Think twice before you say that using a game console to watch TV will never go mainstream because according to a survey from the Yankee Group, more people have a gaming console at home than a cable set-top box -- in fact the survey says that 2 percent more households have a game consoles than a set-top box. Now of course any survey that relies on normal people to report what technology they use, is automatically in question, but we do believe that going forward, people with box fatigue would ditch the cable box first. This is a super easy one considering how much more a console can do and in some cases even completely replace the role of the cable box -- we would like to see the Wii and the PS3 join the 360 in the States at pulling double duty like this. The fight for the living room is just beginning, so we'll be keeping a close eye on this one, but considering how crappy most cable boxes are, something has to change to make this a fair fight.

More homes have a game console than a cable box originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whoa, we sort of guessed the Boxee Box was going to be small from those press pics we saw the other night, but we didn't know it was going to be freaking tiny -- check out this shot of the asymmetrical set-top next to a Coke can just posted up on the Boxee blog. Sadly, neither Boxee nor D-Link has updated us on what's actually powering this little guy, but we do now know that it'll have an RF remote control and S/PDIF and RCA audio outputs in addition to HDMI, SD, USB, WiFi, and Ethernet. Sounds like a tiny little chunk of awesome -- we're looking forward to finding out way more at CES.

Boxee Box pictured in the wild: it's small! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At the Boxee Beta Unveiling event in Brooklyn, Boxee revealed that D-Link has been named first choice as the hardware partner to release a Boxee Box - Boxee branded set-top box.

The device brings HDMI-support, WiFi, Ethernet, an SD card slot and two USB 2.0 ports. It also comes with optical audio, RCA audio and RF remote and plays any non-DRM media.

Like a good one-two punch, now that Boxee Beta has been unveiled, here comes a glimpse of the company's first hardware unit, the Boxee Box. D-Link takes the honors of being the inaugural hardware partner and Astro the designer. The Box, more like a submerged cube, boasts HDMI, SD card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, WiFi, and ethernet for old school internet connectivity. Unfortunately, we don't know at this point what's powering it under the hood, but we're hoping that NVIDIA collaboration on the beta software might suggest some Ion here. Target release sometime in the second quarter of 2010 for about $200.

Boxee Box coming Q2 2010, D-Link revealed as hardware partner originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Internet

Color us shocked and elated. Boxee, the white-hot startup that has risen from nothing to everywhere thanks to its internet TV software portal, has just announced that a deal has been inked between it and an undisclosed "hardware partner." If you'll recall, we actually heard that the outfit was mulling the production of its own set-top-box back in January, and now it looks like Roku, Apple TV and a host of other mini PCs will have yet another formidable rival vying for space underneath the tele. The firm isn't spilling any details whatsoever on the so-called "Boxee Box," but we are told that mockups and the like will be presented at the Boxee Beta Unveiling on December 7th. Oh, and as if you aren't excited enough already, chew on this -- the company has informed us that they believe "this will be the first of several living room devices you'll see running Boxee in 2010," so don't be shocked if your favorite game console or Blu-ray player gains an embedded Boxee app in the near future.

Boxee inks deal with first hardware partner: a 'Boxee Box' is coming originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Color us shocked and elated. Boxee, the white-hot startup that has risen from nothing to everywhere thanks to its internet TV software portal, has just announced that a deal has been inked between it and an undisclosed "hardware partner." If you'll recall, we actually heard that the outfit was mulling the production of its own set-top-box back in January, and now it looks like Roku, Apple TV and a host of other mini PCs will have yet another formidable rival vying for space underneath the tele. The firm isn't spilling any details whatsoever on the so-called "Boxee Box," but we are told that mockups and the like will be presented at the Boxee Beta Unveiling on December 7th. Oh, and as if you aren't excited enough already, chew on this -- the company has informed us that they believe "this will be the first of several living room devices you'll see running Boxee in 2010," so don't be shocked if your favorite game console or Blu-ray player gains an embedded Boxee app in the near future.

Filed under: Media streamers, Internet

Boxee inks deal with first hardware partner: a 'Boxee Box' is coming originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After months of speculations whether Apple will release completely new Apple TV device making it a high-end media center for our living rooms or rather leave it, more or less, as it is (means without all the latest true HD capibilities, IP streaming, Blu-ray, live TV ability, HD recorder, 1080p support, etc.)… we still don’t know the answer.

