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Showtime Readies Stand-Alone Streaming Service for 2015[teaser]Reports indicate that the premium TV network will offer a separate streaming option next year. [/teaser] Following in HBO's footsteps, Showtime has announced plans to launch their own stand-alone streaming platform. Though a launch date has not been confirmed, the network expects to get the service up and running sometime in 2015. The news comes from a recent earning's call with CBS chief executive officer Leslie Moonves, who revealed plans for a cord-cutting option to watch Showtime. Currently, only viewers with an authenticated cable or satellite provider can stream Showtime content through the Showtime Anytime app and website. This new service will allow customers to subscribe to Showtime streaming without the need for a cable or satellite contract, giving users access to many popular movies and shows, including 'Homeland,' 'Masters of Sex,' 'Shameless,' and 'Penny Dreadful.' Rival premium network, HBO, announced similar plans for a stand-alone streaming platform last month. Full details and pricing for the proposed Showtime streaming service have not been revealed. Parent company CBS also recently launched its own CBS All Access digital subscription option for $6 per month, and a dedicated online news channel. Source: Engadget, The Wall Street JournalPosted Thu Nov 6, 2014 at 01:30 PM PST by: -
Amazon Echo Voice-Controlled Speaker Offers Instant Music, Information, News, Weather, and More for $199[teaser]The upcoming smart speaker responds to a user's voice commands. [/teaser] Amazon has revealed its latest product, the Amazon Echo. Echo is a cylindrical speaker system with 360° omni-directional audio and voice-controlled commands, offering instant information and music. The speaker is an always-on device that uses Wi-Fi to connect to the cloud through Amazon Web Services. After waking Echo with the wake word "Alexa," the speaker provides similar functionality to Siri or Ok Google on Apple and Android devices, allowing customers to ask for information, music, news, weather, and more. Likewise, thanks to its cloud integration, Echo actually adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences over time. The speaker features Far-field voice recognition that uses seven microphones to pick up customer's commands. A 2.5-inch woofer and a 2-inch tweeter are integrated as well, offering 360° omni-directional audio. Amazon Echo supports voice control for popular services like Amazon Music, Prime Music, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn. In addition, the device also includes Bluetooth functionality to stream music from Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, and more from your phone or tablet. Likewise, users can download an Echo app for their Fire OS and Android devices, as well as desktop and iOS browsers. Finally, a remote with an integrated microphone is also included. While an official release date has not been announced, Amazon Echo is currently available for pre-order through invitation only for $199. Customers can visit the Echo website to request an invitation. Prime members who successfully receive an invite, will also get a special limited time discount, bringing the speaker's price down to $99. Source: AmazonPosted Thu Nov 6, 2014 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Up to 25 Percent off ASUS MeMO Pad Tablets[teaser]For a limited time, Amazon is offering significant discounts on select ASUS tablets! [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing electronic sales and promotions, Amazon is running limited time deals on several ASUS MeMO Pad tablets. ASUS MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX-A1-BK 7-Inch Tablet (Black) - Currently $124 (17 percent off its retail price). ASUS MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX-A1-WH 7-Inch Tablet (White) - Currently $129 (13 percent off its retail price). ASUS MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX-A1-RD 7-Inch Tablet (Red) - Currently $129 (13 percent off its retail price). ASUS MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX-A1-YL 7-Inch Tablet (Yellow) - Currently $129 (13 percent off its retail price). ASUS MeMO Pad 8 ME181C-A1-BK 8-Inch 1 GB Tablet (Black) - Currently $150 (25 percent off its retail price). ASUS MeMO Pad 8 ME181C-A1-WH 8-Inch Tablet (White) - Currently $150 (25 percent off its retail price). As always, these deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Wed Nov 5, 2014 at 07:30 PM PST by: -
CBS Launching Digital Streaming News Channel Tomorrow[teaser]The network is planning to start its own streaming news service. [/teaser] CBS has announced the arrival of a digital news channel that will offer a direct news feed to broadband users. While an official name for the service has not been confirmed, the streaming channel will likely be launched under the moniker of CBSN. According to a report by re/code from the Web Summit in Dublin, Ireland, the new digital service is scheduled to launch tomorrow. The streaming channel will offer an always-on feed of news. Current CBS correspondents such as Jeff Glor and Elaine Quijano will likely help spearhead the digital content along with several other anchors and journalists from the network. Full details on the channel remain elusive, but the 24 hour news service will apparently be supported by ads. Likewise, it's unclear what mobile and streaming devices might include support for the new digital channel. CBS is expected to make an official announcement soon, but reports indicate that the digital channel will be up and running on November 6. The network also recently launched CBS All Access, a stand-alone streaming service that allows viewers to watch CBS content without a cable or satellite subscription. Sources: re/code, Engadget, Variety 1, Variety 2Posted Wed Nov 5, 2014 at 04:00 PM PST by: -
