(Credit:
Vudu)
Vudu has cut the price of its entry-level BX100 set-top box in half. Effective immediately, the box will retail for $149, down from $295.
It's not the first price cut for Vudu. The product debuted at $399 in September 2007, then dropped to $295 in January 2008. But unlike the $200 movie credit at Best Buy during last year's holiday buying season, the new price cut isn't a temporary promotional deal. Vudu is also axing prices on the Wireless Kit (was $99, now $79) and the Vudu XL (was $999, now $499).
The BX100 was already one of our favorite video-on-demand boxes, delivering more than 13,000 selections--10 percent of that in the best HD video we've seen outside of Blu-ray--and a handful of experimental free streaming services, including YouTube and Flickr. The price cut makes it that more attractive, and undercuts the $229 price tag of the Apple TV. We're still concerned about the company's long-term viability, but the Vudu still delivers a better selection, better interface, and better video quality than, say, the 2Wire Blockbuster OnDemand Box.
What do you think? Does the price cut make you more likely to buy a Vudu box, or would you prefer one of the competitors?
(Credit:
DLNA)
At CNET we've reviewed and covered a number of products designated "DLNA-certified," from game consoles to HDTVs, and in our experience the standard's idealistic vision, "to be able to easily and conveniently enjoy this content using any electronic device, and from any location in their home, and beyond," according to the DLNA's FAQ, sometime fails to come to fruition.
This failure can be blamed on numerous factors, including competing standards, Digital Rights Management issues, or manufacturers not entirely following the DLNA standard or eschewing it for their own. Confusion over what DLNA means can put buyers of media devices in a precarious situation: will my DLNA-certified Nokia N95 digital camera connect to my DLNA-certified Sony KDL-46Z4100 HDTV so I can share my photos of my trip to Maui for my family to view? In this blog I'll unravel some of the mysteries around DLNA and try to make sense of what it actually means.
... Read more
(Credit:
Engadget)
For years it's been possible to pull in standard and high definition programming onto your computer using a Slingbox or a TV tuner such as ATI's All-in-Wonder PCI cards. But these solutions have their limitations (for example, a Slingbox cannot display a high-definition picture) and let's face it, nobody wants to sit uncomfortably in front of their 19-inch monitor to watch their favorite TV program. Now with TV manufacturers integrating Web-based content into their sets, the possibility has become more mainstream.
The promise of the DirecTV's HDPC-20 might further change that perception--if it's released. The dual-tuner device has been in the making for some time now, with product photos and tidbits of information floating around blogs during the past year. Here's what we do know, according to the product brochure:
- Allows you to record and watch DirecTV programming on your computer, and connects via USB.
- Features dual-tuners, but unsure if it can pull in high-definition programming.
- Includes an Ethernet connection, but we're not exactly sure why. One possible reason: it's capable of streaming to multiple Windows Media Extender devices and Xbox 360
- A fully-featured media hub to stream downloaded movies, music, and pictures (unsure if it's DLNA compatible though)
If those features sound a bit ambiguous, so is the release date. On the Green Button Forum, they're speculating a November release based on calls to DirectTV's representatives, but we're not holding our breath. We also hope this doesn't turn out to be vaporware. There is currently no support for the device in the current Windows Media Center TV pack (code named Fiji). This could possibly mean that it won't be released until Windows 7 arrives in 2011, according to Engadget, when the next TV pack is due. In the meantime, there are already plenty of solutions to stream media from and to your computer. Most of them, however, still don't come close to offering an easy way to pull in high-definition television programming, integrate it with Web based video, and stream it to your HDTV.
We'll keep tabs on this product, but what do you think of it? Would you be interested in watching DirectTV on your computer but also have the option to stream the programming to your television along with your collection of DivX videos?
(Source: Engadget)
(Credit:
HP)
When Hewlett-Packard showed us an early version of its $349 MediaSmart Connect digital media extender, our first reaction was, "It costs too much." Now that it's actually available, it appears the company has finally gotten the message. We're hearing from a source close to HP that the official price will drop to $299 in early October, and that "retailers are expected to offer instant rebates so consumers should find the product for around $249...maybe even lower."
Why the price cut? Remember that the Xbox 360 can duplicate much of the MediaSmart Connect's Windows Media Center functionality (albeit without built-in Wi-Fi, and with considerably more noise and shelf space). Recent price cuts have made the entry-level 360 as cheap as $199. The PS3 also has some impressive media streaming capabilities; it's more expensive at $400, but it's also got a built-in Blu-ray player (and, like the Xbox 360, it's a great gaming machine).
We're currently testing the MediaSmart Connect, and will have a full review soon. In the meantime, would you pay $250 or $300 for such a device? Or is the whole "digital media streaming" thing just another instance of the manufacturers trying to create a market where none really exists--do you actually want or need something that pulls your PC-based media files into the living room?