The company introduced new Apple TV 3.0 software that gives us not more than a redesigned main menu - which is said to give a faster access to the content, possibility to watch iTunes Extras and enjoy iTunes LP in fullscreen and listen to the internet radio (including stations in high-quality HE-ACC formats).

Filed under: Receivers, Speakers, Others

Receivers keep growing more channels, but few people have developed an affinity for running more speakers and their tethers 'round the living room. Yamaha's doing its part with a series of products that integrate things together -- soundbars, HTIBs, and the like. On the lower end are the YHT-S350 and YHT-S400, pictured after the break. Both offer a receiver with an integrated subwoofer, though which your various devices can be connected and the output end of their HDMI cables tickled with bass. The two differ only in how they get their highs out, with the S350 including a pair of squat stereo speakers and the S400 offering a three-channel "air surround xtreme" soundbar. On the higher end is the updated YSP-4100, above, a rather tall but only 9cm deep soundbar with the receiver integrated that can be mounted on the wall right beneath your giant HDTV and then paired with a selection of wireless transmitters for iPods and the like. It includes a whopping 40 4cm speakers arrayed within, with a further two 11cm woofers, delivering what Yamaha calls 2.5.1 channel sound -- though it looks as if it can power two additional speakers at the sides if you want something a little closer to 7.1. The YHT-S350 and -S400 are due to hit Japan in time for a Halloween marathon, while the YSP-4100 should release in time for the holiday specials on TV. No prices just yet.

[Via AV Watch]

Read - YHT-S350 and YHT-S400
Read - YSP-4100

Continue reading Yamaha combines receivers with subwoofers and soundbars for trio of HTIB offerings

Yamaha combines receivers with subwoofers and soundbars for trio of HTIB offerings originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft announced today that the Zune HD, its long-awaited media player, is available now for pre-order and is set to hit store shelves on Sept. 15.

Filed under: Industry, Media PCs, Media streamers, Internet

We're not sure how this affects the zero-dollar revenue goal for 2009, but popular media player software Boxee announced it has closed a $6 million round of financing including a new partner, General Catalyst. We'll let the money men assess value, the key point for users is how this affects the company's plan to take the platform from underground darling to mainstream hit - embedding the software in connected TVs, Blu-ray player, game consoles and set-top boxes. With a Windows alpha release in the bag and latest support from MLB.tv Boxee seems well on the way towards reaching larger audiences, CEO Avner Ronen says to look forward to the beta release this fall, more content deals and extending the App Store and API support. Our advice is to avoid tearing an ACL itself dancing on stage like another recent independent performer turned-mainstream star, what would you like to see from Boxee now that the company has more resources to provide it?

Boxee locks up additional funding, plots route from underground to mainstream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pace is to provide an HD-capable set-top box to Latin America's largest multi-service cable provider.
Brazil's cable operator NET Serviços de Comunicação is buying the UK firms's new HD-capable set-top unit as part of its drive to establish a fully HD, digitised customer base.

Filed under: Reviews, Receivers, Speakers, Others

Every time we're asked for speaker and/or receiver suggestions and our victim's eyes glaze over as the discussion stretches on, we're reminded of why HTIB (home theater in a box) systems are so successful. As crazy as it seems to us, most people just want to get going with the HT, not invest in a lifestyle. Based on the review at the aptly named HomeTheaterInABoxReview, the Yamaha YHT-591 sounds like a system we could recommend the next time we're asked. At $649, it's on the expensive side of the HTIB spectrum, but you get what looks like a slightly detuned RX-V463 (105-Watt, 5.1-channels), 5 bookshelf/desktop-sized speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. Other than the spring clips on the receiver, it looks like the receiver will survive a few round of speaker upgrades, with YPAO room EQ, HDMI connectivity and good codec support. Hit the link for the full details.
[Thanks, Brian!]

Yamaha YTH-591 HTIB reviewed -- you pay more, you get more originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are already more digital delivery devices connected to HDTVs in US homes than Blu-ray players, thanks largely to the Xbox 360 and the likes of TiVo, Roku, AppleTV and Vudu.
Yet despite the numerical supremacy of players capable of streaming HD content, digital downloads are not expected to be a serious competitor to the Blu-ray format anytime soon.

