Category Archives: News

Boxee Box launches with promise of Netflix & Hulu Plus integration on the way

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Last night the developers at Boxee hosted a launch party in NYC to celebrate the debut of the Boxee Box by D-Link.  We already know everything there is to know about the Internet streaming box, so I’ll jump right into the juicy new details shared at the launch party.  First, Netflix and Hulu Plus are coming to the Boxee Box; the former is expected to arrive before the end of the year, and there’s no release window for the latter though Boxee promises they’re working on it.  They’re also working on an updated version of the 2-sided Boxee remote (one side control buttons, the other a QWERTY keyboard for search) that will include a dedicated Netflix button.  VUDU, TED, VEVO, and VICE videos will be accessible to browse and stream on the Box, too.  There’s also been some changes to the user interface since it was last previewed in the beta.  The home screen is a lot more streamlined, making it easier to find your content and view featured content.  A new drop down menu provides quick links to Home, Shows, Movies, Apps, Files, and a search bar.  Music and photos have been pushed into the Files category until the Boxee team can find time to give it some more “TLC.”

And that about does it.  Boxee Box can be yours today for a cool $199.99.

[Via BoxeeBlog]

Network TV says HALT! to Google TV: FOX joins the fray

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Shortly after Logitech and Sony introduced their devices that welcomed Google TV into family living rooms, CBS, NBC, and ABC blocked TV programming on their websites from being accessed on the Google TV platform.  On Wednesday, after only a couple of weeks on the fence, FOX decided to join its network competitors and block its Internet streaming content from being watched on TVs through Google TV-enabled boxes.  Why is this happening?  I’ll give you the same reason as before.  It’s all about making money, and Internet-based ads provide far less revenue than television ads.  We’re in what I call a weird transition state, and the TV networks simply don’t know how to handle to move from watching TV to watching TV content from the Internet on the TV.  It’s all a big mess right now with the customers stuck on the unfortunate side.  Hopefully network TV can get their act together and make peace with the tech companies (Google, Boxee, etc.) who are trying to make content accessible on more screens.  We will win in the end; the question is not if but when.

[Via Engadget]

Google adds Instant Previews to Instant results

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By now you should all be well acquainted with Google Instant.  When you start typing your keyword into the search bar you are immediately provided with results for the most likely search given what you have already typed.  Google is adding “visual search results” to the mix and they’re calling it Instant Previews.  After you type in a keyword and Instant gives you a list of results, now you can hover your mouse over a given link and you’ll see a small visual preview of the website before you click into it.  In addition to these quick glances, you are also provided with orange-tinted text call outs that highlight where your search terms appear on the website.  It’s all about making the search experience more intuitive; the combined force of Instant and Instant Previews will help you find what you’re looking for in a quick and easy manner.  To enable Instant Previews, click on the small blue magnifying glass located next to the title of a search result.  After this initial click, Previews will remain on and you can simply hover over any other search result to sneak a preview of a website before entering it.  Click the magnifying glass again to disable the feature.  Like I always say, happy browsing!  Video demonstration after the break.

[Via GoogleBlog] Continue reading Google adds Instant Previews to Instant results →

Control YouTube Leanback with YouTube Remote app using Android device

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Ya’ll remember the introduction to YouTube Leanback, the minimalistic way of browsing and watching YouTube videos on the desktop?  Well now that YouTube and the Leanback viewing experience has found a second home on the television through Google TV, the search giant has decided to create and disseminate a YouTube Remote app for Android users (sorry, iPhoners) that allows you to control Leanback using your phone.  Setup is simple.  You “pair” your phone to your television (or PC) by logging into your YouTube account on both screens and boom!  Now you can “find and queue up videos to watch, send them all to Leanback with a single tap…[and] play, pause, skip forward and back and even control the sound volume.”  The power of YouTube user control lies in the palm of your hand.  The free Android app is available for download today.

[Via YouTubeBlog]

SlingPlayer has arrived for Windows Phone 7 users

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If you’re an early adopter of the Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system and a proud owner of a SlingBox, listen here!  What was hinted at back in October has been made available to purchase–SlingPlayer for WP7 devices.  Jump into the Windows Marketplace and you’ll find SlingPlayer Mobile for $29.99.  Select, download, and let the streaming festivities begin.  Full PR after the break.

iPad owners, SlingPlayer is coming for you too.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading SlingPlayer has arrived for Windows Phone 7 users →

Droid 2 Global finds its way to Verizon

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Two new Droid phones in one week!?  Hot damn!  OK, it’s not that exciting since this latest iteration is essentially identical to the Droid 2.  What differentiates it from its slightly older sibling is three-fold: it is “global ready”, meaning its got CDMA/GSM dual-mode functionality, it packs a faster 1.2GHz processor, and it comes dressed in a white coat.  The rest of the specs are standard: 3.7″ WVGA multitouch display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 5 megapixel camera with auto focus, WiFi, Bluetooth, DLNA Wireless, 8GB internal memory (expandable up to 32GB), Android 2.2.  It’s available for purchase today at Verizon Wireless for $199.99 on a new two-year contract.  If you travel ’round the world and need a dual-mode world phone and enjoy the Android experience, check the ‘ol BlackBerry and pick up the Droid 2 Global.

Note: Neither Motorola nor Verizon has officially announced the introduction of this device; it just happened to show up on the VZW website for sale.  If/when either of these companies feels like pushing out an official press release regarding the Droid 2 Global, check back at this space for those details.

