Telestream announces Instant Replay system for NASCAR officials, gets the checkered HD flag originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That cheaper, purpler, Roku LT we spied passing through the FCC and beta testing is official, and will hit retail shelves for just $50 next month. It's only $10 less than the also-720p-limited Roku 2 HD, but that model isn't sold everywhere and if you're just snagging a box to watch some Netflix you probably won't notice the missing Bluetooth and SD card reader. No matter which model is selected, starting next month viewers will be able to watch HBO Go streaming content on the Roku family of hardware. Cord cutters that have dropped pay TV entirely still don't have access, but Roku CEO Anthony Wood reports around 80 percent of Roku owners still have cable or satellite, so after adding Epix and being namechecked by Comcast to the FCC and at conferences, it's not surprising to see the TV Everywhere movement trying to co-opt the box for its own ends. Expect more content announcements from Roku going forward, including more gaming options -- Angry Birds 2 alone is one of the most used channels already -- and even more authenticated streaming as the cable and satellite players extend their reach onto other platforms.

Continue reading Roku announces $50 LT model, will add HBO Go streaming to all of its boxes this month

Roku announces $50 LT model, will add HBO Go streaming to all of its boxes this month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't think Apple's forgotten about its little hobby, as the second generation Apple TV is getting an update today that lets users buy TV shows and stream them (in high definition) directly to the device, with the additional bonus of streaming access to previously purchased shows. That brings a new feeling of permanence to the cloud atmosphere around Apple's hockey puck, but it also means being $2.99 invested in rewatching that episode of Leverage down the road instead of opting for for a 99-cent rental. The other new feature listed for this update is access to the streaming site Vimeo, but since the official support site is still only listing info for the 4.2.2 version posted in May, any other details are unknown so far.

Apple TV streams purchased TV shows -- not just rentals -- from the cloud after update originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like Boxee may be punting its deadline for Netflix integration again, but it did throw global users a small bone via a new partnership with Viewster to add "premium VOD content." If the Viewster brand doesn't ring a bell, don't worry, we didn't know much about it either. A little sleuthing on its parent company site, though, revealed the service provides access to hit movies and TV shows (some in 720p), as well as day-and-date releases and ad-supported content "wherever possible." The site also boasts the library has 5,000 plus titles, licensed from over 100 suppliers like iTunes, Hulu, Sony, and ironically Netflix -- but that includes short content clips too. Naturally, we wanted to check out available titles for ourselves, but quickly learned that the library can only be browsed on Viewster-compatible devices after registering and providing payment details upfront, which set our scheme sensors a ringin'. Specifics on when Viewster access will appear on Boxee or what pricing will be like is also unknown, so for now feel free to join us in being vaguely underwhelmed after reading the full PR below.

[Thanks, PJ]

Continue reading Boxee names Viewster as first global VOD provider, still no word on Netflix

Boxee names Viewster as first global VOD provider, still no word on Netflix originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A failure to read the specs carefully on the second generation Apple TV unit could lead to heartbreak, as many users report in a support forum thread that trying to plug the hockey puck into a HDMI-to-DVI cable and many HDTVs that may not support 720p sources leads to a distorted, wavy, picture. The specs for the second gen unit do specifically call out HDMI and 720p 50/60Hz compatibility as a requirement, but for many who are replacing first gen Apple TVs that worked just fine in the same setup it's a hard pill to swallow. However, all is not lost, as some users report that running the signal through certain HDMI switchers first resolved their issues. Of course, some may wonder why you're still holding onto an HDTV from the Bush (or maybe even Clinton) Administration anyway, but not us -- we understand loyalty.

New Apple TV won't play nice with older HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You've been waiting, and it's finally here: the Apple TV review. Months before Steve Jobs announced the new set top box at Apple's annual fall event, we had been reporting on news that the company would strike out again into the TV market, offering a small, low-cost box that had more in common with the iPhone than the iMac. When those rumors came to fruition, we were presented with the completely revamped Apple TV -- a tiny black puck of a device priced at a staggering $99, and centered around a handful of completely new ideas (for the folks in Cupertino at least) about getting content onto your TV screen. The first is a new rental system which allows you to nab brand new TV shows at $0.99 a rental, and HD movies for $4.99 a go (or $3.99 for older titles). And that includes new releases the same day DVDs hit shelves (or Netflix distribution centers). Speaking of Netflix, the new Apple TV also features the rental service's "Watch Instantly" as a wholly integrated component of its offerings, alongside a new function the company calls AirPlay which will allow you to "push" video and audio content from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch with the tap of a button. On top of that, the new ATV streamlines sharing from your home computers or laptops, making getting content you own onto your TV dead simple. So, has Apple finally solved the "second box" problem, or are they still struggling to turn this hobby into a real business? Follow along after the break for those answers (and more) in our full review of the Apple TV!