Filed under: Media streamers, Set-top boxes

We'd heard rumors Mvix USA would be rolling out an upgraded 1080p capable media box to rival the earlier MvixPVR and here it is. Dubbed the Ultio, it has a list of supported codecs and containers that rivals the new Popcorn Hour C-200 in its thoroughness -- DivX(R) (3/4/5/6), Xvid, AVC-HD, MPEG 1/2/4, WMV-9, ASF(WMV9), MKV, DVD(IFO, VOB), ISO, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, FLAC, AC3 -- it's all here, with a slightly awkward Swiss Army knife-themed tagline to boot. The $169 price tag is sans-3.5-inch SATA HDD, though you can add one for $79 (500GB) $90 (1TB) or $139 (1.5TB). Of course network streaming is a part of the package, with Mvix's usual suite of Samba / UPnP / BitTorrent (mentioning compatibility with PlayOn and Tversity specifically to get all your Netflix, YouTube and other streaming sources to TV) via Ethernet or optional Wireless-N dongle. It's up for pre-orders now, take a close look at the specs and pics then get in line before they start shipping July 6.

Mvix Ultio "It Plays All" HD media streamer debuts in the U.S. July 6 for $179 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, OTA

Well, the DTV transition finally went down, and after the endless delay and countless arguments, it seems as though June 12 hit with more of a whimper than a bang: the FCC says there haven'y been any widespread service disruptions, and although the agency's toll-free help lines recorded 700,000 support calls between June 8 and June 12, most converter box issues were resolved in less than five minutes by a simple channel re-scan. Similarly, we can't say we've heard of any particularly big problems out there, so really, we're just wondering what the hell took so long.

FCC says DTV transition going smoothly, few TVs shot up originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft has just unveiled what it describes as a revolutionary new way to play Xbox 360 video games on HDTVs without the need for a controller.
Called Project Natal, the sensor, which combines an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor in one device, could have uses far beyond just gaming.

Shipments of set-top boxes are expected to peak this year, at least in mature markets, and then commence a gradual decline.
However the rolling series of analog TV shutoffs in countries around the world, combined with the strong uptake of HDTV sets, mean that HD STBs will form a growing fraction of the total market, according to ABI Research.

Filed under: Media PCs

The media manager boxee just keeps on rolling, though there's no new news to announce in the Hulu arms race, the Ubuntu version has been updated for Jaunty Jackalope, and to match its OS X counterpart with Pandora and RadioTime support, plus the App Box. It should be available as package updates for anyone already running the software, while Mac and Apple TV users can find slight updates for their software that should improve Flash performance. Next up? The Windows version, on track for public release in June. That's all.

Ubuntu-flavored boxee gets Pandora, App Box; bugfixes up for Mac and Apple TV originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Internet

It looks like Hulu's trying yet another ill-fated tactic to keep its content restricted to traditional browsers and off things like Boxxee -- TunerFreeMCE's Martin Millmore says Hulu's HTML is now encrypted at the source and then decrypted using Javascript on the client. That means plugins that parse the Hulu site for links to content won't work anymore, but man, what a complicated monkey dance for basically no gain -- it's already been broken, and we're wondering what Hulu's going to do when Boxxee or another company stops playing around and simply builds a full-on WebKit or Gecko browser with a tweaked ID string into their app. Keep driving towards that cliff, guys -- millions of users who want Hulu on their TVs and will jump through hoops to get it don't represent any kind of market opportunity or anything.

Hulu begins encrypting HTML content to thwart non-browser apps originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Features, Media streamers

The latest thing from our friends at Boxee most definitely makes perfect sense to us. Take two really cool gadgets like Boxee and an iPhone (or iPod Touch) and make them work together. We spent a few minutes playing with the free app and have to say it's the best 3rd party remote app we've tried. While most remote apps on Apple's app store are examples of how crappy a remote can be, the Boxee app pulls down cover art and adds controls that aren't possible with the Apple TV's remote. But more important than anything else, the Boxee app actually makes it easier to control Boxee then with the remote itself by thinking out of the box and adding gestures into the mix. To us this is very important as touch screen remotes are inherently crippled at navigating on-screen menus unless you actually like to continuously look up and down just to select something. The gestures are implemented well and are a pleasure to use, but just in case you don't like them, you can turn them off and switch to buttons. Overall we really like the app, but the one thing you can't do is actually launch Boxee on the iPhone. This doesn't surprise us, in fact we're not sure it would even be possible, but it would still be nice.

Hands-on with the Boxee iPhone remote originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony has no intention of releasing a PS3 without a Blu-ray drive.
The suggestion that the Japanese company would ditch the high-def format was scotched by Sony's marketing manager Kim Nguyen.

Filed under: Industry, Misc, Other formats, Other hardware

When you're on, you're on. After notching its best ever quarter in terms of sales, D-BOX has just landed yet another huge win. Universal Pictures' Fast & Furious -- which is slated to ignite a new generation of street racers who compete for gas money rather than pink slips -- will be the first major theatrical feature release with the company's Motion Code technology written in. 'Til now, Motion Code had been mostly restricted to at-home films and video games, but now moviegoers who can find a D-BOX-equipped cinema can enjoy this film while feeling all the vibrations and rumbles as the engines rev and the egos flair. Something tells us this kind of occurrence will only get more and more common.

Fast & Furious to be first major theatrical release with D-BOX originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Fox, NBC, Internet, New content

As a wise man once said: "Damn, that's just cold, son." Merely hours after boxee announced its latest alpha build along with RSS feed support for Hulu, said video portal has now blocked off boxee's browser entirely from accessing its content. If you'll recall, boxee saw a huge increase in interest when it first added easy access to Hulu, and once Hulu demanded that it be removed, boxee sadly complied. The latest move just seems "cold blooded," as now boxee users who attempt to surf over via a Hulu RSS feed link will be greeted with an infinite amount of nothing. boxee is quick to point out that its browser doesn't access Hulu content "any differently" than IE, Firefox, Opera or any other browser, which does a good job of explaining just how deliberate this move is. Needless to say, we get the feeling this bout is just getting started.

[Image courtesy of ZatzNotFunny]

Hulu blocks boxee browser entirely, gloves get ripped halfway off originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Internet

Before we get you all excited, we'll quote boxee's ending of its announcement before anything else: "This is a bleeding edge release, not for the faint of heart since it didn't go through much testing." If you're the brave type, you're going to want to install the latest version of boxee this instance, as it not only brings back Hulu (in a sense), but it also throws in a boxee application market (App Box) and a much-needed Auto Update feature that will inform you automatically of future builds. So, you're hungry for more on that Hulu bit, right? This version of the application brings along a built-in RSS reader optimized for video, and obviously, it fully supports Hulu's public RSS feeds. Needless to say, we're loving the direction this little app is going, so make sure you give it a go and report back with any praises or complaints.

Hulu returns to boxee via RSS feed support, in flies App Box and Auto Update originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Receivers, Speakers, Others

As much as we itch to go fully custom in assembling speaker/receiver combos from disparate brands, there are reasons that HTIB systems are so popular, with value and ease of use coming in high on the list. The four updated HTIB systems from Yamaha certainly stack up pretty well: a couple of systems (YHT-791 and 591) with HD audio codec support are balanced out by a pair of 5.1 systems (YHT-491 and 391) that trim the price without leaving you totally out of the game. Holding pole position is the $850 YHT-791, packing 90-Watts to the seven discrete channels and 100-Watts in the 10-inch sub. Four HDMI inputs, HD audio codecs and even a iPod dock round things out and pretty much ensure you'll have the audio thing covered. If you need that DTS HD-MA and Dolby TrueHD support but not 7-channels' worth, save yourself $200 with the YHT-591 and up to 5-channels at 105-Watts each -- it'd be the direction we'd lean in. But don't take our word for it -- hit the link, check out all four systems yourself and let your own ears decide.

[Thanks, Brian!]

Yamaha's four updated HTIB systems have you surrounded originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Apple

That was short lived -- it hasn't been six months since Boxee added one of its most popular features yet and now Hulu is putting a stop to it. A real reason wasn't given -- big surprise -- but Hulu is saying it was at the reqest of the content providers. While no one really knows what Fox and NBC's objections are to Boxee, we're sad to say it actually kinda makes sense to us. Both media giants make most of their money from traditional cable and broadcast TV, and offering this content on your TV in a convenient way threatens the current model (read money) -- you can't say you haven't thought about getting Hulu on your TV so you could cancel cable. The real bad news is that we'd bet that this is just the beginning, and that every STB out there with Hulu will follow. Of course some of them won't comply, but either way it puts them in a bad situation. Hopefully this won't another trend and that the likes of ABC, CBS and Netflix don't follow.