[Via Verizon]

RockMelt, a modern browser with a social twist

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Sick and tired of the same old desktop browsing experience?  Are you constantly logging into your Facebook and Twitter accounts and checking up on your latest RSS feeds?  If you answered “yes” to one or both of these questions you might want to give RockMelt a spin.  RockMelt, backed up Netscape founder Marc Andreeseen, is a modern browser with a social twist.  First off, it’s fast.  It’s built on Chromium, the open source project behind Google’s Chrome browser; so if you’re used to Chrome browsing speeds, you know what to expect.  Here’s the social aspect.  To use RockMelt you must sign into it with your Facebook account; that’s right–it’s the very first web browser you sign into.  But there’s an upswing to this; you can access your browser information, including social integration, RSS feeds, and more, on any computer that has RockMelt installed.  Social integration, right.  So you log into the browser using your Facebook account.  The left side of the browser populates a list of your Facebook friends and you can chat with them, send and receive messages, and view status updates.  The right side of the browser stores your Twitter followers and their updated tweets, along with a running list of website icons representing individual RSS feeds so you can keep tabs on your most frequently visited sites.  RockMelt boasts “push notifications” meaning that it will keep track of and alert you to updates from Facebook, Twitter, and RSS feeds.  The browser also promotes URL sharing among your connected social networks; there’s a built-in URL shortener that’ll push your favorite sites and posts to friends.  Search is faster, too.  Worried about privacy?  Don’t be.  RockMelt developers promise that login information and settings are encrypted before they are sent over to RockMelt servers for cloud storage.

Want to get in on the RockMelt craze?  The browser is currently in beta (so expect numerous bugs pop up) and the developers are enabling the Internet at large to participate in an early access hands on with it, so along as you’re willing to fork over your Facebook username and password (remember, that’s required to use the browser).  Hop over to the RockMelt homepage to “connect for an invitation.”  It runs on Windows and Mac.  Look after the break for a video demonstration to learn more about RockMelt.  For beta software it runs pretty well, and if you’re a heavy Facebook/Twitter user you’ll surely appreciate the social integration aspect.

[Via RockMelt] Continue reading RockMelt, a modern browser with a social twist →

TV Reminder: ‘Conan’ premieres tonight on TBS [Update: the ratings are in…]

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Conan O’Brien returns to the boob tube.  Tonight.  11PM ET.  TBS.  Do it.

Tonight’s guests are Seth Rogen, Lea Michele, Jack White, and the guest we voted on (Team Coco is still tallying the results).  The remainder of this week’s guests include Tom Hanks, Jack McBrayer, Jon Hamm, Charlyne Yi, Fistful of Mercy, Michael Cera, Julie Bowen, and Jon Dore.  Conan airs Monday through Thursday.

Bonus! Look after the break to see the “Conan Pale Whale” by artist Yiying Lu.  It really makes for a wonderful desktop background.

Update: Deadline reports that the Conan premiere attracted 4.2 million viewers last night, making this telecast the most watched late night talk show of all time on basic cable.  He beat out fellow cable hosts Stewart and Colbert, as well as network TV competitors Letterman, Kimmel, and yes, Jay Leno.  He drew in 3.3 million adults 18-49 and 2.5 million in 18-34.  The projected median age of the viewers was 30–the youngest of all late night talk shows. Continue reading TV Reminder: ‘Conan’ premieres tonight on TBS [Update: the ratings are in…] →

AMC renews ‘The Walking Dead’

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As a series reaching more adults 18-49 than any other show in the history of cable television, it doesn’t come to much surprise that AMC has greenlit The Walking Dead for a second season.  While the first season includes just six episodes, season two will pack 13 of ’em!  AMC prez Charlie Collier had this to say about the renewal: “The ‘Dead’ has spread!  No other cable series has ever attracted as many Adults 18-49 as ‘The Walking Dead.’  This reaffirms viewers’ hunger for premium television on basic cable.  We are so proud to be bringing back ‘The Walking Dead’ again, across the globe.”  Dead aired on FOX International Channel, and it was the highest-rated original series premiere ever to air on FIC simultaneously worldwide.  If you want to read some more impressive stats, look after the break for the full PR.

If you haven’t been sucked into the Dead universe yet (comic books or otherwise), you need to starting watching this show!  It’s not too late to play catch-up.  Head over to AMC’s website to watch the pilot episode in its entirety, and episode 2 is already available on iTunes (AMC also airs it multiple times throughout the week).  Catch the fever, that is if you’re not of the faint of heart.

[Via Deadline] Continue reading AMC renews ‘The Walking Dead’ →

Three U.S. Windows Phone 7 devices available today

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Of the ten Windows Phone 7 launch devices, three of them are making their way into the States today.  AT&T’s got the Samsung Focus and the HTC Surround, and T-Mobile offers the HTC HD7.  All three devices cost $199.99 after signing a 2-year contract, or $500 if you decide to opt out of the contract before purchasing.  Bet you’re wondering about the other two U.S. WP7 phones, both of which include slideout QWERTY keyboard.  AT&T’s LG Quantum is up for preorder now at $199.99, and the Dell Venue Pro is still marked as “coming soon”, though it’s expected to hit stores on 11/17 for $199.99 on contract.  As usual, this space will be updated when the official word hits the streets.

Microsoft’s totally revamped, moderntastic mobile OS has finally arrived people!  Will you be one of the early adopters to give one of the launch handsets a spin?  Brush up with specs and features here.

Droid Pro lands on Verizon Wireless November 18 for $179.99

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Right on target, Verizon Wireless has spilled the deets regarding the release of “the first Android-based smartphone optimized for business use.”  Droid Pro will be made available for Verizon Wireless customers November 18 for $179.99 after signing a new 2-year contract and sending in a $100 mail-in rebate.  Been salivating at the sight of this Android/Blackberry hybrid handset of sorts since Moto announced it in early October?  Better your odds of picking up the device on launch day by filling out a preorder form at VZW’s website starting tomorrow (11/9).  Full PR after the break.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading Droid Pro lands on Verizon Wireless November 18 for $179.99 →