OTA
Latest
The 2024 Polestar 2 will have better range, stronger motors and a SmartZone sensor suite
Polestar on Tuesday showed off some of the numerous updates that the upcoming 2024 model year PS2 will sport: new motors, new standard equipment, new battery chemistry and the SmartZone sensor suite.
Hyundai wants all of its vehicles to support over-the-air updates by 2025
Hyundai has unveiled the roadmap for its EV future, saying its entire lineup across brands will become "Software Defined Vehicles" (SDVs)
Porsche Taycans will charge faster and go farther with latest update
Porsche is releasing a comprehensive dealer-installed update to its sporty Taycan EV.
Volvo says all its new vehicles now support over-the-air updates
Volvo now offers over-the-air (OTA) software updates across its entire vehicle lineup, it announced.
Google starts rolling out the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro's delayed December update
Google has begun rolling out the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro’s latest update following a delay in December.
Porsche update gives the 2020 Taycan features from this year's model
Porsche has unveiled a free update for the 2020 Taycan that brings it up-to-date with features like improved driving dynamics, new intelligent charging functions and the latest navigation/infotainment features.
Tablo rolls out a $200 quad-tuner DVR with HDMI
This $200 DVR can record up to four programs at once on USB-connected storage.
Polestar 2 OTA update improves range and DC charging speeds
The Polestar 2 will get its first major software update sometime in the next few weeks.
Google’s next Wear OS update will bring more speed and a weather app
A Wear OS update rolling out this fall will bring improved performance and a new weather app.
Tablo's Dual 128GB and Quad 1TB DVRs have plenty of storage built-in
Tablo's newest DVRs come with built-in storage so you can record over-the-air TV out of the box.
Plex makes live TV free for three months
Plex is joining the chorus of companies handing out freebies to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The media app makers are offering their Live TV feature free to all users for three months through June 30th. You'll still need a tuner and an over-the-air antenna, but you won't need a Plex Pass to watch channels through any of the company's apps.
Samsung's latest 8K TVs will include 4K over-the-air tuners
Samsung's next wave of 8K TVs are likely to have numerous features to catch your eye, but one of the more important additions may be one of the simplest: an improvement to free broadcasts. The tech giant has revealed that its 2020 QLED 8K catalog will include ATSC 3.0 tuners with NEXTGEN TV to deliver over-the-air 4K programming, multi-channel object-based audio and "enhanced" content to US viewers. Your TV still won't be used to its fullest potential, but this beats having to pay for cable or streaming services to get a live TV picture beyond 1080p.
Dish's smaller AirTV 2 can hide while it streams local TV
Dish has unveiled a new version of its AirTV media box, and it's good news for those who want their over-the-air broadcasts in a subtler package. The AirTV 2 once again shares up to two streams of OTA material with the devices in your home, but it's now smaller, subtler and overall sleeker. You'll have a better chance of tucking the box away where it won't command attention. The device also boasts improved connectivity, although you're still looking at an 802.11ac WiFi connection.
Chevy's 2021 Tahoe and Suburban add OTA updates and big screens
The new mid-engined Corvette Stingray will debut with GM's new "digital vehicle platform," which it shares in common with these super-sized SUVs and allow the vehicles to receive over-the-air updates that add new features in the future. As Autoblog points out, the 2021 Tahoe and Suburban enjoy a refreshed appeal with more interior space and improved ride, mostly thanks to some added length, adaptive suspension tech and a switch to independent rear suspension.
AirTV Mini delivers streaming and local TV in a dongle
A couple years ago Dish revealed AirTV, an Android TV-powered set-top box. The company has been relatively quiet since then, but today, it launched the AirTV Mini. The new device is a 4K HDR-compatible streaming stick that brings users Sling TV, Netflix and over-the-air (OTA) channels, as well as other apps built for Android TVs.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Shield TV Gaming Edition courtesy of Plex!
This week's giveaway, courtesy of Plex, could put a sleek multimedia machine in your home. Plex's popular grid-view software helps you organize and navigate your files, while giving you access to them on-the-go. The NVIDIA Shield is a cord-cutting Android TV device with 4K HDR output, Google Assistant and GeForce Now game streaming on board. When paired with a Plex Pass, antenna and tuner you can harness OTA live TV with DVR capabilities, putting those shows seamlessly alongside your own library for easy access. Plex lets you access all this content through its app from a computer, mobile device and even supported systems like Sonos or Amazon's Alexa, wherever you go. You can even subscribe to Tidal x Plex to incorporate the streaming service's music into your own collection. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to five chances at winning. Two readers will each receive a Plex Lifetime Pass and NVIDIA Shield TV Gaming Edition. Good luck! Winners: Congratulations to Neal V. of Tampa, FL and Gus N. of West Haven, CT!
This new HDHomeRun DVR makes life easier for cord-cutters
If easy access to a DVR is the only thing keeping you from cutting the cord, then the latest HDHomeRun devices could be just the push you need. While SiliconDust has previously built well-regarded tuners, a software suite that manages your TV experience and even expanded with a $35 per month 'Premium' streaming TV service, now it has an all-in-one DVR. The HDHomeRun Scribe Duo is similar to its Connect Duo DVR, but with the addition of a 1TB hard drive inside and a year of free DVR service (normally $35).
Tablo's newest over-the-air DVR automatically skips ads
If you'd rather just watch Netflix and catch TV over the air for free, while still being able to skip ads, Nuvyyo's Tablo Quad DVR might be for you. It packs a 4-tuner DVR, letting you find, record, store and stream up to four live antenna TV channels at once. More importantly, Tablo has caught up to TiVo's Roamio, letting you skip OTA commercials automatically via a beta feature. It uses a cloud-based system that marries algorithms and machine learning to help you enjoy an ad-free experience without lifting a finger.
Amazon's latest Fire TV Stick offers 4K for $50
After years of offering 4K playback on its higher-end Fire TV devices, Amazon is ready to bring that extra resolution to its most affordable hardware. With a base of active users that's 25 million strong, it's launching the Fire TV Stick 4K, delivering Ultra HD and HDR streaming through an HDMI dongle that costs a modest $50. The stealthy device isn't as affordable as Roku's $40 Premiere, but it's also billed as the first media stick to support Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and HDR10+. You won't have to settle for lower-quality output just to save some cash or avoid using your TV's built-in apps.
TiVo targets cord-cutters (again) with the Bolt OTA
What happens when you take TiVo's latest Bolt Vox DVR, remove the cable functionality, but keep just about everything else? You've got the new Bolt OTA, the replacement for the Roamio OTA box, which gives cord-cutters access to all of the TiVo DVR features they know and love. It features four separate tuners for recording multiple shows at once, a voice remote, Alexa integration, and it can store up to 150 hours of HD video on a 1TB hard drive. While there isn't any 4K over-the-air content yet, it supports 4K HDR for streaming video services like Netflix and Hulu. The only downside, as usual, is the price: $250 for the hardware, and either $7 a month or $70 a year service plan. You could also go all in with TiVo and pay a flat $250 for lifetime service.