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Google TV – Open Source Software – Set-Tops Are in the Works[teaser]What do Google, Intel, Sony and Logitech have in common? Google TV.[/teaser] Google has learned a lot from Apple, and it’s pretty evident that they’ve taken those lessons to heart. What was once a humble search engine based out of a garage is now the company behind the Nexus One phone, Android operating system, Chrome OS, Chrome internet browser and now open source TV software and, potentially, a set-top box or two. The guys at Google have also learned a bit about what not to do. With Google TV, they’re taking a full 180 from the incredibly restrictive Apple TV. The important thing to remember when reading about Google TV is that it’s not a standalone product. Think of Google TV as an operating system for set-tops and you won’t be far off. It uses the increasingly popular Android OS. Unlike most set-top boxes, Google TV boxes will have a web browser built right in, so there’s no limit to the content they can grab. Apps will play a major role of course. Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube are expected to be among the first. Google is said to be making this a true open-source project. That means that anyone who wants to put Google TV into their set-top box, television, game system, or Blu-ray player can do it. The first box, or boxes, will use an Intel chip; an Atom seems like the most likely choice. Sony will likely be bringing out the first consumer Google TV Box, which could give them a great leg up over the competition. Google, of course, is looking forward to the potential revenue from the devices, but the big picture seems to be one painted in ad dollars. Google already sells TV ad time in certain markets, and anyone who’s been on the internet in the last few years has seen Google’s web advertisements. Representatives from most companies declined to comment on Google TV, but a Boxee rep has been cited as calling this a giant opportunity. After all, if you can use Boxee (and purchase Boxee’s upcoming paid content) with Google TV then no one loses. There’s a lot of speculation and very little hard information right now, but Google TV could be an incredibly cool platform for getting web based content on your television. Source: The New York TimesPosted Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 12:15 PM PDT by: -
Samsung BD-C6900 Available Now[teaser]The ultra-sleek and 3D capable BD-C6900 is available now from retailers, both on and off line. [/teaser] If you have a taste for 3D movies and a Blu-ray player with a slick design and transparent lid, your wants are all satisfied by the release of the C6900. It’s now available from Amazon, Best Buy, and a variety of other retailers. The BD-C6900 does a lot more than just 3D though. It’s got Samsung’s impressive Internet@TV, which allows access to Netflix, Blockbuster, Facebook, Twitter and more. It’s capable of playing audio and video files from your PC thanks to AllShare, and it’s capable of doing it wirelessly courtesy of built in WiFi. It’s an impressive player, and slim, at only 39mm high. It sports what Samsung calls “Ultra Fast Play.” The feature promises quick load times, which is a trend we’re excited to see continue. The BD-C6900 can be had now, for a price of $399. Source: AmazonPosted Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
XpanD is Rolling Out Universal 3D Glasses[teaser]If you’re not into the idea of buying a pair of 3D glasses that will only work with one brand, XpanD’s got good news. [/teaser] The biggest problem with 3D televisions isn’t even a part of the set. It’s the glasses. There’s no getting around it, 3D glasses have been implemented very poorly. The biggest problem is that there’s no standard, which means the glasses you’ve got for your Samsung set might not work with your friend’s Panasonic set, or your 3D capable computer monitor. XpanD has solved that problem by making universal 3D glasses. They use a fast-switching liquid crystal cell and they come in twelve different colors, but the main attraction is that you can use them with virtually any television. Ami Dror of XpanD says that it’s just consumers that want these glasses out there. “While we support TV manufacturers by manufacturing glasses for them,” he says, “we are also requested by the same manufacturers to sell universal active glasses that will work with all the modern 3D TVs.” These universal glasses will likely cost between $100 and $150, according to Dror. That puts them right around the same price as set specific glasses sold by TV manufacturers. Source: XpanDPosted Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 01:20 PM PDT by: -
65” 3D Display from AUO Uses Polarized Glasses[teaser]The Taiwanese company AUO will be launching their massive 65” display later this year. [/teaser] There was a lot of contention from the consumer base when companies decided to go with active shutter 3D glasses. Though the technology has its advantages, there’s definitely the downside of having to buy fairly expensive viewing accessories. AU Optronics is showing off its polarized glasses using 65” HD 3D panel today at a FPD China, and has announced that mass production will start in the second half of 2010. The biggest advantage, of course, is that polarized glasses sell for far less than active shutter glasses. The potential downside is the price of the set. AUO hasn’t announced a price yet, and one of the main selling points of the sets using active shutter glasses is that the price was able to stay in an acceptable range. AUO will also be debuting some new glasses free 3D displays at the show, but if they’re anything like what we saw at CES, there’s no reason to get excited. Source: AUOPosted Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Netflix Instant Streaming Coming to Windows Phones[teaser]Windows Phone 7 could have the first instant streaming Netflix app. [/teaser] Just a few weeks ago a survey went out to iPhone users asking about a potential Netflix application. The caveat, according to the survey, was that they would only be able to use the instant streaming service while connected to a WiFi network. A demo of the prototype Netflix app for Windows Phone 7 yesterday had no such restrictions. Windows phones will have Silverlight built right in, which makes Netflix streaming a lot simpler. But the most interesting thing is that the demo clearly implied that 3G usage would be doable. “I’m at the