Continue reading Apple TV review (2010)

Apple TV review (2010) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There was a time when Comcast's Fancast.com was about streaming video aggregation instead of remote DVR scheduling and integrated XFINITY / TV Everywhere madness, and now it's given that content a new front end. The new design for the Full Episodes section offers a very Netflix-ish look with thumbnails instead of rows of text for each program currently streaming, but most importantly it now more clearly points out what is available to watch in 720p HD. Users can filter by HD availability, genre, network and more, plus see info on shows on mouseover instead of clicking through. On the surface everything looks slick and usable from here, give it a once over and let us know how it holds up.

Fancast redesign highlights what's streaming in HD originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Want some DivX-encoded 720p goodness on your fancy new superphone? Samsung will be the way to go, at least in the short term. The Korean company has announced that its Bada-infused Wave handset will be the first phone with certified support for DivX HD playback, with the freshly announced, Android-driven, Galaxy S following up at an unspecified point in time. Guess we're finally going to get the content to do justice to those spectacular Super AMOLED displays. Hit up Engadget Spanish for the full PR while we get to work on transcoding our entire DVD collection.

Samsung Wave is world's first DivX HD phone, Galaxy S in a hurry to be world's second originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype announced support for Skype video calls on PCs in 720p high definition, as well as Skype software embedded into internet-connected widescreen televisions from its consumer electronics manufacturer partners.

The latest version of Skype for Windows can deliver up to 720p HD-quality video calling at 1280 x 720 resolution, at up to 30 frames per second.

At CES, Skype also announced partnerships with LG and Panasonic to offer Skype–enabled HDTVs. Skype software will be embedded into Panasonic’s line of 2010 VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs and LG’s 26 new LCD and plasma HDTVs with NetCast Entertainment Access.

Skype has already made an impact on the home phone, mobiles and PC desktops (couldn't do our podcast without it) and now it's taking on the living room. LG and Panasonic are already lined up to deliver new HD webcams for their internet connected plasma and LCD HDTVs that will enable living room-to-living room calling in 720p. With support for the service's standard features like free Skype-to-Skype calling, voicemail, receiving inbound calls and more, using the TV to make calls should be just as easy (but likely more embarrassing, try some HD makeup -- just a tip) as we're used to. PC users haven't been left behind with 720p HD streaming built into the latest client and new webcams on the way from faceVsion and In Store Solutions. Like the ones planned for the TVs, they handle video processing onboard so even older computers or underpowered netbooks can support HD streaming without bursting into flames. Let the good people at Skype explain it all to you in a video embedded after the break, we'll wait to get our hands and made-for-SD faces some time with the new setup this week at CES

Continue reading Skype HD: 720p videocalling from PCs or directly through LG & Panasonic HDTVs

Skype HD: 720p videocalling from PCs or directly through LG & Panasonic HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube has announced that support for watching 1080p HD videos in full resolution “is on its way.”

Starting next week, YouTube's HD mode will add support for viewing videos in 720p or 1080p, depending on the resolution of the original source, up from our maximum output of 720p today.

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

Now that everything Zune HD is official and available for pre-order, Microsoft has seen fit to loose official specs, putting to rest -- at least until we can do a full hands on -- questions about what to expect from the OLED touchscreen packing device. From dimensions (52.7 mm x 102.1 mm x 8.9 mm, 2.6 oz) to battery life (24 hours for music with wireless off, up to 4 hours of video) and charge time (3 hours, 2 hours to 90%.) While the offical site (incorrectly) currently lists max video res at barely-better-than-DVD 720 x 480, we contacted Microsoft and received the official specs on video support, and if for some reason you needed to hear it again: the Tegra chip is a beast. Ready for HDTV playback when it's plugged into the AV dock, the Zune software supports up to 1280 x 720, 30 frames per second at a max 14 Mbps bitrate for WMV HD and h.264 sources. Confirmed still a bummer? No wireless video streaming from the Zune Video Marketplace, though the specs do indicate that purchases and rentals will work across all three screens, PC, Zune and Xbox 360. Check the corrected specs after the break, now all that's left is getting some alone time with one.

