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Hulu offers a few fall premieres from Fox, ABC and NBC online before they air
It's pumpkin spice latte season, and that can only mean one thing: fall TV premieres are right around the corner. Thankfully, Hulu (like several other providers, if you have cable or satellite just take a look at your video on-demand menu) is once again letting you get the jump on your water cooler gossip by offering an early look at a few new and returning shows from ABC, NBC and Fox in advance of their television air dates. So, if you've been suffering from severe withdrawal from The Mindy Project (now with 100% more James Franco) or been intrigued by the overripe nostalgia of The Goldbergs, you're in luck. Also available on Hulu right now are new episodes of Back in the Game, Trophy Wife, Ironside and Welcome to the Family. To get into the spirit of premiere season, follow the source link below.
Adobe Premiere Pro on Windows to boast OpenCL support
Premiere Pro has already been tearing through video with OpenCL on Macs for a year, and now AMD and Adobe have teamed up to bring support for the open standard to Windows with the software's next version. Not only does the duo claim it's the first time Microsoft's OS has been graced with hardware-accelerated video editing using OpenCL, but they boast that exporting video replete with effects from a source to a final format can now be done up to 4.3 times faster. There's no word on when the fresh release of Premiere Pro will arrive, but if it's any consolation, Adobe says it's set to unveil some "incredible enhancements" to its video editing tools at NAB next week.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter brings 'weird fiction horror' to PC this year
The founders of People Can Fly – responsible for Bulletstorm and currently Gears of War: Judgment – have flown the coop to begin another studio, The Astronauts, and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is their first game. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a "weird fiction horror" game inspired by macabre 20th century tales, set for a PC launch this year and developed in Unreal Engine 3."What we care about the most is that the players feel like they're really there," game designer Adrian Chmielarz says. "Immersion is our number one priority. It's a game about exploration and discovery. We're not abandoning the gameplay – on the contrary: We're trying to strip it down to the bone and make sure it's always meaningful and truly makes the experience better."Chmielarz, along with co-founders Andrzej Poznanski and Michal Kosieradzki, premiere The Vanishing of Ethan Carter with the above teaser, showing a content old man stoking a fire sparked by a teddy bear in a sweater and an assortment of shoes and clothes. We never heard that particular bedtime story as children.
Defiance show set for a two-hour premiere in April [Updated]
It's understandable if you've kind of forgotten about how Defiance is meant to be specifically tied to a show on the Syfy channel. Past reveals about the game have focused on gameplay, not actors and broadcast times. But if you're looking forward to immersing yourself in the full Defiance experience from the ground up, mark your calendar for April, as the first episode of the series is set to air then. The series will premiere with a two-hour episode on April 15th at 9 p.m. EST. A Monday night slot isn't the most promising placement for a new show, but it might be a temporary placement until the show performs well. (Or poorly.) This also points to a launch for the game sometime in April, as the two are meant to exist side-by-side from the start. Keep an eye on the game's first beta test later this month to see what happens next. [Update: Trion has clarified that in fact, Monday at 9 p.m. EST is considered Syfy's premier primetime placement and that the show will remain in that slot throughout the season.]
AOL On comes to TiVo, delivers (more) video content to the DVR
We knew AOL's On Network application would be hitting TiVo DVR boxes eventually, but, after nearly four months of being nowhere to be found, we were starting to wonder when exactly that would be. The good news is, as of today, TiVo Premiere owners can finally start enjoying on-demand content from AOL's hefty video catalogue on their set-top box -- which includes, but isn't limited to, vids from HuffPost Entertainment, TechCrunch, Moviefone and, you guessed it, Engadget. That's not it, though, as the AOL On app also brings in snippets from various outside entities, such as the BBC, Reuters, CNET, Entertainment Tonight and Gourmet TV. AOL On should be live now on your TiVo Premiere, so ready up that DVR if you're looking to dive into one (or more) of the 380,000-plus videos it has to offer. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the AOL family]
TiVo Premiere fall update starts rolling out with more HD menu screens and a few other tweaks
We got an early peek at some of the newly revamped menus from TiVo's fall update a few days ago, and now the company has announced it is officially rolling out to retail Premiere DVRs, with cable-provided boxes getting the update at some point in the future. Those on the priority list are first up so some TiVo Community posters report they've already received it and can confirm the Netflix app is "still terrible." Besides the upgraded screens for Season Pass Manager, To Do List, History and My Shows (beyond the new look, they each have gained a few new features), Parental controls has replaced KidZone settings, there are some new games in the apps menu and users can name their DVR in the menus. Hit the source link to check out the full list of changes,
TiVo opens up Developer Channel, lets third parties create apps for your DVR
Other than what feels like a very slow pace of updates, one of our gripes with TiVo's Premiere DVR platform has been a relative lack of new apps being released. Hopefully that could change soon, now that the company has opened up its Developer Channel to allow interested parties access to its SDK and tools to build their own apps. Although as our friend Dave Zatz points out, it doesn't guarantee apps will be released even if certified, anyone ready to get down with TiVo's Adobe-based environment should take a peek around. The notes do reveal some interesting details like the fact that only one app can run at a time so when an app is launched the TiVo UI is suspended, and that apps are restricted to 720p resolution only, 32MB of system memory, 20MB graphics memory and 1MB hard drive space quota. We don't know yet what can be constructed with those tools, but go ahead -- surprise us.
