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FCC votes to fight cable's reign over set-top boxes
Last month, reports surfaced that the FCC planned to pry set-top boxes out of hands of cable and satellite companies. Today, the Commission passed the "Unlock the Box" plan that would do just that. The proposal aims to introduce more competition when it comes to the boxes you rent from television providers. As it stands, you have to lease the equipment from a cable or satellite company for a monthly fee that's added to your bill. You have little choice in the matter, and those fees earn service providers millions of dollars a year. With the FCC plan, opening up cable boxes to third parties would not only lower costs, but make it easier for pay-TV subscribers to tap into internet programming like Netflix and Hulu.
DirecTV will begin live 4K broadcasts early next year
4K is the way of the future, but until now, the selection of ultra-high-def content has been limited. Enter DirecTV. In an announcement made at New York's TranSPORT conference, the company noted that it will start broadcasting live 4K content in early 2016. The firm stated that it already has the technology in place and wants to start streaming UHD shows before its competitors. However, DirecTV wants to make sure that it has an impressive arsenal of broadcasts ready before launch, as "content is king," (that's a direct quote). Services like Roku and TiVo have both released 4K-capable set-top boxes but don't have a lot of UHD content to offer, which makes the technology somewhat moot.
EE TV's getting new mobile features and on-demand apps
EE TV is a tough sell at the moment because, in exchange for the rudimentary set-top box, you have to sign up for both EE mobile and home broadband. Freeview DVR, multi-device streaming and some on-demand services are a nice bonus if you happen to be signed up for both anyway, but it's hardly a reason to switch. EE seems to have recognised this, because today it's announcing a software update which puts further emphasis on the mobile part. From August 25th, you'll see a new section in the EE TV app called "My TV," which personalises the guide by showing your favourite shows, channels and recordings. You'll even be able to "Flick" your photos and videos to the TV Chromecast-style.
DirecTV's first 4K set-top box works with any screen
DirecTV only kinda-sorta launched 4K programming last year. You had to own both a specific DVR and a compatible Samsung TV to watch those extra-crispy documentaries and movies, which left many 4K TV owners 'stuck' with 1080p. It's going to be a lot easier after today, though -- the newly AT&T-owned provider has trotted out its first 4K set-top box, the 4K Genie Mini. The tiny device (roughly the size of a paperback) will deliver 4K to any set that can handle the higher resolution, not just DirecTV 4K Ready models. It'll handle Dolby Digital Plus audio, too, if you happen to have an eligible surround sound setup. This is still a long, long way from watching regular TV in 4K, but it should give you more to watch on that super-sharp display than the occasional Amazon or Netflix show.
Sky's new £15 Now TV box arrives this week
Sky announced a successor to its cheap and cheerful Now TV streaming puck way back at the beginning of the year, and today we've learned it's definitely going to meet its August release window. In fact, the little set-top box will be available through the Now TV website from this Thursday, August 6th, before hitting Argos the following day and other retailers "in the coming weeks." At £15, it's a fiver more expensive than the original Now TV box, but that extra cash buys you a faster processor, which should make the user experience that bit slicker, and an Ethernet port for ensuring stable streams if your WiFi is on the flaky side.
Google Play Movies & TV arrives on Roku devices
If you've committed your streaming dollars to one of Roku's recent offerings, you're about to get access to a load of new content. The company announced today that Google Play Movies & TV is now available in its Channel Store for folks in the US, UK, Ireland and Canada. Similar to the mobile app, pausing when an actor is on screen will allow you to bring up his or her name via those handy Info Cards. You know, in case you're having trouble remembering. Mountain View's library of film and television episodes is accessible from current-gen gadgets (that's all devices after June 2011) now, and support for Roku TV is on the way.
Google's Nexus Player offers streaming and gaming for $99
Remember the Nexus Q? Yeah, we'd rather forget it, too. Google regained its streaming cred with the Chromecast, and now it's looking to offer up another set-top box. The compact Nexus Player will handle streaming, games and run Android apps. An included remote wrangles navigation with voice controls for finding the content you're after on the ASUS-made gadget. For those gaming sessions, a $39 controller can be tacked on as an additional purchase.
This stackable media hub plays your old 16-bit game cartridges
The set-top box market is currently flooded with many cheap Android boxes, but they tend to offer limited remote access plus expansion capability, so it's about time that something more exciting popped up. One such candidate is the EzeeCube, which aims to be an idiot-proof media hub with three main selling points: Auto-sync content across multiple platforms (Android, iOS, Windows and OS X); simple initial setup for accessing hub content from anywhere; and cable-free expansion that lets you stack up to four modules. We're talking about slapping on an extra hard drive, a Blu-ray drive, a TV tuner and even a retro gaming module that will bring your dusty SNES and Sega Mega Drive / Genesis cartridges back to life. No messy cables here.
