a couple of new routers and the intriguing Rush accelerator pictured above, which is basically a powerful 4x4 access point. It's switchable between 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and it can do up to 600Mbs over 802.11n. As for the routers, there's the new D-Link Touch, which sports a three-inch touchscreen for configuration and simultaneous dual-band 2.4 and 5GHz support for up to 450MBps transfers, and the Pocket, which is designed as a quick'n'dirty travel router. Sadly we don't have prices for any of this stuff, but we'll find out more closer to the middle of the year when it all goes on sale. Pics in the gallery, PR after the break. %Gallery-81596% %Gallery-81599%
Boxee Box officially announced: under $200, Flash 10.1 support
The Boxee Box has already been semi-announced once, but it's making a much more grand debut here at CES -- and it's coming with a spec list this time. Just as we'd heard, the asymmetrical streamer will be sold by D-Link for under $200, and it'll support a wide range of formats, including DivX, VC-1, WMV, H.264 MKV, and Flash 10.1. Service support is equally broad, with Pandora, Last.fm, Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, and Flickr all integrated -- and there's obviously Boxee's app platform for additional apps, plugins, and games. Unfortunately we don't know what's powering all this under the hood just yet, but we've got a sneaking suspicious there's some NVIDA action going on here -- we'll keep digging. Full PR after the break.
Boxee Box pictured in the wild: it's small!
Whoa, we sort of guessed the Boxee Box was going to be small from those press pics we saw the other night, but we didn't know it was going to be freaking tiny -- check out this shot of the asymmetrical set-top next to a Coke can just posted up on the Boxee blog. Sadly, neither Boxee nor D-Link has updated us on what's actually powering this little guy, but we do now know that it'll have an RF remote control and S/PDIF and RCA audio outputs in addition to HDMI, SD, USB, WiFi, and Ethernet. Sounds like a tiny little chunk of awesome -- we're looking forward to finding out way more at CES.
D-Link Xtreme N DIR-685 storage router now shipping
Well, what do we have here? D-Link's DIR-685 Xtreme N Storage Router -- you know, the 802.11n packing, WAP having, BitTorrent running beaut with USB storage support and 3.2-inch display we first laid eyes on in January at CES -- has finally hit store shelves. Every bit as lust-worthy as it was when we initially reviewed it, this bad boy retails for $300. Hit the read link to get in on the action.[Via Electronista]
D-Link's Xtreme N DIR-685 storage router hands-on and impressions
Somehow or another, D-Link managed to combine a NAS, digital photo frame, secondary display and 802.11n router into a single device, and when the Xtreme N DIR-685 Storage Router was announced way back at CES this year, we were certainly interested to see how such a conglomerate would go over. At long last, the do-it-all wireless router is finally making its way out to the public at large, and with an MSRP of $299.99 (sans any internal HDD space), it's definitely one of the pricier routers out there. We've taken this strikingly unique device into our lairs for a few days of testing, and if you're interested in seeing if this bad boy is worth the price of admission, you'll need to follow us past the break.
D-Link gets official with mydlink-enabled network cameras
D-Link wasn't exactly dishing out a ton of details when it showed off its DCS-1100- and DCS-1130 network cameras back at CES, but it's now finally gotten fully official with 'em, and the new mydlink website that they're tied to. As you can see above, one of the cameras, the DCS-1130, packs some built-in WiFi (802.11n, no less), while the other keeps things wired to save a few bucks and please those still wary of wireless security. Otherwise, each are seemingly identical, and pack a 16x digital zoom, motion detection, a built-in microphone, support for 3GPP mobile surveillance (provided you have appropriate router) and, of course, support for remote monitoring from D-Link's new mydlink.com website, which apparently thinks it's 1999 and only supports Internet Explorer. If that's not too big a drawback, you can pick up the wired version now for $180, or grab the WiFi model for $230 at the end of the month.
D-Link routers get added CAPTCHA protection
D-Link has been known to roll out some fairly significant firmware updates for its routers in the past, and while this latest won't exactly breath new life into your old clunker, it does at least break a tiny bit of new ground in its own little way. While the company is obviously quick to point out that its routers are already some of the most secure around, it apparently thought they could still do with a bit of added protection, so it's now added some annoying but reliable CAPTCHA tests to a number of its existing models. That includes the DIR-615, DIR-625, DIR-628, DIR-655, DIR-825, DIR-855, DIR-685, and DGL-4500, which can each be upgraded with the new firmware that's now freely available on D-Link's website, and will no doubt become standard issue on all future D-Link routers.[Via Engadget Spanish]
CSIRO's patent lawsuits conclude with the final 13 companies settling
Looks like CSIRO's legal days are over -- for the moment, at least. Having already reached an agreement with HP, the Australian government-funded research firm announced this week that it's settled with the remaining 13 companies it sued for patent infringement, claiming it owned the rights to 802.11a/g. For those who haven't been keeping track at home, that includes Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Nintendo, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Netgear, Buffalo, D-Link, Belkin, SMC, Accton, and 3Com. The details of any of the settlements are undisclosed, but as iTnews reports, it's expected CSIRO ended up with some substantial monies now that the dust has settled. Chief Executive Dr. Megan Clark noted that it'll continue to "defend its intellectual property," so if you're a high profile tech company who creates WiFi-equipped gadgets and hasn't been served a lawsuit yet, we don't blame you for being a little nervous right now.
D-Link finally ships the DXN-221 Coax Ethernet adapter
It's taken almost a year, but D-Link is finally shipping its DXN-221 Coax Ethernet network adapter. The MoCA-certified box does exactly what it says -- it turns your existing coax cabling into a giant Ethernet network without interfering with TV signals, allowing you to get hardwired network speeds anywhere in your house without having to run Cat6. A pair will set you back $239 at retail, but it looks like D-Link is selling them direct for $156.[Via HotHardware]