Adobe announces Photoshop and Premiere Elements 11 with new filters, more beginner-friendly UI
Earlier this year Adobe announced Photoshop CS6 with a new user interface, and now Elements, its line of beginner-level products, is getting a facelift too. The company just introduced Photoshop and Premiere Elements 11, and while the two apps include a handful of new photo- and video-editing features, the bigger story is that they're designed to be less intimidating to newbies. Both have a more readable UI, for instance, as opposed to the old theme with the dark background and low-contrast icons. Things like preview thumbnails have been brought to the forefront so that they're easier to find. Also, both pieces of software ship with a re-tooled image organizer that puts commonly used functions front and center, with lesser-used features like keyword tagging hidden in the menus. The organizer also now has Google Maps integration, so you can view your shots on a map. You can also for the first time view by event, or by the names of people tagged in photos. As for new features, Photoshop Elements is getting a series of new comic-inspired filters, including "Pen and Ink," "Graphic Novel" and, yes, "Comic." Photoshop Elements now allows European customers to upload photos to Cewe, while Premiere Elements supports Vimeo uploads. (Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Shutterfly and SmugMug sharing were already built in.) Amateur videographers will also enjoy a series of new Hollywood-inspired filters, including Red Noir, a "Sin City"-esque effect with red accents, and "Pandora," which is meant to evoke "Avatar." Finally, you can use Time Remapping and Reverse Time to speed up footage or slow it down, respectively. Fans of the software will notice the pricing hasn't changed: the two apps cost $100 each, or $150 as a bundle. Folks who are upgrading will pay $80 a pop, or $120 for both. Look for both on Adobe's site today, with the old-fashioned boxed software hitting retailers soon.
TiVo Premiere 4 confirmed early, promises a 4-tuner DVR for the masses
TiVo owners who've wanted to record any more than two shows at a time or use more recent technology like MoCA have had to look towards the wallet-busting Premiere XL4, at least if they didn't happen to rely on a cable provider bundling the Premiere Q. Thankfully, TiVo has told Zatz Not Funny that a more affordable Premiere 4 option is on the way. The new DVR will still require QAM digital cable or FiOS TV for its tuners to sing, but its 500GB of space will likely lead to a significant price cut versus the 2TB-touting XL4 -- if also a whole lot of deleted old shows. MoCA, an eSATA port and a single CableCARD slot will carry over, so there's few other penalties in store for those who pass on the XL4 flagship. We don't have any official word on the launch strategy so far, although one loose-lipped rep has floated the rumor of a release within the next one to two months at $250 price tag. If true, the Premiere 4 will go a long way towards satisfying TV junkies who are more concerned about catching every show in a crowded prime time slot (and a lower cost) than digging through months-old archives.
TiVo's Stream transcoding box and IP connected extender make their debut at Cable Show 2012
Now that TiVo has delivered updated software for its Premiere boxes its focus is turning to some new hardware accessories, including the TiVoToGo-style transcoder we saw at CES, now dubbed Stream (top), and the IP extender set-top box mentioned earlier this year (bottom). According to TiVo's press release, both boxes will be available at retail and via the various cable operators that are offering its DVRs to their customers, while availability will be announced "in the coming months". The Stream transcoder reformats live and recorded video from a Premiere DVR for viewing on mobile devices or tablets (including sideloading for offline viewing away from the home), and TiVo says it's the first to stream or download shows simultaneously to multiple devices like iPads or iPhones without interrupting what's being watched. The IP box on the other hand is all about multiroom, designed to pull in either live or recorded video from a Premiere Q plus cable VOD and internet content, similar to the existing Preview but without the CableCARD tuner. A press release follows after the break, while Zatz Not Funny has a few pics of them on the floor at this week's 2012 NCTA Cable Show.