Android TV is Google's latest shot at entertainment glory (hands-on)
For Android, smartphones and tablets are only the beginning. Google believes that there are so many other categories of hardware that could benefit from its mobile OS, so it announced that it's building extensions of Android onto the TV, car and smartwatch. Each genre will require special hardware to be truly beneficial, but the former may have the greatest potential in terms of reach -- after all, more people are looking for a solid television-watching experience than putting a "computer" on their wrist, and it's going to be a long time before Android Auto goes mainstream. Sadly, TV is also an area that Google has struggled with in the past (see Google TV), so it's hoping that lightning will strike with its latest effort, called Android TV. We had a chance to check out the company's first official piece of hardware, simply called the ADT-1. Since it's a developer kit, you won't be able to buy it -- but that won't be an issue once manufacturers begin selling their consumer-facing devices later this fall. Naturally, the version we checked out is considered pre-production, so a lot of things will likely change between now and its final release, but at least we have a good idea of what to expect from the experience.
An afternoon with the Fire TV
We came away relatively impressed with the Fire TV during our brief hands-on. But we all know that units set up specifically for press demonstrations are hardly the best indicator of how a device will function in the real world. So we immediately went back to our lair and began putting the newest kid on the streaming block through its paces. Once away from the carefully controlled demonstration area, it became clear that the Fire TV is more of a mixed bag -- and still tied to its Android/Google TV roots -- than Amazon would like you to believe.
Amazon likely to announce media streamer at April 2nd event
Amazon's name has been circulated pretty heavily in the rumor mill as of late, especially when it comes to a streaming music service and set-top box. So we aren't necessarily surprised to see the company send us an invite to an event April 2nd for "an update to our video business." That's the only clue we have -- unless you count the image of a couch as a hint -- but given the aforementioned rumors, it seems very likely that we're going to see the set-top box that's been rumored for so long. If so, this should be Amazon's answer to other media streamers like Apple TV and Roku. We've heard whispers that the new box will run on a forked version of Android, much like the Kindle Fire, and will feature Netflix and Hulu Plus apps. Whatever Amazon does announce, we've got the event on our calendars and we'll be there to get you the latest updates.
Report: A new Apple TV is on the way, pending a deal with Time Warner Cable (update)
If sources who spoke with Bloomberg News are correct, a new Apple TV could be "introduced" as early as April. Apple is currently in talks with Time Warner Cable, among other programming partners, to add video content to the set-top box before releasing the next version. The third-generation Apple TV came out just over a year ago, and while it's received software updates, both the design and selection of content haven't changed much since the original launched in 2007. Bloomberg's sources echo earlier rumors, saying the next-gen model could include a reworked interface that allows for easier navigation between different types of content. Naturally, there will also be a faster processor in Cupertino's fourth set-top box. Just don't get too set on that spring timeframe; though Apple may unveil the new product in April, sources say the release would coincide with the holiday season, depending on the company's progress in securing partnerships with TWC and others. Update: Wherever Time Warner Cable may have been headed in talks with Apple, word of a pending acquisition by fellow cabler Comcast certainly seems to complicate things. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal chimes in with its own set of anonymous sources, talking about how Apple has refocused its TV efforts to work with TV providers, rather than trying to replace them. Specifically, it claims Apple is asking for access to the five most recently-aired episodes of shows, possibly with fast-forward disabled to prevent ad skipping for three days after they air.
New Apple TV may include a revamped interface, more kinds of content
The current Apple TV is long in the tooth, to put it mildly -- the basic design emerged in 2010, and the 2012 refresh was really about keeping up with the Joneses. However, 9to5 Mac claims that there's a substantial update in the pipeline this year. Apple is reportedly "well into testing" a fourth-generation media hub that would include both a reworked (if still iOS-based) interface and new forms of content. Just what that content would be isn't certain. iLounge hears that an Apple TV software revision may bring games and Bluetooth controller support, but it's not clear if this would also entail a full-fledged app platform. If any of the rumors are accurate, we may not have to wait very long for the improved living room experience. The 9to5 tipsters believe that the new Apple TV will likely ship in the first half of the year, and iLounge anticipates new software by March.
US Energy Department outlines efficiency standards for set-top boxes, Verizon already on board
The US government, the CEA (you know, the group that runs CES) and pay-TV providers want to save consumers $1 billion annually with a new voluntary standard for set-top box (STB) energy-efficiency. By curtailing phantom power usage and implementing a pair of sleep modes for periods of device inactivity, these non-regulatory guidelines could save enough energy each year to power some 700,000 homes. According to the industry announcement, many cable and satellite providers are already on-board, with Verizon implementing a light-sleep option in certain FiOS boxes sold starting January 1st, 2014. Still, the group expressed some concern that scaling back an STB's power might negatively impact the user experience. What good is a lower electric bill when your DVR takes forever to resume from standby? [Image credit: quinn.anya/Flickr]
HiSense unveils Android-powered H6 Smart TVs and Pulse PRO set-top box
HiSense continues its dedication to Google as an operating system with a slew of new hardware powered by Android 4.2.2 that features Google services for TV (the product formerly known as Google TV). The first is its new line of H6 Smart TVs powered by Marvell's latest ARMADA 1500 PLUS HD Media processor, an upgraded over last year's chip that powered many of the first ARM Google TV devices. Available in 40-inch, 50-inch and 55-inch sizes, the televisions come equipped with the company's Social TV and Cloud Services app, a 120Hz refresh rate, Energy Star 6.0 qualifications, 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM. The remote has 30 keys, a built-in air mouse with IQQI Smart Input and voice search functionality. For those who already have a TV but want the same services, HiSense also revealed the Pulse PRO set-top box, which has many of the same features as the H6 but, like the first generation Pulse, can be hooked up to any television set. Other features of the Pulse PRO include Netflix, Vudu HD movies, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Google Play, HDMI, IR, DLNA, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and Ethernet. We're not sure of pricing and availability just yet, and there are no pictures of the new hardware either.
Vizio debuts its Co-Star LT Stream Player, an $80 set-top box for HDTVs
Today, Vizio announced its followup to last year's inexpensive Co-Star Stream Player: the Co-Star LT. While you won't get the same full Google TV experience the Co-Star supplies, this humble set-top box may be enough to suit your needs as it offers 1080p Full HD, 3D and advanced HTML5 support. Additionally, Vizio's Internet Apps Plus platform lets you watch live TV while browsing apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus and YouTube. The box comes with a remote that's far more streamlined than the Co-Star's, and you can sync up your smartphone to select content. Your mobile device can also be used as a second screen, as the LT lets you switch between your HDTV and phone or tablet without interrupting your program. Though it isn't the swankiest TV box around, the modest $80 price tag might be enough to lure customers in. For more info, follow the source link below.
WSJ: Amazon set-top box to launch by the holidays, may have third-party apps
Last we heard, Amazon was gearing up to launch its own set-top box to compete against the likes of Roku and Apple TV. Today, sources told the Wall Street Journal (anonymously, of course) that the company is eying a holiday launch, but the most interesting news concerns the kind of content the box will provide. Instead of being a mere vehicle for Amazon's services, like Prime, the box will feature third-party streaming applications, according to the WSJ's sources. Supposedly, the company has approached developers with the opportunity to design media apps and games specifically for the unnamed device, which, rumor has it, is codenamed Cinnamon. Providing a varied repertoire of content would surely be the smart move to make Amazon's offering competitive, so although the news is fresh, it isn't terribly surprising. While details are still sparse at the moment, we'll be sure to update you once new ones roll in.
Intel may ditch OnCue IPTV service project if it can't find an investor
If you were sincerely hoping to buy an Intel set-top box this year, those dreams are looking a little more unlikely. The chip giant may scrap its not-cable product if it can't find a backer to help fund and distribute it, according to All Things D. This comes after Corporate VP Erik Huggers admitted that the service wouldn't do as hoped and free users from the yoke of TV, while new CEO Brian Krzanich has said he's "cautious" about getting into the TV game. Perhaps the Pentium house should have considered these things, you know, before it started talking about the project in public.
Roku 2700X set-top box surfaces at the FCC with basic specs
The Roku 3 might not be the only Roku set-top box arriving this year: an unannounced 2700X has just passed through the FCC for approval. The filing shows a streaming hub that's curvy like the Roku 3, but is limited to single-band, 2.4GHz 802.11n WiFi. Combine this spec with the low model number (the Roku 3 is the 4200X) and it's not hard to figure out what we're looking at -- this is an entry-level device based on Roku's newer design language. When the company's confidentiality request to the FCC will expire in less than 90 days, we'd expect the 2700X to launch relatively soon. Check out a second image of the hardware after the break.
Simple.TV reveals second-gen streaming DVR and Version 2.0 interface
Simple.TV's first streaming DVR had its rough edges, but the company is clearly willing to make improvements -- it just announced the second generation of its set-top box. The redesign is more flexible, sporting both a second tuner and compatibility with international broadcast standards like DVB-C, DVB-S2, DVB-T2 and ISDB-T. Both first- and second-generation owners will also get a revamped Version 2.0 interface that offers personalized content, faster updates and new streaming clients for Android, iOS, Roku players and the web. Simple.TV doesn't yet have pricing for the new DVR, but it tells us that both the device and the Version 2.0 upgrade will reach the US by mid-to-late November; Europeans will get the hardware next spring.