[Via Boxee Blog]

Hulu asks Boxee to pull content, it complies originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony is planning on creating a hybrid Blu-ray - with a game and movie on the same disc.
The move is being viewed as a way to boost the appeal of the Playstation 3 in the face of falling prices for Blu-ray players and the increasing popularity of games consoles such as Wii and XBOX 360.

Filed under: Media PCs

A lightweight option in the media center OS race, GeeXboX gives a full media PC solution in your pocket by virtue of its Linux LiveCD foundation. Boot it up anywhere and access media on your hard drive, discs or on the Internet without reconfiguring your entire system. The 1.2 release throws in 64 bit support for x86 processors, HDTV and widescreen optimizations, plus a Win32 installer to load it to the HDD if you so desire. Pictured above is a peek at the upcoming 2.x interface, but in the meantime head over and give version 1.2 a try right now.

[Via Softpedia]

GeeXboX 1.2 LiveCD media center OS adds HDTV, widescreen tweaks originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes, OTA, Satellite

For the longest while, we couldn't figure out who let the standalone HD DVR die. To this day, we're still scrambling to find an answer, but thankfully DISH Network has stepped in to revive the niche while the search continues. The outfit's DTVPal DVR has been circulating for almost a century now (okay, just a year and change, but there's hardly a difference in the grand scheme of things), and Mr. Dave Zatz has done us the honors of unboxing one and setting it up. The unit actually doubles as a DTV converter box and an HD DVR, and Zatz found setup to be almost too painless. Everything seemed to be humming along just fine at last check, so feel free and have a look at the gallery in the read link below before pulling the trigger.

DISH Network's DTVPal DVR unboxed and previewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A bill intended to delay the US's transition to digital TV has been defeated in the House of Representatives.
An estimated 6.5 million Americans are not yet prepared for the switch, which now reverts back to the original date of 17 February.

Filed under: DIY, Media streamers

We've already seen boxee for Windows previewed, but if you've been toying with the idea of integrating it into your Vista Media Center setup, you'll probably want to give the read link a look. In short, the step-by-step guide walks you gently through the integration procedure in order to provide easy access to built-in Windows functions (recorded shows, for instance) as well as boxee's portal to the best content the web has to offer. Have a look at the results video just after the break.

Continue reading How-to guide explains boxee / Vista Media Center integration

How-to guide explains boxee / Vista Media Center integration originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Set-top boxes, Others, Internet

boxee took full advantage of its space at CES this year, and according to a recent post on its blog, it fielded quite a few inquiries from other companies about crafting a boxee-branded set-top-box. Currently, the only way to get boxee running is to install it on your TV-connected PC or inelegantly onto an Apple TV. A number of companies approached boxee asking for its thoughts on embedding the application into "existing or future products," so the cats at boxee are coming right out and soliciting your opinion on the matter. boxee does caution that getting it baked into a device would take "a long time," but it certainly seems like that ball is rolling. So, what say you? Would you snap one up? Or would you balk at the notion of adding yet another STB underneath your television?

[Thanks, cros13]

boxee mulls production of its own set-top-box originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Various members of Sling Media's top management, including several founders, have announced their departure from the company.
The move follows Echostar's acquisition of Sling for USD $380 million in 2007.

Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes, Panasonic

Comcast and Panasonic have already expressed their adoration for each other, and now they're proving that the relationship is more than just a fling here at CES. While details are somewhat scant at the moment, the two are working together to integrate HDMI-CEC into cable set-top-boxes. In theory, the partnership will allow tru2way STBs to sync up nicely with non-tru2way-capable HDTVs, giving a single remote control over both devices (or more, if more components are hooked up). Per usual, there's no telling when this love-fest will lead to anything substantial, but at least we know things are headed in the right direction.

Comcast and Panasonic collaborate to bring HDMI-CEC to set-top-boxes originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media PCs, Internet

Hulu comes to XBMC originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roku has agreed a deal that will give its set-top box users access to Amazon’s video on demand (VOD) content.
The agreement means owners of Roku digital video players will be able to instantly purchase, rent and watch digital movies and TV episodes from the Amazon service.

Filed under: Cable, Internet, Satellite, Sports

While you and your crew kick in a few bucks to catch the Pacquiao / de la Hoya fight tonight, keep in mind you're witnessing the launch of a new network, Event TV HD. The new high definition version of TVN's linear Pay-Per-View net promises to bring boxing, MMA and wrestling action in crisp 1080i and 5.1 surround. That usually includes All Day Event tickets if you want to see a replay, or themed programs during the week. TVN sells its package to cable, satellite and other providers who then pass the PPV on to you, so when Pacman takes this, remember who was responsible for bringing it to you.

[Via Multichannel News]

Pacquiao vs. de la Hoya bout marks the launch of Event TV HD originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Others, Internet

And there was much rejoicing, as Roku and Xbox 360 owners that noticed a distinct lack of clarity in their Instant Watch streams should be seeing much better today. Netflix didn't say which lever was pushed / pulled to achieve the desired result, but thanks to work with "content distribution partners and key carriers" the dreaded one-dot should be long gone. The final report is yours, with boxee users the most recent to logon, anyone still enduring vintage VHS-quality video and lackluster HD, or enyoing the high quality promised land thanks to a newly unclogged series of tubes?

[Via CNET]

Netflix proclaims Roku, Xbox Instant Watch streaming problems resolved originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Other hardware, Others, Projector

Open Air Cinema's seasonal timing on bringing out its 16x9-ft inflatable projection screen is a bit off, but who knows -- maybe picking one up now will give you something to look forward to once the ground thaws. Or, be our guest and set up what's billed as "the largest screen available for backyard use" in the snow, call the neighbors over and break out the hot cocoa. For $999, you'll get a 220-inch screen that should put an end to any arguments about who has the biggest TV, and -- mercifully -- a blower that will inflate the rig in seconds so you can spend time getting the projector (not included) set up "just so." We figure that if you're going to be outside, you might as well splurge on the largest screen, but there are also 12-foot and 9-foot versions available for $599 and $449, respectively.

Open Air Cinema brings its 16x9-ft projection screen to market originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Internet

The guys and gals at boxee have been relentlessly working to update the media management software, and just over a month after Hulu support was added, we're now thrilled to announce that Netflix support is joining in. Additionally, users will find custom interfaces for CNN, Hulu, Flickr, Picasa, and YouTube, not to mention portals for TheWB, MTVMusic and The Boston Globe's Big Picture blog. One important caveat is that Netflix isn't yet compatible on Apple TV, but the team is working hard to overcome the hardware limitations and make it happen as soon as possible. Peep the full release after the jump.

Continue reading boxee adds Netflix support, other tweaks in new alpha

boxee adds Netflix support, other tweaks in new alpha originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blockbuster is rising to the challenge posed by cable companies and Netflix by launching a movie rental service via set-top boxes.
It is offering a STB made by 2Wire that plays movies downloaded over a broadband line.

For a while now, Sony's PS3 has done very well out of being the best Blu-ray player in its price range - oh, and you can play games with it too.
So it will be interesting to see how it fares now that Microsoft's Xbox is offering US users streaming HD content from Netflix.
That, and the fact that Blu-ray player prices generally are falling, may have some impact on the Sony console.

Filed under: Misc

First it was home theaters, and then came the rumors of actual theaters. Now, D-BOX is officially getting into bed with video games, though we can't say for certain how well it'll be received. For those in the dark, D-BOX's Motion Code system enables specialized chairs to rumble and bumble along with the on-screen action, and thanks to a new deal with Electronic Arts, synchronized buzzing will be a part of Need for Speed Undercover on the PC. There's no word on what other titles are lined up for Motion Code treatment, but we've all ideas this one here will be a litmus test of sorts to see how things pan out. Call us crazy, but we'll take an actual Sunday drive over a simulation.

[Via TheHDRoom]

D-BOX ventures into video game sector with Motion Code originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: DVRs, Other hardware

DISH Network's DTVPal DVR converter box set to roll out in December originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's lead game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, has been making comments that suggest Wii could go HD sometime soon.
The ability to support true next-gen graphics on HDTVs is one area the Wii falls down on compared to competitors Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

Consumers in Chicago and Denver will be the first in the US to experience Comcast's video-on-demand without a set-top box.
Panasonic and Comcast today unveiled a tru2way digital cable service for the two cities with additional cities expected to go live in the coming months.

