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Boxee Live TV OTA Dongle Priced at $49, Coming in January[teaser]Boxee is going straight after cable TV with this one. [/teaser] While Boxee has always been a leader in the cord-cutting movement, things have gotten a little less covert. The announcement of the Boxee Live TV dongle for over-the-air HD signals is filled with reasons you don't need to pay for cable anymore. The dongle, which will be hitting in January at a price of $49, enables you to pick up free broadcasts of your local channels and watch the HD television live on your Boxee Box. Boxee's Avner Ronen points out that events like the Superbowl, World Series, Oscars and Olympics are all on broadcast television, so you won't miss much if you ditch cable. At this time, Boxee Live TV will only be available in the US and Canada and will be the only way - at least for now - to get live broadcasts on your Boxee Box. The Box also lacks a DVR feature, but according to the official FAQ though, it could happen. "... if we get enough users asking for DVR then we could take advantage of that other USB input on the back of the box and let a user connect a drive for recordings." Source: The Boxee BlogPosted Fri Nov 18, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Wilson Audio Introduces the $195,000 Alexandria XLF Loudspeaker[teaser]They're going to be positioned at the top of the Alexandria line and come in at $195,000. [/teaser] Most people will never be able to swing the $200,000 needed for a pair of Alexandria XLF speakers, and even those that can will be hard pressed to spend that much. Still, you have to admit, they're fun to drool over. Dave Wilson, founder and president of Wilson Audio, says that the Alexandria XLF is a no-compromise speaker. One significant improvement over the X-2 Series 2 is a new passive bass management system. The look of the speaker has also been revised to ensure low resonance from the enclosure. The XLF comes in at $195,000 - we're assuming that's for a pair. Of course, if you don't feel like spending that much on a speaker, consider a similarly priced Bentley Continental, five E-Class Mercedes or, you know, a 2,000 square foot house. Source: Canada HiFiPosted Fri Nov 18, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Vizio's Passive 3D TVs are Available Now[teaser]They're LED edge lit and Wi-Fi enabled, but the big attraction is the passive 3D technology. [/teaser] One of the things people have been crying out for since 3D televisions hit the market is the use of passive technology. They want to use the same glasses they use in theaters and they don't want to have to shell out for expensive glasses that need batteries or charging. At least, that goes for mainstream consumers who don't mind giving up a bit of resolution for their 3D set. Vizio's M-Series brings passive to the masses, with sets ranging from 42 inches up to 55 inches, with a 65 inch TV due out in January of 2012. They offer LED edge lighting as well as built in Wi-Fi so you can stream from Netflix, Pandora, Vudu or whatever other online service you prefer. The 42 inch model comes in at an MSRP of $1,039 and the 55 inch model runs $1,649 with the rest of the prices falling in between. Vizio's 65 inch set will cost $2,099 when it comes out in January 2012. Source:EngadgetPosted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
HiFiMAN Releases a Budget Priced Pocket Sized USB DAC[teaser]It provides improved sound for computers and portable audio devices alike. [/teaser] "A friend asked me to develop a DAC that everyone could afford yet would substantially improve the sound of any conventional audio product," Says HiFiMAN president Fang Bian. "The result was the HM-101 which has exceeded even our high expectations." The HM-101 measures in at 2-1/2 inches long, 1-1/2 wide and 1/2 inch thick. It offers a USB connection for computers as well as a standard headphone jack so you can plug in your iPhone, CD player or whatever else could use an audio boost. HiFiMAN's new DAC has a signal to noise ratio of 98 dB and total harmonic distortion of 0.07 percent. It has a nice wide frequency response too, from 20Hz to 20kHz. The HM-101 is available now for $39. Source: eCousticsPosted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Biscotti Launches a Video Phone for your TV[teaser]It's an interesting idea but it's not cheap and it lacks Skype support. [/teaser] Biscotti is a company new to the scene and they've just launched their first product - the TV Phone. It's essentially a video phone type device that turns your TV into the monitor. To use it, simply set up the camera/microphone combo on the top of your TV and then call up whoever you want using the included remote. It's a nice concept, but for a $199 device it lacks one big feature that seems like a no-brainer. Biscotti can call anyone on a smartphone, tablet, Google contact or other Biscotti users. What it can't do is access Skype, which is becoming a commonplace application on connected TVs. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Outdoor TV Specialist Pantel May be Going Under[teaser]Orders aren't being filled, calls aren't being answered, and inside sources say bankruptcy is on the way. [/teaser] When we think of niche products, outdoor televisions immediately spring to mind. They're unnecessary for most and priced well above their indoor counterparts, but specializing in a niche market isn't a bad idea for a company. Sadly though, it seems that things aren't working out well for Pantel. The company hasn't been responding to calls or emails since September and one dealer says that his distributor is unable to get TVs that he's ordered. Company phones are disconnected and even the CEO's number results in a disconnect message. Pantel has not officially filed for bankruptcy as of yet, but these aren't good signs. Source: CE ProPosted Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
VIA Releases an $89 Mini-ATX Motherboard and Processor Combo for HTPCs[teaser]It comes with a 1.4GHz dual core processor, on-board HDMI and room for 8GB of RAM. [/teaser] When one of your prime requirements for a PC is size, as it is with most home theater PCs, you need to make a few sacrifices. You're not going to get the same graphics and processing power as a desktop setup, but you can surely get enough to satisfy all your requirements for watching movies and listening to music. VIA's new VE-900 Mini-ITX motherboard/processor combo is designed to give you plenty of power and a nice low price. Along with the board you'll also get a 1.4GHz VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor. The motherboard features an HDMI connection for high definition video and 24-bit 192kHz audio. The motherboard also has a few connections you might not expect. It features PS/2 inputs, VGA out and a serial port. The one big downside - it's packing a fan. Still, at $89 it's none too shabby! Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
T+A Introduces the E-Series Music Receiver[teaser]The new receiver from T+A focuses exclusively on getting the best quality possible from your music. [/teaser] The prime component behind that is a 32-bit dual-mono DAC for music that comes through a networked PC or CD. Other connections aren't left in the cold though. Five stereo inputs and two optical all get 24-bit 192kHz processing. Regardless of the source, you'll get a high-end preamp that includes a pair of subwoofer outs and one line-level output. The E-series music receiver includes the ability to stream content from your PC or from a DNLA compatible home music server. You can also access internet radio thanks to the vTuner internet radio service. T+A says you'll be able to connect wirelessly or via the more traditional wired method. T+A's E-series music receiver is available now in the U.K. for just over $4,000. There's no word yet on a U.S. release. Source:Posted Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Best Buy is Giving Out a Free Blu-ray Player with Purchase of Samsung Epic 4G Touch[teaser]Not a bad way to get an extra player without having to shell out for it. [/teaser] Best Buy is offering up a nice deal for folks that are picking up the new Samsung Epic 4G Touch. With the purchase of the phone and a two year contract, you'll get a free Samsung Blu-ray player. It's not a top-of-the line player and it retails for $89 normally, but it's not bad by any means - especially for free. The free BD-D5100 was released back in 2008 so it doesn't have features like Wi-Fi, but it does include Netflix and Pandora streaming for those willing to plug in. Best Buy hasn't said how long this deal's going to last, but we're guessing it won't be around next week. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Tue Nov 15, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
NuForce Releases the Dia Amplifier/DAC for Streaming Devices[teaser]At $299, NuForce's new DAC promises to give you improved sound at a reasonable price. [/teaser] Your Blu-ray player sounds amazing, and why shouldn't it? It's capable of high quality sound right out of the box and if you've got it running through a nice receiver or amp to some quality speakers then you're enjoying some of the best sound out there right now. Streaming devices like the Roku player and Apple TV are a different story. This doesn't please NuForce CEO Jason Lim. " We developed Dia out of my own personal frustration after I purchased an Apple TV and realized that there was no affordable and easy-to-use audiophile-grade digital amplifier solution," he says. "Dia is an answer for consumers that want phenomenal sound from the devices they already own without breaking the bank." Of course, you can use it for more than just your over-the-top devices. Anything that you want to get nice clear 2.1 audio from. You can pick up the Dia on Amazon for $299. Source: eCousticsPosted Tue Nov 15, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by:
