The new iPad was upgraded with a display an HD junkie would give his universal remote for, but the Apple TV simply received an update to a capability many believe the original should've had the first go around: support for 1080p content. In addition to that all-important resolution bump, both this and the last-gen model received a modest software update that brings a few features and enhancements. Those tweaks aren't necessarily worth a review, if you ask us, especially since the price remains the same and existing Apple TV owners will reap the benefits of most of these improvements. Still, we'd be remiss if we didn't poke around just a bit. Follow past the break to see what's changed.

Continue reading A closer look at Apple TV's software update and 1080p movies

A closer look at Apple TV's software update and 1080p movies originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blu-ray's been atop the home entertainment mountain, with only fleeting competition from HD-DVDs, ever since its introduction. Since then, home internet connections have gotten faster and the quality of downloadable content has improved such that iTunes can offer 1080p versions of your favorite movies. But, does iTunes really provide the crystal clear quality we're accustomed to seeing from its disc-based competition? The good folks at Ars Technica decided to find out using the film 30 Days of Night, and results were mixed: text and color reproduction were virtually indistinguishable, but the compressed iTunes version showed warts when dealing with bright spots and dark gradients. Highlights in the downloaded movie were a little blown out and lacked the detail of their Blu-ray counterparts, and banding was visible in the downloaded movie during a darker scene. So, it seems that supreme video quality still comes via optical drive, but if you're willing to sacrifice a smidge, the iTunes alternative is still pretty darn good. Don't take our word for it, though, there's lots of photos detailing the difference at the source below.

iTunes movies in 1080p: less than or equal to Blu-ray image quality? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The cloud is everywhere around us these days and while some cloud services are the greatest thing ever, others? Not so much. Taking our digital content to the cloud is obviously a good thing and Apple's iTunes Match takes all your music to the cloud and the latest Apple TV and iOS updates bring your Digital Copies there too. This makes it all too obvious why Apple choose to be the odd man out in the UltraViolet club -- as if the terrible user experience wasn't enough of a clue. Basically, like UV, you can buy a Blu-ray or DVD and use the included Digital Copy unlock code to authorize both a downloadable file and stream an HD copy to your updated Apple TV. Tech of the Hub was able to watch a previously activated Digial Copy in 720p (we'd assume 1080p on the new Apple TV) on the 2nd-gen Apple TV with yesterday's update, as well as download it to an iPhone with iOS 5.1. All of this without signing up for five different user accounts -- no HBO or Universal content yet, though.

Apple TV update takes Digital Copy to the iCloud originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading DirecTV and Pandora join forces, let you jam out via connected HD DVRs

DirecTV and Pandora join forces, let you jam out via connected HD DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another season, another reason for Cupertino to update its major product lines (hello new iPad!) and one particular hobby: Apple TV. The revamped box, now imbued with an ability to stream videos in 1080p, will allow users to download previous iTunes store purchases from the iCloud. But before you dive in and revisit those cinematic gems in full HD, bear in mind not every studio is on board. According to All Things D, titles from Fox and Universal's libraries won't be made available as they're currently locked within an exclusive release window with HBO. For the pay cabler's part, a company exec has hinted that a resolution could be forthcoming, although no specific time frame for that peace-making play was specified. It's a down note to an otherwise exciting day in the land of Cupertino, but hey, at least we still have that $99 price point to keep our frustrations in check.

Fox and Universal titles blocked from Apple TV's iCloud, HBO is the culprit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even though Apple didn't make any huge changes on its new Apple TV box, it does come with a slight spec bump for Netflix. On the third generation Apple TV, Netflix will take advantage of its higher resolution output with 1080p streams, just like other platforms like the PS3 and Roku. Don't have the new box? You'll still get a slightly more integrated experience, now that new users can sign up directly from the Apple TV, and pay via their iTunes account.

Netflix on new Apple TV supports 1080p, all boxes get integrated signup and pay via iTunes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like we were blind-sided a little by that decidedly iPad-esque invite, because Apple has something more for us -- it's just announced the latest iteration of Apple TV and it can do 1080p video. The new UI inches slightly closer to iOS territory, with a splash of new color and a whole range of third-party apps willing to play with the new box. This includes access to Photo Stream alongside old favorites like Netflix, Flickr and YouTube. Expect improved connectivity to the iCloud (including your movie content) and better integration of your iTunes playlists directly from the refreshed UI. The good news: the price is going nowhere -- the new model matches the 2010 version at $99. The bad? You'll have to wait until next week to get your hands on one. Pre-orders start today.

Continue reading Apple reveals 1080p Apple TV: $99, arrives March 16th

Apple reveals 1080p Apple TV: $99, arrives March 16th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember those color problems experienced by some Xbox 360 users after last year's dashboard update? Microsoft appears to have fixed the issue in its latest system update, although it will take time for the fix to roll out across the associated apps -- we've been told this will happen over the next few months. Its Sony rival also rolled out its own (optional) update for the PS3 yesterday, improving "certain aspects" of the UI. The Xbox team promise that their update will also increase performance, but don't take their word for it; the update is rolling out now -- let us know how it goes.

Xbox 360 system update gets its colors in order, makes it mandatory originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we found a lot of things to like in the last Xbox 360 dashboard upgrade, not everyone was happy after it finally rolled out in early December. We've received word from multiple owners who saw and reported color output problems since the beta began, and today Director of Programming Larry Hryb aka Major Nelson tweeted that the company is "aware of the color space issue w/ some Xbox video apps & are working on a fix". While that should take care of some issues, more recent reports also indicate problems with the HDMI output having HDCP authentication problems with certain TVs or receivers that blocks video output, as well as reports confirmed by Eurogamer that 1080p output appears to be downscaled to 720p internally. We're waiting for a response from Microsoft about these or any other issues and will let you know when we hear more. Let us know if you've noticed anything else in the new Xbox 360 update that needs tweaking in the comments below.

[Thanks, Vinny P, Brad R. and everyone else who sent this in]

Microsoft acknowledges Xbox 360 color space problem in last update, is working on a fix originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take a quick tour of the showroom floor here at CES and you'll certainly see, 3D days are here again -- at least, where flat panel manufacturers are concerned. And while the industry continues to pump out mass market iterations of the living room tech that hinge upon hideous eyewear, companies like Sony are hard at work behind-the-scenes refining displays that won't make you look a fool. The autostereoscopic panels, shown off at the company's booth in 24- and 46-inch models -- employ a subtle 3D effect that isn't immediately noticeable. In fact, we found the visual pizzazz was best enjoyed when experienced from the side -- a feat possible due to the incorporation of multi-point viewing angles -- lending much needed depth to the onscreen image. Of the two, only the larger set can deliver full HD, owing to its beastly 4K resolution, whereas the 1080p panel on its lil' bro suffers when halved. Distance also plays a major role in the intensity of the 3D visuals, with effects holding up at a range of up to 2ft for the smaller screen and 10ft for the 46-incher. Normally, we'd recommend you skip on past the break to sample the in-development eye candy, but be warned -- you won't see much. These are truly TVs that need to be seen to be believed.

Continue reading Sony demos 24- and 46-inch glasses-free 3DTVs, we go eyes-on (video)

Sony demos 24- and 46-inch glasses-free 3DTVs, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Haier just unleashed several new HDTVs (to go along with the one we saw a couple days ago) and home audio gear here at CES. First up is the EV series of 3D HDTVs that sport a "virtually edgeless picture" thanks to a super thin bezel, and come in both 65- and 55-inch versions. The EV Series also packs 2D to 3D conversion tech, Yahoo Connected TV and the company's new Smart Home UI to access all of your media content, plus a double-sided QWERTY remote to navigate it. Next is the 23-inch Designer Series sports an edge-lit 1920 x 1080 LED screen that comes in your choice of black, white, metallic grey or red to fit your every mood (and room color). Price has yet to be determined, but you'll be able to get a Designer TV of your own in Q2 of this year.

Lastly, Haier is unveiling several new audio products. First, there's the $400 3D model that has an iPhone dock built in and delivers 230 watts of 5.1 surround sound using Absolute 3D technology. Next is a super slim profile soundbar that pumps out 280 watts of sound through 2.1 channels through a speaker that's only 1.07 inches deep for $350. Rounding things out is a ViewHD iDevice dock that works with iPads, iPhones and iPods. Priced at $99, it comes with a remote for controlling it from afar and has HDMI out in case mobile's screen simply won't do. All you Haier-philes can dig deep into the details of all of these in the PR below.

Continue reading Haier reveals new HDTVs and audio gear at CES

Haier reveals new HDTVs and audio gear at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While watching TV from the comfort of your living room has its appeal, sometimes its nice to veg out by the pool, too. It's been awhile since we've heard from SunBrite, but the company is rolling out its new line of outdoor LCD TVs this year at CES. The televisions are built to withstand whatever mother nature can throw at them thanks to a high-impact resin exterior and dual cooling fans robust enough for the TVs to handle temperatures as low as 10 below or as high as 122 degrees. Called the Signature line, there are 55-inch, 46-inch, and 32-inch models that do 1080p and come with the standard array of connections: HDMI, component A/V, S-Video, composite video, and VGA. And to ensure that cabling's not a weak link when the weather turns bad, SunBrite's included a proprietary watertight cable pass-through system. The 46-inch model is already available for $2,995, and while the other two have yet to be priced or released, we'll find out how much they cost when they start shipping in the Spring.

Continue reading SunBrite announces Signature line of outdoor LCD TVs, let you get your real housewives fix rain or shine

SunBrite announces Signature line of outdoor LCD TVs, let you get your real housewives fix rain or shine originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A whole separate box and remote just for video chat? For as much as $600, plus a $10 per month subscription (HDTV and broadband not included)? It was always doubtful whether the Umi telepresence kit would catch on, but now Cisco has crushed those doubts by quietly crushing both the 1080p and cheaper 720p versions of the product. No press release or announcement; just a disembodied voice at the end of a technical support line advising callers that the product is "under evaluation," and a behind-the-scenes nudge to Business Insider that it really has been discontinued. It's not yet clear what will happen to the monthly service for existing customers, but if it gets disrupted then Cisco will surely have to come clean. Heck, for $600 we'd expect a personalized hi-def video apology.

Cisco hangs up on Umi 'Personal Telepresence' flop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a big year for Roku. The streaming content box manufacturer launched its Roku 2 HD, XD and XS this summer, with a $50 LT model coming just last month. Now, the Netflix / HBO Go / Angry Birds player will cross the border into Canada and the U.K., with the expansion set to begin in early 2012. The company is looking to build its 350 channels with region-specific content, which can be provided free, supported by ads or with a subscription -- and if you choose to add your own content to the service, you'd certainly be in good company.

Continue reading Roku planning to bring set-top boxes to Canada, UK in early 2012

Roku planning to bring set-top boxes to Canada, UK in early 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's like the company's CES-launched GW3DKIT, but with a dash of "HD," a spit shine and a realistic shipping date. IOGEAR's GW3DHDKIT has just been revealed to 3D-lovin' content watchers the world over, with the Wireless 3D Digital Kit consisting of a transmitter and receiver with connections that enable it to stream standard, HD or 3D resolution content from one or two HDMI-enabled devices. We're told that it doesn't require a line-of-sight placement to deliver uncompressed 1080p, and 3D / 5.1 material can also be slung from up to 100 feet away. To add a second room, one HDTV can connect directly to the transmitter's loop-through (local) port, while a second HDTV simultaneously receives content via the wireless receiver; there's even an Infrared (IR) pass-through that allows user control over source devices that are hidden away in a different location. It'll ship before the year's end for a total of $379.95, but we'd probably wait for a couple of reviews before tossing in an order -- we've seen wireless HD let us down before, and that's a lot of change to throw on something that's still unproven.

Continue reading IOGEAR's Wireless 3D Digital Kit streams the third-dimension in 1080p, ships soon for $380

IOGEAR's Wireless 3D Digital Kit streams the third-dimension in 1080p, ships soon for $380 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Been holding out hope for a real-life holodeck? Well, looks like Japan's got wall number one out of four already covered. We kid, we kid. That Trekkie tech future's still a ways off, but recent prototypes like this 200-inch auto-stereoscopic 3D screen are bringing that illusive reality one step closer to our living rooms. Exhibited during CEATEC 2011, this 1920 x 1080 full HD display plays images at 60fps using an array of 57 projectors, and offers up viewing angles of 13 degrees. What does all of that mean for you? Well, the setup gives viewers a limited ability to peer around projected objects, so long as they stay within a 1.3m (about 4ft) area. It's yet another fruit of the collaboration between the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology and JVC Kenwood, except this one's headed for the realm of outdoor digital advertising. Home theater aficionados looking for a virtual entertainment solution can always opt for Sony's HMD, but that kind of defeats the glasses-free allure.

NICT, JVC Kenwood team up for wall-sized 3D HD display, lets in your face advertising get literal originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CinemaNow's movie library is about to get a bit larger and a good deal sharper, thanks to a new deal with Intel. Yesterday, the video on-demand service announced that it's now offering a slate of 1080p HD movies for the first time, available on PCs packing a second generation Intel Core CPU. According to the company, "several hundred" new releases and other popular films from 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. have already been added to its library, in addition to the 15,000 movies and TV shows already on file. CinemaNow didn't offer an exact number of titles, nor did it provide names of any specific films, but you can stream through the entire press release for yourself, after the break.

Continue reading CinemaNow strikes deal with Intel, adds new movies in 1080p HD

CinemaNow strikes deal with Intel, adds new movies in 1080p HD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's official, Star Trek: The Next Generation will follow the lead of the original series and be released in remastered HD form next year. The official site reveals 2012 will actually see two TNG releases on Blu-ray in honor of its 25th anniversary. A single disc preview package consisting of the pilot Encounter at Farpoint, and episodes Sins of the Father and The Inner Light called The Next Level arrives first in January with a $21.99 MSRP, followed by season one later in the year and subsequent seasons after that. All 178 episodes will get the treatment, converted to 1080p with 7.1 DTS Master Audio sound. This is being done by returning to the original film negatives and then recreating the special effects instead of converting them from videotape. Can't wait until then? Check after the break for a (very) quick teaser trailer, or watch the eps in SD one more time on Amazon or Netflix.

Continue reading Star Trek: The Next Generation is coming to Blu-ray, starting in 2012 (video)

Star Trek: The Next Generation is coming to Blu-ray, starting in 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New projectors quietly slip on to shelves almost every day, but Epson's new PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010, and updated Home Cinema series certainly caught our attention. They combine 1080p images with active 3D tech for a price that home theater builders shouldn't immediately dismiss. The flagship Pro Cinema 6010 and Home Cinema 5010 lines can output 2,400 lumens while maintaining a contrast ratio of 200,000:1. Both also include the ability to convert 2D content to 3D on the fly. The primary difference between the $4,000 6010 and $3,000 5010 (the wirelessHD-equipped 5010e will run about $3,500) is the included accessories and options: like ceiling mounts, 3D glasses and additional lens modes. The budget 3010 ($1,600) and 3010e ($1,800) models sport a more modest 40,000:1 contrast ratio and 2,200 lumen rating, but do have a pair of built-in 10W speakers. Oddly, only the 3010 package will include 3D glasses. The Pro Cinema 6010 and Home Cinema 5010 line will start shipping in November, while the 3010 series will land in October. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Epson launches five 3D, 1080p home theater projectors for serious cinephiles

Epson launches five 3D, 1080p home theater projectors for serious cinephiles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They didn't earn highlights during Sony's IFA 2011 keynote, but it did slip out a few more pieces of home theater hardware that are more likely to end up in your living room than its outlandish 3D helmet. The SMP-N200 replaces the earlier Netbox that debuted last year with a refreshed design and support for HD and 3D. Unsurprisingly, this Blu-ray player (without the Blu-ray) also supports DLNA "throwing" of content, making it a natural Apple TV-style tie-in for the Tablet S and Tablet P once they launch. Moving on, the VPL-VW95ES is a proper replacement for last year's VPL-VW90ES that we'll probably get more properly acquainted with later this week at CEDIA. For 2011 it's been refreshed with 3D conversion capabilities, an integrated 3D emitter to sync the glasses and the ability to set and memorize different lens positions to switch seamlessly between 16:9 and ultrawidescreen projecting. Finally, the BDP-S185 Blu-ray player was announced, with compact size and power consumption that Sony claims is 47 percent less than the previous year's models as its most notable features. All should start shipping in October, no specific word on pricing yet.

Continue reading Sony's new internet TV box, projector and Blu-ray player make an appearance at IFA

Sony's new internet TV box, projector and Blu-ray player make an appearance at IFA originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1080p projectors and displays are sweet, but since movie lovers are watching content in ratios closer to 2.35:1 than the 16:9 layout of tradition HD projectors and PJs and wasting precious pixels Digital Projection International's latest beamer is set up to be all about ultrawidescreen. The dVision Scope 1080p is 2560 x 1080 out of the box, no anamorphic lens necessary. its custom firmware automatically detects and resizes when the letterbox black bars to fill the 1080p field by increasing the number of horizontal pixels. Check the specs and explanation in the press release after the break, we'll find out mroe about this and probably many more projectors at CEDIA 2011 in September.

Continue reading Digital Projection debuts new native ultrawidescreen projector

Digital Projection debuts new native ultrawidescreen projector originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As we close in on the purported release date for Best Buy's Insignia cTV, more details have come to light about the TiVo menu system (but not DVR) powered HDTV. Zatz Not Funny reports the 32- and 42-inch models available initially will cost $599 and $999, respectively, with a pretty standard list of features including built-in 802.11n WiFi, 4 HDMI ports, etc. More interesting however are these box shots that reveal unannounced apps on the way including Chumby widgets -- destined to replace the late FrameChannel? -- as well as Twitter and Facebook, which were integrated via the iPad app but not the box, yet. So far we still don't know for sure if these TVs will be able to serve as multiroom extenders and stream video from a TiVo Premiere (whenever TiVo brings the feature back) but until there's some official word you can get more pictures and details at the source below.

Box pics, price and features leak out for the Best Buy Insignia cTV with TiVo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roku has gone from a barely known streaming media box manufacturer to a retail darling in a remarkably short amount of time (the last hardware revamp launched less than a year ago) and it's back with more new hardware to continue the assault. The Roku 2 lineup will put their (much smaller) footprint in the spaces left by their predecessors when they hit shelves later this month without changing the price one bit. Besides being more energy efficient, it brings new channels including Angry Birds, Epix, MLS and more, while also upgrading the Netflix experience with support for subtitles, surround sound and 1080p video. The pricing tiers of $60 (HD), $80 (XD) and $100 (XS) remain; while stepping up to the XD adds 1080p video output, splurging for the XS adds a game remote (a $29 accessory), included copy of Angry Birds plus Ethernet and USB ports. If you still need confirmation after all the leaks, there's another pic and a press release after the break.

Continue reading Roku 2 HD, XD, and XS officially launch: same price, smaller size and Angry Birds

Roku 2 HD, XD, and XS officially launch: same price, smaller size and Angry Birds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When it comes to home theater PCs, size matters -- and it doesn't get too much smaller than Sapphire's original Edge HD mini PC, pictured above. In fact, Sapphire saw no reason to fiddle with the Edge's diminutive form factor when designing the HD2, and instead poured itself into improving the HTPC's specs. Not only is the updated mini-rig small enough to mount behind your HDTV, but it also packs a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom, 2GB RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. All this (and 1080p VGA / HDMI out, of course) at 30W, "20 times less power than a typical desktop PC," according to Sapphire. No word on price (or pics, for that matter), but feel free to jump past the break for an official press release with full specifications.

Continue reading Edge HD2 Mini PC is an HTPC that hides behind your TV

Edge HD2 Mini PC is an HTPC that hides behind your TV originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's time for Infocomm 2011 which means a slew of new projectors (sadly, most are destined for boardrooms and auditoriums), and Panasonic is finally ready to announce its projectors will included in its 3D push. Unfortunately, there's no actual projector to speak of yet so all this news can do is get the world ready for a successor to 2009's PT-AE4000 (pictured above). Plasmas and LCDs are nice, but when you need a big image -- and can't afford a 152-inch display -- only a projector will do. If it follows the trend we should be hearing more in September, just in time for CEDIA, but for now the only details are that it's 3D and will be released this year.

Continue reading Panasonic will, eventually, at some point, launch its first 3D home theater projector

Panasonic will, eventually, at some point, launch its first 3D home theater projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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