VIZIO & AFI Team up for AFI FEST 2014 Sponsorship, Highlighting P-Series 4K TVs[teaser]The electronics company will sponsor the upcoming film festival. [/teaser] VIZIO and AFI have announced a partnership for AFI FEST 2014. As part of the agreement, VIZIO will showcase its latest products and host the opening night of the festival which is set to feature the world premiere of 'A Most Violent Year,' directed and written by J.C. Chandor. "We're honored to support the world premiere of 'A Most Violent Year' and collaborate with AFI FEST to bring technology and filmmakers together," said Matt McRae, VIZIO Chief Technology Officer. "With the continued advancements, we're investing to set the new picture and audio quality standard for consumers. It's now more important than ever to work with cinematographers and directors to support their technology needs as they bring their vision to life for both the home as well as the theater." Throughout the festival, the VIZIO Ultra HD Lounge will also host several events, allowing filmmakers to check out the company's latest Ultra HD Smart TVs. In addition, VIZIO will be handing out a 70" P-Series Ultra HD Full-Array LED Smart TV and a 54" 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar System to the winner of the VIZIO Visionary Special Jury Award for extraordinary visual story telling. Finally, all on-site pass holders will also have access to the VIZIO Chill and Charge Lounge in the Roosevelt Hotel, allowing attendees to charge their phones, grab a drink, and demo VIZIO's P-Series Ultra HD TVs. AFI FEST 2014 will be held November 6 through November 13 in Hollywood, California. Source: VIZIOPosted Wed Nov 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
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Google Nexus 9 8.9-Inch IPS Tablet Is Now Shipping for Prices Starting at $400[teaser]The company's latest Android tablet is now available. [/teaser] Google's Nexus 9 is now available for purchase. The 8.9-inch tablet is co-developed by HTC and is powered by the new Android 5.0 "Lollipop" OS. The Nexus 9 tablet features an 8.9-inch IPS LCD QXGA 2048x1536 display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device uses a 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver CPU at 2.3GHz, a 192-core Kepler GPU, 2GB of RAM, and a 6700 mAh battery. An 8MP rear camera and a 1.6MP front camera are included as well. In addition, the tablet offers integrated front-facing HTC BoomSound speakers, and a separate magnetic keyboard option. 16GB and 32GB models are available. Google's Nexus 9 16GB ($400) and Nexus 9 32GB ($480) are now available from Amazon and other major retailers. Source: GooglePosted Tue Nov 4, 2014 at 06:00 PM PST by: -
DirecTV Customers Could Lose AMC, BBC America, IFC & More in 2015[teaser]The satellite provider has yet to renew its contract agreement with AMC Networks. [/teaser] AMC is warning DirecTV customers that they might not be able to watch some of their favorite shows, including 'The Walking Dead,' next year. Both companies have yet to come to terms on a contract renewal. The current deal is set to expire by the end of the year, putting channels like AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, and We TV in jeopardy for DirecTV viewers. AMC has gone so far as to air warnings to customers during the latest episode of 'The Walking Dead,' informing them of the contract dispute. Likewise, a pop-up message with a similar warning appears to visitors of the AMC website. If no agreement is made, DirecTV customers could lose access to several popular shows like 'Doctor Who,' 'Portlandia,' 'Mad Men,' the aforementioned 'Walking Dead,' and the upcoming February premiere of the 'Breaking Bad' spinoff, 'Better Call Saul' -- a prospect that isn't likely to make Heisenberg too happy. Is AMC going to have to send DirecTV on a trip to Belize? For its part, AMC claims that DirecTV has yet to engage in meaningful negotiations, and the network doubts that a timely agreement will be made. To let DirecTV know how you feel about the potential loss of AMC Networks, the channel has set up a website allowing visitors to contact the satellite provider with their complaints. Source: Digital Trends, AMCPosted Tue Nov 4, 2014 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
Disney Movies Anywhere App Launches on Android, Offering Disney, Pixar & Marvel Digital Titles[teaser]The app is now available, allowing users to watch supported content anywhere on Android devices. [/teaser] Disney has announced the arrival of Disney Movies Anywhere for Android. The subscription-free app lets customers redeem Disney digital copies and purchase Disney titles through Google Play. And as an added bonus, when new users download the app, sign up for a Disney Account, and connect it with iTunes or Google Play, they will also receive a free digital copy of 'Wreck-It Ralph.' In total, the service offers access to about 400 Disney, Pixar, and Marvel titles. Users can input digital copy codes found on eligible Blu-rays and DVDs to redeem their streaming and downloadable movies on their Android devices. Likewise, users can also purchase titles through the app's integration with the Google Play Store. Finally, Disney Movies Anywhere also includes exclusive videos, special offers, and a reward points system. The Disney Movies Anywhere app is now available for Android and iOS devices. Sources: Engadget, GooglePosted Tue Nov 4, 2014 at 10:30 AM PST by: -
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HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: BenQ Projectors up to 62 Percent Off![teaser]For a limited time, Amazon & Woot! are offering special deals on select projectors! [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing sales and promotions, the Woot! Amazon store is offering big discounts on three BenQ Projectors. BenQ GP20 Wireless LED 700 Lumen Projector - Currently $480 (56 percent off its retail price). BenQ W770ST 3D 720p HD DLP Pojector - Currently $500 (37 percent off its retail price). BenQ MW870UST PointDraw Ready DLP Projector - Currently $750 (62 percent off its retail price). As always, these deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Mon Nov 3, 2014 at 07:30 PM PST by: -
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Smartphone Hits U.S. On November 14 Starting at $400 with 5.6-Inch Curved-Edge Display[teaser]The upcoming mobile device offers a unique screen that wraps around the edge of the smartphone. [/teaser] Samsung has announced the release of the latest addition to its Galaxy line of products. The Galaxy Note Edge smartphone will start arriving at US carriers on November 14. The mobile handset features a 5.6-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. In addition, the screen features a special curved design that wraps around the right edge of the phone, offering an extra scrollable area for email, internet, apps, notifications, news and a night clock mode. Under the hood, the device is powered by a 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 3,000 mAh fast charging battery running Android 4.4. A 16MP rear camera and a 3.7MP front camera are also integrated. Finally, Samsung's S Pen stylus is included as well. The Galaxy Note Edge will be available in Charcoal Black and Frost White at several U.S. providers, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular. Currently announced prices range from 24 monthly payments of $35 with a service plan from Sprint, and $400 with a two year contract or $946 without a contract at AT&T. Sources: Samsung, EngadgetPosted Mon Nov 3, 2014 at 05:30 PM PST by:
