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Samsung unveils AirTrack soundbar for 60-inch and larger TVs
Many soundbars are designed for small or mid-sized TV sets, where price and space are top priorities. Samsung is bucking that trend with its newly unveiled AirTrack HW-F850: its follow-up to the vacuum tube-based F750 is built expressly for 60-inch and larger screens. As Samsung can afford a considerably larger bar, the F850 boosts the total power to 350W, up 40W from the F750. The company promises deeper bass from the subwoofer, too. As you'd expect, both Bluetooth audio and NFC pairing carry over from the F850's tinier counterparts. Samsung expects to ship the extra-large soundbar to Europe in September; the company hasn't mentioned pricing, although the F850 will likely command a premium over smaller AirTrack models.
KT Skylife plans to trial 4K satellite TV service in 2014
Satellite TV in Ultra HD quality is no longer just a dream: following a successful test broadcast this week, KT Skylife has unveiled a roadmap for offering 4K TV to its subscribers. The Korean provider plans to trial one channel of UHD content in the efficient H.265 (HEVC) video format next year, with a full commercial launch due in 2015. Widespread availability will depend on KT Skylife's ability to clear regulatory hurdles, CEO Jae-chul Moon says. The real challenge, however, may be finding customers with Ultra HD TVs. While prices are falling quickly, there's no guarantee that 4K sets will be commonplace in two years' time.
Ceton ships InfiniTV 6 PCIe tuner, crams six HD channels into a home theater PC
Ceton vowed that it would release a PCI Express equivalent of its InfiniTV 6 ETH box, and it's delivering on that promise (if belatedly) by shipping the InfiniTV 6 PCIe. The adapter still lets Windows Media Center users watch or record up to six HD cable TV channels through one CableCARD, but in a form factor that slots neatly into a dedicated home theater PC. The board is in stock at Amazon and Newegg today at its expected $299 price. While that cost puts the InfiniTV PCIe at the high end of the TV tuner spectrum, it may be worthwhile for viewers who just can't afford to miss a show.
Engadget HD Podcast 362 - 08.08.13
Right on schedule, we're back with all the latest HD news -- and a whole lot of FCC leaks and Chromecast-related updates. Better yet, Richard and Ben are ready to get Engadget HD's Yahoo Pro Pick 'em Football league going again now that we're in the pre-season. Stream this week's episode below and get filled in on it all. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Joe Pollicino Hear the podcast
LG ships retro TV with rotary dials
Do you miss walking over the TV to change the channel? We know LG does. It just launched a 32-inch LCD set, the 32LN630R, that resembles a '70s tube TV down to the working channel and volume dials. Not that the company is foregoing modern luxuries, mind you -- its 1080p, IPS-based display supports both USB-based storage and MHL video from mobile devices. The 32LN630R is available now in South Korea for 840,000 won ($754), but there are no immediate plans to sell the TV to nostalgic Americans.
Ang Lee set to helm 3D boxing film, re-create classic fights from the '60s and '70s
Nobody can accuse Oscar-winning director Ang Lee of being stuck in a box, having gone from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to Hulk to Life of Pi. According to Deadline Hollywood, he'll next tackle a boxing film that looks at the 1960s and '70s golden age or prizefighting, with such rivalries as Ali-Frazier and Hearns-Duran. Intriguingly, he intends to give us an intimate peek into that world by filming it in 3D, presumably using Life of Pi's Cameron Pace Fusion 3D technology. Other story and technical details have yet to come out, but given the filmmaker's love of complex themes and the epic clashes of the era, he's got our attention.
Wuaki.tv video service gets Android, iPad app support in UK
When Rakuten launched the beta for its Wuaki.tv any-way-you-want-it video service in the UK, it left out the mobile apps that many crave. The company is rectifying that mistake today by officially bringing its Android and iOS clients to the country. There are few surprises for those who've used the apps in Spain, although the necessary Android update brings an option to rate shows. There's also more platform support on the way -- Wuaki.tv says that Brits will get access through game consoles and smart TVs later in the summer. As long as you're content with watching videos over WiFi, you can grab both apps through the source links.