Continue reading Zune HD specs fill in the blanks on video format support, battery life and more

Zune HD specs fill in the blanks on video format support, battery life and more originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Camcorders

Some dads like grilling, some dads like football, and some dads like tacoing wheels on rocky downhill mountain bike runs. For that latter group (and any other similarly action-oriented folks of either gender), the VholdR ContourHD is now shipping just in time for Father's Day -- and the summer injury season. The 720p wearable cam was announced back in April and we recently received one for in-house testing. We'll provide our full impressions on it soon, but for now enjoy the thrilling red-light footage after the break captured at last week's Brammo Entertia test ride, or go ahead and pick up your own. MSRP is $299.99, but Amazon's selling them for $20 less and throwing in a $50 gift card to boot -- savings that will do little to offset the cost of fixing your broken clavicle if you don't take it easy on the whoopties.

Continue reading ContourHD helmet cam now shipping for aggro dads everywhere

ContourHD helmet cam now shipping for aggro dads everywhere originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Features, Internet, New content

After making sure there was a domain name locked down for Epix, the new premium movie network formed by Studio 3 Networks (Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM) it was all about taking advantage of an early peek at the 720p Flash powered site to see what a new generation of home movie distribution has to offer. The tech end (opening up to invited users this week for beta testing) is powered by Akamai's variable bitrate streaming streaming technology, delivering up to 3mbps HD video with stereo audio all the way down (6 different levels) to 500kbps encodes. Where it surpasses current online offerings from the competition is the ability, thanks to the aforementioned studio backers, to provide many of the recent movies you want to see. Our impressions of the service and a few more pictures of the interface are after the break.

Continue reading Epix HD 720p movie streaming service eyes-on

Epix HD 720p movie streaming service eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others

Tired of those totally vanilla field monitors -- particularly those with a resolution half that of the camcorder you're using? Yeah, so was SmallHD. The aforesaid startup has just launched its one-day-only pre-order of the forthcoming DP1, an elegant 720p field monitor that's a drastic departure from the norm. Encased in anodized aluminum, this 8.9-inch LED-backlit panel boasts a native 720p resolution, 500:1 contrast ratio, 300 nits of brightness, full RGB color control, 178-degree viewing angles, an array of mounting points and a slew of inputs (HDMI, composite, component, VGA and S-Video). In the box, you'll find the monitor itself, a 12V power supply, HDMI / component cables and a Neoprene sleeve to keep it safe whilst on the go. It's available for pre-order right now at $749 in black or silver, though you'll lose out on the sleeve if you don't get your order in by midnight ET tonight. Shipments are expected to begin in around a month.

SmallHD breaks out elegant 720p DP1 field monitor originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 05 May 2009 01:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: ESPN-HD, Sports

Sure, ESPN's been taking advantage of widescreen to cover the NFL Draft, but it's still a bit surprising that the 2009 Draft Weekend is the first one ready for HDTV, getting beaten to the punch by the WNBA. Check out the picture above for a quick comparison of the 2008 screen (bottom) to the new 2009 compression format (top), shot in HD and better able to take advantage of the 16x9 frame. Also new for '09? If you haven't noticed already, Todd McShay's gone all CNN on us with a "perceptive pixel touch screen" to swipe around player stats and draft possibilities, along with 21 remote cameras following potential draftees on both days. Check the gallery for bigger versions, then resume your 5th mock draft of the day, unfortunately for us, it probably won't include the Detroit Lions doing the smart thing and picking an offensive lineman first.

ESPN prepping its first HD NFL draft coverage originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Other hardware

Using PCs to do what Nintendon't, YouTube user renebarahona is running Wii games in HD resolutions through the Dolphin emulator. One peek at Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 720p is enough to make any of us wonder what a world where Nintendo didn't hate HD (even yanking 480p capability from the Gamecube, we're still not over that) would be like. These games aren't merely upscaled like DVDs, they're being rendered in a high resolution natively with extra anti-aliasing Xbox 360 BC-style, producing surprisingly crisp visuals. Check out the embedded videos after the break (remember to hit the HD button) for an example, including how to set this up on your own computer.

Continue reading Emulator runs Wii games in 720p while we wonder what might have been

Emulator runs Wii games in 720p while we wonder what might have been originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

Well, would you look at that! It's not 3M, Dell, Toshiba or any other mega-corp taking the totally tired pico projector from lackluster to 720p -- oh no, it's, um, Forever Plus. Said beamer has been around the block a time or two, but given the native 1,280 x 768 native resolution, we couldn't help but take notice. Reportedly, the 0.49- x 0.59- x 0.19-inch box outputs via HDMI and packs a lamp life of 30,000 hours, but we definitely have serious doubts about the quality. And the actual availability, for that matter.

Forever Plus finally takes a pico projector to 720p originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BitGravity announced today that it is launching a live digital video service that will allow users to stream Flash-based HD video over the Internet.
The BG Live HD service can stream live events in 1080p or 720p resolution and doesn't require a viewing client to be downloaded.

Mirial has released version 6.2 of its video conferencing software that steps the Softphone up from 720p to 1080p.
Cristoforo Mione, business development director at Mirial, said that with Full-HD resolution up to 1080p for both decoding and encoding, the upgraded version set the pace of the evolution in video and VoIP technology.

Filed under: Other hardware, Samsung

We've no way to confirm at the moment, but if SamsungCentral is to be believed, Samsung's newly announced OmniaHD will soon become the world's first cellphone to record 720p video. Unlike the HTC Touch HD -- which had precisely zero high-def amenities -- it seems the next breed of Omnia may actually live up to its moniker. Other purported specifications include an 8 megapixel camera and a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, though the resolution of the panel is currently unknown. Have we mentioned we can't wait to get our paws around this? Because we can't.

Samsung's OmniaHD: world's first phone to capture 720p video? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Sadly, this 18.5-inch Orion LCD from Japan will never reach the heights of an Allio or Q42 display, destined for the lowly life of corporate hospitality and POS despite its 720p (1280 x 768) resolution, Intel CPU and Windows XP Embedded OS. Despite having just enough horsepower to drive streaming FLV and WMA, support 1GB flash memory and iEPG it's unlikely any true HD bliss is ever to bless any of these 50,000¥ ($549 U.S.) screens.

Orion 720p PC-in-HDTV dreams of greatness, ends up working retail originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Other hardware, Others

Kodak's 720p Zi6 has only been out for six months, but already we're seeing what's likely its beefed-up predecessor. The mighty Zx1 is debuting here at CES, and with it comes a 2-inch LCD monitor, easy upload to YouTube, 720p HD video capture at 60fps, an IP43-certified weather-resistant design and an SD / SDHC card slot that can understand media up to 32GB in size. All told, users can capture up to ten hours of high-def video, and the bundled HDMI cable makes showing off recent grabs as easy as pie. The Zx1 will arrive in five colors (pink, blue, yellow, red and black) and will include pre-charged AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries alongside a charger. We'll bet Creative and Pure Digital have a little something of their own to show off before this one lands in April for $149.95. Full release is (where else?) after the break.

Continue reading Kodak's rugged Zx1 handheld camcorder does 720p in the jungle

Kodak's rugged Zx1 handheld camcorder does 720p in the jungle originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Other hardware, Others

First was the netbook craze -- suddenly, everyone was cool with a miniaturized laptop. Now, the same sentiment has apparently bled over to the camcorder realm, with the Mino HD, Zi6 and Vado HD all vying for that precious space in your front left pocket. The latter, Creative's latest, was recently reviewed over at CNET, and while it'd be wonderful to find a clear cut winner, critics simply couldn't say that it was definitively superior in all ways to Flip's formidable rival. In short, the Vado HD's video quality was slightly less awesome than that of the Mino HD, but the feature set on the Creative was found to be far superior. Before pulling the trigger on either, we'd have a peek at the read link to see what aspects are most important to you.

Creative's Vado HD 720p pocket camcorder reviewed: toe-to-toe with Mino HD originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Other hardware, Others

Creative's recently unleashed Vado HD 720p pocket camcorder isn't dramatically different (design wise, anyway) than its predecessor, but it's obviously what's tucked inside that counts. Still, we have to admire the subtle but meaningful updates that Creative has applied here, and while beauty will strike everyone differently, we personally like the direction the Vado HD has taken. For a few more looks, saunter on down to the read link.

Hands-on shots of Creative's Vado HD 720p pocket camcorder originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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