The UK’s free-to-air satellite service Freesat has racked up 100,000 sales since its launch in May.
Developed by the BBC and ITV, Freesat said high definition coverage of major sporting events over the summer played a key role in encouraging people to buy HD set-top boxes.

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

AV Toolbox may not be the first name that comes to mind when lookin' some new HDMI equipment, but the outfit has just rolled out a trifecta of reasonably priced, no-nonsense gear that may be just the fit for your switching, scaling and / or splitting needs. First up is the AVT-6041 HDMI Version 1.3 Routing Switcher, which enables easy switching between four HDMI sources, with or without HDCP protection. The AVT-6071 Multi-format Routing Switcher takes in a variety of analog sources (or HDMI sources) and upconverts 'em to HDMI standards (or thereabout). Finally, the AVT-6114 HDMI Version 1.3 Signal Splitter can distribute up to four HDMI / PC signals to four other displays, and it supports resolutions all the way up to UXGA. All three can be had right now for $129, $349 and $239 in order of mention.

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Pace plc, a developer of digital TV technologies, has made the first set-top box capable of receiving and displaying DVB-T2 HD content.
DVB-T2 brings efficiencies of between 30-50 per cent in its use of spectrum compared to DVB-T and is expected to be a key enabler to the roll out of high definition TV in the UK over Freeview.

Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes, Others, Satellite

We're beginning to think this is some sort of odd annual tradition, but just as it did last year, Sky+HD is launching a small collection of limited edition designer set-top-boxes for the artsy type. Designed by four of the UK's "most visionary designers and image makers," the units will go on sale in mid-October and range in price from £75 to £150 when taken with a Sky TV and HD Mix subscription from £27 / month (hey, that's news to us!). Best of all, we're also told that the service will be delivering 30 dedicated high-def channels by the end of 2008, so we suppose a boisterous "huzzah!" is in order here. Full release copied after the break.

Continue reading Sky+HD bringing limited edition designer STBs this Christmas

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Reports on Blu-ray’s progress – and difficulties – on the road to becoming the mass-market video format are legion.
Monica Juniel, vice president of international marketing for Warner Home Video, added an interesting statistic into the mix during her presentation at IFA 2008 in Berlin last week.

Kodak has long been known for producing imaging and photographic material.
hdtv.biz-news.com asked Matthew Yarrow, Kodak country business manager for the UK and Ireland, to explain the rationale behind his company’s decision to move into new territory with the launch of a set-top box.

Strong demand for digital STBs led to record shipments totalling 143 million units in 2007, according to market analysts In-Stat.
The results ensure that the digital STB market remains one of the fastest growing segments of the consumer electronics industry.

UK set-top box specialist Pace saw box shipments rise 55 per cent in the first half of this year with HDTV-enabled receivers with built-in hard drives fuelling the growth.
Pace is now working with 17 of the world’s top 25 pay-TV operators, and reported a CAGR of its HD-PVR shipments up 49%.

Filed under: Misc, Media streamers

Surely you remember Boxee, right? After launching in June on the Mac with the promise of a Linux distro (and Windows, too) not far behind, this open-source media streaming application has finally gone live on Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04. The creators reckoned that by covering Gutsy Gibbon and Hardy Heron users, most everyone interested would be covered, and we have to say we agree with that assessment. It should be noted that said software still has potential kinks, and there are currently a number of alpha testers toying with it in order to send in feedback and get things ironed out. More intriguing here, however, is the possibility for this version to slide into set-top-boxes or standalone players that are built on Linux-based platforms, but for now, why not hit the read link and give it a go on your very own machine. Let us know how it turns out, alright?

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Sony has signed up the major studios, including Fox, Disney and Warner, to offer HD movies on its US download service.
The downloads can be transferred from the console to the Play Station Portable handheld device.
This latest development follows Microsoft's announcement that it will add a NetFlix movie streaming service to its XBox 360 video game console.
The continuing rivalry between the console makers is good news for consumers.

Sony’s Play Station 3, with its integrated Blu-ray disc (BD) player, has given many millions of consumers their first taste of the high definition format.
But hopes that the makers of the video game console would give Blu-ray a further boost have been dashed by Sony Chairman Howard Stringer.
The Sony chief claims Microsoft’s decision to cut the price of its Xbox 360 by US$50 is evidence that it’s falling behind the PS3 in overall sales.

Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, Tuners, OTA

While the US government manages to place a totally ridiculous three month expiration date on a coupon that doesn't have to be used until February of 2009, the Japanese government is actually showing some signs of intelligence. Reportedly, around 1.07 million households on welfare will be receiving a digital TV tuner gratis sometime before the July 2011 switchover. The initiative will set the government back at least ¥5 billion ($46 million), but that figure could increase quickly if the retail prices of said boxes end up higher than expected. There's no word given on whether or not the general public will receive any kind of subsidy, but here's a tip: don't throw an expiration date on there just for kicks and giggles.

[Via JapanProbe]

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Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, DVRs, HD DVD, Media PCs

If you've been intrigued by SE2 Labs' ITC One high-end combo boxes, but can't find a dealer in your area, help may be on the way. The company is going on tour this summer to demo the ITC One to potential dealers around the country. Phoenix and L.A. have already been hit, and Seattle, Atlanta, New York and San Francisco remain on the tour schedule. Naturally, custom installers will be the focus here -- if you're considering one of these units that represent the densest form of HD goodness known, ping your installer. They'll be happy with the $25,000 MSRP (depending on configuration), modular construction, integration and upgradability. You'll probably be less happy with the price, but peeking at the cabinet chock-full of premium components (and the end results onscreen) will ease the pain.

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Filed under: Misc, Media streamers, Internet

As the media streaming game heats up, quite a bit of focus is being placed on the software side. Take Boxee, for example -- this open-source application is designed to enable users to "control their media from a PC-connected TV," but in due time, it hopes to spread the program to set-top-boxes, cable company-issued HD DVRs, etc. Operating in quite the inverse manner, the system is slated to hit alpha next Monday, but it will only support Mac and Linux operating systems. Of course, a Windows-friendly version is due out soon, and given that it is based on XBMC, we have all ideas that it will be at least decently useful. As it stands, Boxee can support 1080p content, but DRM-laced material is still a no-go. The startup is hoping to round up a few alpha testers to get things moving in the right direction, and if you think you're the perfect candidate, tap the read link and get involved.

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An Australian consumer body has called for small consumer electronics devices to carry energy-usage labels following a survey into power consumption.
Tests carried out by Sydney-based CHOICE showed that a PlayStation3 left on but not in use would cost Aus$250 annually in electricity – over five times more than a medium-sized fridge.
The survey found the usage cost for the Xbox 360 was not much lower.

Filed under: Other hardware, Speakers, Sony

Sony continues its series of home theater updates today with a new HTIB, the HST-S100. Like some previous Sony packages, the HST-S100 doesn't feature a central receiver, instead integrating the 450W amplifier, 3 HDMI ports and Sony Digital Media Port right into the back of the sub. Furthering the stealth factor, the five speakers themselves are no bigger than strawberries -- which has us wondering about mid-range performance, but we'll withhold judgement until we actually hear 'em. You get some other mid-high-range goodies for your $700 as well, like S-AIR wireless speaker capability, Bravia SYNC for Theater, which simplifies operation with select Sony gear, and and auto speaker calibration. Should be out in July, we're told.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Set-top boxes

This whole "it's web video, on your TV!" space is getting crowded fast, but we'd say there's certainly room from this new "PoD" device from Verismo Networks. Not content to merely concentrate on one form of content, the PoD can handle content from YouTube, BitTorrent, vTap, Amazon Unbox, CinemaNow, you name it. It's a pretty simple box, with an Ethernet plug, a couple of USB ports for flash storage, some sort of wireless (we're guessing WiFi), and outputs for S-Video or HDMI, up to HD resolutions. It'll sell later this summer for $99, with a bit of a marketing push from YouTube, so this probably won't be the last you hear of PoD.

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Sony is to launch an original High-Definition TV show on gaming for the Play Station 3 video console.
Called Qore, the monthly programme will offer news on the latest PS3 games, game reviews and interviews with game developers. The first episode will be available on June 5.
The show, which can be purchased at the online Play Station store for $2.99 each or annually for $24.99, is being seen as a signal that Sony is preparing to compete with Microsoft’s XBox 360 programming service.