(Credit:
CNET)
We recently tested the network media capabilities of Sony's KDL-46Z4100 flat-panel LCD, and frankly there's not much to look at save for a slide show of colorful photography. Unlike other media-rich televisions we've covered in the past, such as the Pioneer's PDP-5020FD and the Samsung LN46A750, the Sony only supports the streaming of JPEG photos, not music or video, over an Ethernet connection. ... Read more
The MediaGate MG-450HD lets you add your own hard drive.
(Credit: MediaGate)The problem: You've got a ton of digital music, photos, and video on your computer's hard drive, but you want to enjoy all that media on the big TV and stereo system in your living room--not hunched over the laptop screen. If you've got a network connection and one of the latest game consoles (an Xbox 360, a PlayStation 3, or--when paired with the free Orb software--even a Nintendo Wii), you may not need any new hardware--each of them can stream a wide variety of audio, video, and photo formats from your PC to your TV over your home network. However, if you're not a gamer, or you need a more robust solution--more file support, for instance--there are alternatives, such as the MediaGate MG-450HD.
... Read more
LaCie's LaCinema Premier drive puts your digital media on your TV.
(Credit: LaCie)As good as the Apple TV 2.0 is, it's still pretty limited on what sort of videos it can stream from a networked computer--if it hasn't been imported into iTunes, you're pretty much out of luck. If you're looking for something with more file format flexibility--and the simplicity of drag-and-drop operation--the LaCie LaCinema Premier may be just the ticket.
... Read more
The Slingbox PRO-HD: True high-def video streaming--at least on a home network
(Credit: Sling Media)Sling Media has unveiled the Slingbox PRO-HD, the first version of its video place-shifting boxes designed to stream true high-definition video. The catch? Due to the massive bandwidth requirements, HD video can't be streamed over the Internet--just to other locations on a home network. Still, that means that PCs running the SlingPlayer software--or TVs attached to Sling's soon-to-be-reannounced SlingCatcher--should be able to view a high-def stream at up to 1080i resolution with 5.1 surround audio. (To date, some Slingbox models have been able to accept HD video, but the output stream was limited to DVD-level standard-definition resolution.)
Watch the Slingbox PRO-HD video on CNET TV.
The Slingbox PRO-HD will be loaded with a full range of inputs and passthrough outputs. Although it will lack HDMI (thanks to copy-protection restrictions), the PRO-HD will include NTSC, ATSC, and clear QAM tuners. The newest Slingbox is scheduled to be available in the third quarter of 2008 for $400.
The ZoneBridge is a network accessory for Sonos users.
(Credit: Automated Home)If last week's FCC leak wasn't proof enough, the UK's Automated Home (via Gizmodo) has pretty much filled in all the details on an as-yet-unannounced networking accessory for the Sonos Digital Music System. The Sonos ZoneBridge BR100 will act as a wireless bridge between other ZonePlayers in the Sonos' proprietary mesh network. That's useful because the Sonos system requires at least one of its boxes to be tethered to a wired network connection. Previously, that meant one of the two included base stations of the Sonos system would need to be near an Ethernet port, or you'd have to invest in another ZP80 or ZP100 unit--not an inconsequential expense, at $350 and $500, respectively. The integration of the ZoneBridge--which is rumored to cost only $100 when it goes on sale later this fall--into a Sonos-ized household means that it can handle the wired-to-wireless network handoff, freeing up one of those ZonePlayers for duty in a nearby room better suited to music (bedroom, den, etc.).
The ZoneBridge in action
(Credit: Automated Home)Like the Sonos ZonePlayers, the ZoneBridge includes two Ethernet ports, so it won't monopolize an Ethernet connection that's already in use for something else. But that puts us in mind of another alternative: a powerline Ethernet adapter. We've used these in the past for getting a variety of wired-only networked gadgets online--TiVo, Xbox 360, Slingbox, and even the Sonos. A two-adapter set can cost anywhere from $80 to $150, but if you get one with a built-in four-port switch--or simply attach an inexpensive hub--you'll be able to have a quartet of devices on the Net without having to deal with any wireless setup headaches.
The Symbian SlingPlayer has hit version 1.0.
(Credit: Sling Media)
The SlingPlayer for Symbian S60 phones is out of beta and now available for sale. The software allows a selection of Nokia phones (the E65, N75, and N95 in the U.S., and the E65, N73, and 6120 elsewhere) to stream TV from the full range of Slingbox models. Previously, the Symbian software was only available pre-installed on models sold by British wireless provider 3. Furthermore, the new standalone software delivers full-screen playback and Wi-Fi streaming not available on that previous edition.
The Symbian software will be available on Sling Media's Web site soon. It will cost $30 in the U.S., C$35 in Canada, and £20 in the U.K.--although the fee is waved for those who purchase the Nokia N95 in the U.S. As with other mobile versions, a free 30-day trial version will be available, so you can try before you buy. The Symbian SlingPlayer joins versions already available for Windows Mobile and Palm OS products, as well as Windows and Mac computers.
The announcement of the Symbian player software caps a busy week for Sling. In recent days, the company unveiled a buyout by Dish Network parent EchoStar, as well as the announcement of a new hardware product, the Slingbox Solo.