TiVo Premiere updates coming with new Netflix and YouTube apps; Bay Area gets Comcast VOD
Waiting for your TiVo to see the upgraded Netflix and YouTube streaming apps we got a peek at during CES a few months ago? How about the ability to access Comcast's video on-demand that we've been waiting for since last year? According to tweets by Vice President of user experience Margret Schmidt we may see all that and more soon, as she mentioned "expecting" the Spring Update with new video streaming apps and parental controls in HD menus to roll out to Premiere and Elite DVRs this month. As far as Comcast Xfinity On Demand, the rollout is targeted to begin in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an update for DVRs there this week before the feature is turned on later this month. This shaping up to be a very interesting year for the smiley faced DVR company with new hardware still waiting in the wings, add in all these new software capabilities and TiVo looks like a winner in more than just the legal battles.[Thanks, Joe, Sebs]
Adobe releases Photoshop Elements 10 & Premiere Elements 10 for Mac
Today Adobe announced new versions of its consumer flagship photo and video editing applications. Photoshop Elements 10 adds new features including 100 paint and effects patterns, depth of field simulation, and the ability to find photos that contain certain objects, like your dog or a hat. Photoshop Elements 10 also heavily borrows sharing features from Apple's iPhoto '11 software including the ability to tag Facebook friends right from within the app and instant upload to Facebook and Flickr. Adobe Premiere Elements 10 further borrows features from Apple's iMovie '11 video editing software such as still photo panning and zooming (Ken Burns Effect), automatic color enhancement and correction, and movie themes. Premiere Elements 10 does add some cool new features that iMovie '11 lacks however, including the ability to tag Facebook friends in your video, the ability to quickly find certain objects in your shots, and the ability to export to AVCHD to burn HD-quality movies to standard DVDs. Both Photoshop Elements 10 and Premiere Elements 10 are available today for US$99.99 each, or $149 for both. Existing users can purchase upgrades of the applications for $79 each or $119 for both. Currently Photoshop Elements 10 and Premiere Elements 10 are only available in store or online. No word yet if either app will hit the Mac App Store, though Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Editor is currently available on the Mac App Store for $79.
TiVo Premiere Elite will bring quad tuners, 2TB storage to retail this year
When TiVo announced its first quad tuner DVR, the Premiere Q, fans were devastated to learn it would only be available via cable operators, and that it featured a smallish 500GB hard drive. Fortunately, the company has rectified both of those issues by announcing the TiVo Premiere Elite, a quad tuner Series 4 DVR with 2TB of storage built that will be available through TiVo.com, Best Buy's Magnolia stores and authorized home theater installers. There's no word yet on price or an exact release date, as all of this is still pending a waiver from the FCC allowing TiVo to sell the box without any OTA or analog cable tuners, making this a digital cable (or Verizon FiOS) only experience. It's also THX Certified and most of the press release is dedicated to focusing on the high end nature of the hardware TiVo is unleashing. Also unmentioned so far is any retail edition of the TiVo Preview multiroom extender box, but we should get some hands-on time with this quad tuner edition very shortly during CEDIA 2011. For now, just check out the press release, included after the break, and for our European readers Engadget Spanish has you covered on the launch of the TiVo Premiere for ONO in Spain. Update: The official TiVo.com/elite page is live, and reveals the price as $499 "with service", $499 additional for a lifetime subscription. [Thanks @PhilipSaad] %Gallery-132837%
TiVo Premiere multiroom streaming already enabled?
We'd heard that the most recent software update for the TiVo Premiere set the stage for TiVo-to-TiVo streaming, and now multiple posters on the TiVo Community forum report it's already working. If you only have one Premiere in the house you may want to wait for the Premiere Q (or the Preview, if you don't need any additional tuners) but those already living the multiple box lifestyle can select shows as though they were going to be transferred and simply press play instead. Check the threads for details and let us know how if it works for you, if this is intentionally enabled an official announcement can't be too far off. [Thanks, @BrennokBob]
HTC EVO 3D on sale now to Sprint Premier customers: $200 on a two-year contract
Settled on an EVO 3D, did you? If you just so happen to be a part of Sprint's Premier club, it looks as if your floodgates are wide open. A spate of tipsters (as well as our own Richard Lawler) have confirmed this evening that Sprint's latest whiz-bang superphone is indeed on sale to an elite few, with $199.99 netting you the handset along with a particularly daunting two-year ball / chain combination. $549.99 buys it outright, but there's no clear indication on if these are indeed shipping out in the morning. Either way, we're guessing it's going to be mighty hard to resist this fellow -- you know, Because life is in 3D. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Comcast will open up its video on-demand to TiVo Premiere DVRs and offer them for installation
One of the downsides to bringing your own DVR is usually giving up access to any access to your cable company's video on-demand programming, but TiVo has worked out a deal with Comcast to bring its Xfinity VOD to retail TiVo Premiere DVRs. This isn't entirely surprising, given the Comcast On Demand logo that snuck into the original set of screenshots at the Premiere's debut and the other cable companies allowing VOD access like Cox, Suddenlink and RCN. It appears this is going to be a market-by-market upgrade, with the San Francisco Bay Area up first (no word on exactly when) and others to follow. The old Comcast TiVo project is dead, as Multichannel News points out the two companies dissolved their old agreement upon entering into this new one, with Comcast licensing TiVo's IP through 2019. If you're not already living the TiVo lifestyle, Comcast will also start offering the Premiere alongside its own boxes and install them at no extra charge once the service is available. We're still waiting for TiVo to scrub some of the rougher edges off of the Premiere but if you want a bigger hard drive, (partially) HD UI and access to online services all in one box without compromising access to VOD, then this should fit the bill once it arrives.
Hulu Plus not happening on cable-provided TiVo Premiere DVRs, Scrooge wins again
It's a little hard to know exactly who to blame here, but one thing is for sure: consumers lose. Last week Suddenlink started deploying TiVo Premiere DVRs to its customers minus Netflix, saying that it was the agreements Netflix has with studios that prevents its streaming service from being deployed on a cable company DVR. At the time it was hopeful that Hulu Plus could still work, but now it's confirmed that its customers won't get that either, blaming the same sort of agreements between Hulu and its content providers. Frustrating? Absolutely -- but there is one obvious work-around: buy your own darned TiVo Premiere, get access to Netflix and Hulu Plus, and stop paying your cable provider that monthly rental fee. Mind, you'll have to rock a CableCard, losing the ability to watch video on demand, and the separate TiVo plus Hulu Plus fees might cost a bit more, but consider that a small price to pay for the right to stick a finger in the eye of The Man.
RCN launches TiVo in Chicago, credits positive customer response for accelerated rollout
Completing a process that began in April, RCN now offers the TiVo Premiere in all of its markets. Following up D.C., New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Lehigh Valley, PA, Chicago's launch includes some demo time at the RCN Booth during Northalsted Market Days this weekend. Of course, this unit still differs from retail models like the one we reviewed because it adds RCN VOD access and subtracts internet offerings from Amazon and Netflix, plus it doesn't yet run the new Flash based UI -- which may be a good thing. While we wonder what the pair will pull out of their bag next, interested customers can hop over to RCN's website and get to ordering, the pricing should be very familiar by now.
How would you change the TiVo Premiere?
TiVo loyalists have waited a long, long time for this. The Premiere is marketed as the DVR to end all DVRs, and unlike those plain-jane boxes served up at your local pay-TV provider, there's actually a decent amount of ingenuity within TiVo's freshest set-top box. Unfortunately, those good intentions didn't really lead to a beautiful implementation, and we found quite a few bones to pick during our time with it. Make no mistake -- TiVo's still charging a small fortune for the privilege of using its user interface and hearing its bloops and beeps, and frankly, we expected more for the premium. Are you in the same boat? Couldn't disagree more? We're anxious to see how you'd retool the Premiere if given the opportunity, and what you'd do differently now that you've been relying on it for the past couple of months. Go on, comments are waiting for you.
TiVo Premiere's RCN VOD menu is based on the classic interface
Oh TiVo we'd really beat you up about this one if the new HDUI wasn't so painfully slow. We'd love to go on and on about how lame it is to be upconverting a UI even though HD has been around for years and how sick we are of that 10 year old TiVo interface. But no, instead we're just happy that at least some cable viewers will have access to VOD on a 3rd party device, and no matter how bad it looks, we wish every provider made the effort that RCN did to bring all of its services to every device on its network. We're also happy to read that no matter how bad it looks to us, it is an upgrade from the existing RCN VOD interface and is much more responsive than the TiVo Premiere's HDUI -- RCN does expect to roll out a version with the new UI in the 3rd quarter of this year.