wave pool at the Mandalay Bay with nothing but my Windows phone… and I want to watch it now,” said the presenter, who then hit the instant play button and showed a few seconds of Rescue Me. Of course, this is only a prototype, and there’s still a lot to be worked out. The speculation regarding the iPhone WiFi limitation isn’t of ability but of legality. If it’s hooked to a WiFi network, it’s not a mobile device. Over 3G, it is, and may be a breach of an agreement. Still, the program moved fast and streamed as quickly as on PC, so hopes are high. Source: GizmodoPosted Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Dell Takes Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba to Court[teaser]The LCD cartel is going to see its day in court thanks to Dell’s allegations of price fixing. [/teaser] Dell has sued a total of five companies with allegations of LCD price fixing. The suit deals with LCD monitors for computers, but out of the five companies being brought to court, three of them – Sharp, Hitachi, and Toshiba, also make LCD televisions. In 2008, Sharp and LG got into some trouble over fixing prices and were forced to pay over $600 million in fines, so they’re no stranger to the charges. The charges simply state that the five companies have gotten together and agreed on a set price for their products. Setting the price, Dell says, eliminates competition and maximizes the prices of monitors, causing the consumer to pay an unfair price. Dell has not stated publicly what kind of damages it is looking for, and there’s no telling what the results of this suit will be. You can bet that the companies in the suit will be under close scrutiny for their LCD monitors and televisions in the future. Expect to see some prices start to shift. Source: Wall Street JournalPosted Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 03:40 PM PDT by: -
AVRev Picks The Top 30 iPhone Apps For Movies and Home Theater[teaser]Audio Video Revolution (AVRev.com), High-Def Digest's sister site, has just picked the thirty top apps for movies and home theater.[/teaser] If you've got an iPhone, you know there are a ton of great apps for just about any pursuit under the sun, but you also know there are just as many crummy options as well. It's always a big help when someone does the hard work for you. Well fear not, the hardworking folks at AVRev has dug through the piles of options and selected thirty shining gems of movie and home theater goodness. From knowing when to make a run for the bathroom, to helping you find the closest RedBox location, to the easiest way to locate the IMDb facts you need to win that bet over beers, they're all here. These are the ones to get! Check out the full list here!Posted Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 12:55 PM PDT by: -
Panasonic Is Bringing 3D Demos to You[teaser]Not satisfied with simply having demo units in stores, Panasonic is inviting you to “Touch the Future” at a series of displays that may be coming to a mall near you. [/teaser] If there’s one thing the guys at Panasonic love, it’s 3D. Of course, when you love something, you want to share it, and Panasonic is doing that by bringing their 3D displays to malls across the U.S. It’s all part of the “Panasonic Touch the Future Tour” which kicks off this Monday. It all starts in New York City, and then on to Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and Detroit (where they’ll be stopping at the opera house many residents completely forgot they had). They’ll keep touring until April 17th, when they finish things up in Miami. Strangely, they’ll only have weekend displays in three cities: Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami. Everyone else will have to get out to the mall between 11am and 4pm on a Monday. Panasonic is bringing their 3D televisions, of course, and some of their other cool new gadgets. Skype televisions are featured, as are the company’s new LUMIX digital cameras. A full list of dates, times and locations is available on Panasonic’s website. Source: PanasonicPosted Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
Feds are Planning a Tough Review of the Comcast/NBC-Universal Deal[teaser]The Justice Department is taking a hard look at the potential issues that arise with Comcast’s purchase of NBCU. [/teaser] Though the deal is expected to go through, it’s not going to happen easily. Comcast already controls a huge portion of the cable TV market, but giving it control of channels may represent an unfair advantage over competitors. “When companies swell to include both content and distribution, we need to pay attention,” says Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockafeller. “It is vitally important that when we have mergers in these markets, consumers cannot be left with lesser programming and higher rates.” The Justice Department is going to look at the deal from an antitrust perspective while the FCC will be looking to see whether or not the transaction is in the public interest. Public comments will soon be accepted to help guide the FFC’s decision. The biggest concern is that Comcast will have the power to raise rates for access to NBC programming, forcing other cable and satellite providers to pay up or go without. Source: Associated PressPosted Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
How to Make a Cheap and Easy Projector Mount[teaser]If you need a simple projector mount that’s as versatile as it is effective, look no further. [/teaser] Matt Burns had a problem. He was auditioning and reviewing a wide range of different projectors, but he didn’t just want them sitting on his table. “I also wanted some truly universal, allowing me to review projectors of all sizes and shapes without worrying about their weight,” he writes. “It would also need to come down when not in use.” The solution was a trip to the hardware store. It’s not the prettiest ceiling mount, but it’s cheap, easy, and best of all it can fit most projectors easily without a worry about size or weight. Using some eye screws, eye bolts and a nice solid board, Burns was able to create a universal projector mount that serves his purpose. This isn’t for everyone, obviously. It’s not too attractive, and it doesn’t really have a place in the living room. As a temporary mount though, or as a way to get the projector up in the basement where aesthetics aren’t as much of a concern, it’s a great way to go. Source: CrunchGearPosted Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