BenQ ships W1500 projector with wireless 3D video
When projectors are a dime a dozen, they have to do something truly special to stand out. BenQ's newly available W1500 might just pull that off: how does high-quality wireless video sound? The DLP unit is billed as the first projector to offer WHDI over 5GHz frequencies, letting it stream 1080p 3D movies at quality that's reportedly on par with an HDMI signal. The company isn't leaning solely on this trick to lure us in, mind you. The W1500 integrates with mobile devices, courts gamers through 3DTV Play support and throws an 84-inch picture from as close as six feet away. Such convenience is expensive at $2,299, but it could be a viable alternative to stringing video cables around the den.
Vizio unveils trio of soundbars tailored for smaller TVs, starting at $80
Vizio's 42-inch soundbar is all fine and dandy, but not everyone has the TV or budget to justify that kind of audio -- college students, anyone? The company is clearly aware of this problem, as it just announced three soundbars built for smaller screens like those in the M-Series. The 29-inch S2920w ($80) and 38-inch S3820w ($120) cater to simple setups with 2.0-channel sound, while the 38-inch S3821w ($180) adds a wireless subwoofer for some extra oomph. All three support Bluetooth streaming from nearby devices, and they use DTS audio processing to both fill out the frequency range and hush noisy commercials. The soundbars will ship between late August and September, or just in time for the annual dorm room invasion.
Engadget HD Podcast 361 - 08.06.13
No more trilogies, folks. Ben wasn't positive at first, but Richard's convinced him it's about quadriliogies now -- at least in the world of Avatar. If only Time Warner Cable and CBS could compromise on the important issues as easily as our hosts do. Episode 361 of the Engadget HD Podcast is ready for your listening pleasure below. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Joe Pollicino Hear the podcast
Netflix releases trailer for Ricky Gervais' Derek, streaming begins September 12th
A few more of these, and it won't even be news. Netflix is going hard into the original content business, and judging by the outstanding results with House of Cards, we're guessing that it'll be aiming for similar results with a different demographic here. Derek, described as something of a comedy / drama mishmash, is fronted by the affable Ricky Gervais. The show actually aired as Dramedy over on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, so while it's not exactly a Netflix original, it's getting "original treatment." Per usual, the entire season will be available to stream at once on September 12th (overwhelming, we know), and if you're looking to decide just how much time you should set aside, the trailer is embedded after the break.
YouView adds World TV Boosts for Afrikaans, Arabic and Japanese
YouView's catch-up programming has remained mostly UK-centric so far, but TalkTalk is adding some diversity with a trio of World TV Boosts. The new Arabic TV, JSTV and kykNET TV packs give viewers a combined 16 channels of Afrikaans, Arabic and Japanese content. While the Boosts aren't cheap at a minimum £10 ($15) per month, they could be vital for ex-pats who want to keep up with news and shows from their home countries.
Netflix profiles won't work via Windows Media Center plugin
Netflix's user profiles haven't seen a full roll out yet, but they're already causing snags with certain users. Specifically, the new feature isn't compatible with Windows Media Center. Attempting to stream via Redmond's app offers users their list of profiles, but promptly throws an error message once one is selected. Unfortunately, the only fix it is to do without. According to The Green Button forums, Netflix will only resume streaming over Media Center if you kill all profiles except for the main one. If you aren't cool with sharing your account the old way -- and all the awkward movie recommendations that can come with it -- you're stuck. We do have a few suggestions for alternative streaming methods, however.
Blackmagic drops Cinema Camera price to $1,995
Do you like the prospect of shooting 2.5K video with Blackmagic's Cinema Camera, but turn pale at spending $2,995 for the privilege? We have good news: Blackmagic just dropped the pro video camera's price to $1,995. While that isn't exactly impulse purchase territory, it's low enough to put the greater-than-HD shooter in the same price bracket as semi-pro DSLRs. Think of the discount as consolation for delays in launching the Production Camera 4K.
Chromecast update breaks root-friendly exploit
We hope you weren't planning to tinker with your Chromecast this weekend. GTVHacker has confirmed that a recent firmware update to Google's streaming media stick plugs the bootloader exploit that many are using to get root access. Some XDA-Developers members have tried maintaining root by flashing recovery images and disabling signing keys, but those aren't reliable solutions -- we've seen a few reports of bricked Chromecasts. If you're cautious, it may be best to wait until more adventurous owners find a vulnerability in Google's newer code.
Engadget HD Podcast 360 - 07.31.13
More Google Chromecast news than you can handle? Check. Further discussion about our review of said $35 video-streaming dongle? Double check. If Chromecast isn't your thing, we also cover the likes of some cheap 4K TVs and our anticipation for the rest of Breaking Bad. The voices of Richard and Ben are ready to be heard below. This is episode 360 of the Engadget HD Podcast. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc) Producer: Joe Pollicino (@akaTRENT) Hear the podcast
Xbox brings laughter to all ages with Comedy Central and Nickelodeon apps
Xbox Live Gold customers, get ready for a chucklefest in your living room. Two new apps to tickle the funny bone have just arrived for Microsoft's console courtesy of Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. We heard rumblings about the latter being added to the roster a while ago, but it looks like that has finally come to fruition. Your kids can enjoy full episodes of their favorite Nick shows, short videos and special animated shorts. The Comedy Central app is a touch more adult-oriented of course, with a focus on the channel's stand-up offerings. Dubbed "CC: Stand-up," the app boasts more than 6,000 videos of routines from around 700 comedians. So whether you're into Aziz Ansari or Spongebob Squarepants, you'll be able to get your fix via Xbox Live starting today.
Yahoo and NBC Sports launch 'Fantasy Football Live' and 'SportsDash with Yahoo Sports' shows for TV and the web
ESPN may well be the biggest name in both online and television sports coverage, but Yahoo and NBC Sports are doing their best usurp the worldwide leader on both fronts. The latest assault on ESPN's hegemony comes in the form of two new shows that bridge the gap between TV and online video: Fantasy Football Live - Thursday Night! and SportsDash with Yahoo Sports. Just in time for the start of the NFL season, FF Live - Thursday Night! airs weekly starting August 1st on the NBC Sports channel from 6:30-7PM ET, then continues as a web broadcast on Yahoo! Sports from 7-7:30. Naturally, the show will feature talent from both NBC and Yahoo delivering fantasy football-related info and analysis. Meanwhile, SportsDash, a SportsCenter-style highlights and analysis program launches on August 19th and will air daily on NBC Sports from noon-1PM ET. SportsDash is taking a page from the Daily Show playbook, as extended interviews and stories will be streamed online from 1-1:15PM after the TV broadcast. Perfect. Two more sources of info we can use to dominate the annual Engadget HD podcast fantasy football pick-em.
Kaleidescape revamps Cinema One movie player with easier setup in mind
Kaleidescape's Cinema One player has been many things to movie buffs, but "accessible" isn't one of them -- limited distribution and an emphasis on custom installs has kept it out of reach. The company is widening that scope with a redesigned Cinema One that's almost as easy to install as an off-the-shelf Blu-ray player. It's a tad more advanced than that, of course. The Cinema One integrates with most home automation systems, and it stores up to 100 Blu-ray quality movies (including Kaleidescape Store downloads). Viewers who need more storage can attach a second player or the older DV700 Disc Vault. The revamped Cinema One is still expensive at $3,995, but it's at least easier to buy than its predecessor -- Kaleidescape is selling the new media server as a walk-in purchase at Magnolia and other retail stores.
Sony reportedly planning Gran Turismo movie with producers of The Social Network
While it's not the Mario Kart movie we'd all been hoping for (c'mon, right?,) it's arguably the next best thing. Sony is reportedly developing a film about that other petrol head game -- Gran Turismo. It's claimed that Mike de Luca and Dana Brunetti (The Social Network / Fifty Shades of Grey) are onboard with the project, which no doubt hopes to capitalize on the PlayStation title's solid following. That or Sony got sick of waiting for a certain other series to end before pursuing the idea. While we're not suggesting that our plot expectations are low, there's still hope other game crossovers might give us some faith in the format first.
