For this week’s Technologizer column for TIME.com, I wrote about the new generation of Internet TV boxes, including Roku, Apple TV, Google TV, and the Boxee Box. As I say in the story, I love the idea of canceling my cable-TV service and depending on one of these gizmos to do my consuming of episodic entertainment. But here’s a shocking …
Home Entertainment
TiVo ‘Premiere’ Boxes to Get Hulu Plus This Fall
Earlier reports that Roku boxes would be getting Hulu Plus access have now been confirmed, and it looks like TiVo’s getting in on the action as well.
The venerable DVR company announced that subscribers will be able to access the current- and back-episodes of popular TV shows from ABC, NBC, and FOX when subscribed to the $10-per-month
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First Impressions of the New Apple TV
The Apple TV was never something I found interesting. I didn’t really see the point of shelling out over $200 for something that Apple repeatedly said was just a ‘hobby’. I’ve only had a few hours with the new Apple TV and I must admit that it’s piqued my interest.
Roku to Get Hulu Plus Access [UPDATED]
The Roku streaming media set-top box appears to be close to offering Hulu Plus support, which would mean unlimited streaming TV shows from ABC, NBC, and FOX for $10 per month.
One person claims to have confirmed “with two of Hulu’s content partners that Roku owners will soon be able to get Hulu content,” while NewTeeVee claims to …
Roku Updates Lineup With 3 New Models
Roku, makers of the streaming set-top box with the same name, have updated their lineup today with lower prices, better features and a slimmed down design.
The Roku HD retails for $60, streams content at 720p and includes built-in Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port. It’s a mere inch tall and 5 inches across. A composite cable is …
MOG Gets a Roku Channel
One of our favorite on-demand music services, MOG, is expanding to one of our favorite set-top boxes, Roku, today. The MOG Channel will stream music at 320kbps and includes MOG’s wonderfully awesome “MOG Mobius” music discovery engine that allows subscribers to listen to true artist only stations or mix it up at their leisure.
To …
3D Blu-ray Playback on the PlayStation 3 Coming Next Week
Some news out of the Tokyo Game Show for you this Thursday morning, PS3 owners. 3D Blu-ray playback compatibility is coming a few weeks earlier than expected with a firmware update set to go live on September 21. Sony did not divulge whether or not firmware v3.50 will unlock or fix anything else. Still, there aren’t a whole lot of those …
Must Be Nice: Google Gives Out Free TVs to Conference Goers
Man, bad day to NOT be in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Apparently Google gave away some 600 Sony Bravia TVs to guests attending its Zeitgeist conference. Not only that, the attendees also got Google TV (presumably built right into the Sony) and six months of free Dish satellite service.
Oh and free Geek Squad installation, too. It’s not
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Boxee Set Top Box Features 1080p Video, QWERTY Remote
Internet-to-TV video service, Boxee, has been available as a free software download for a while now, but the company has been working with hardware partner D-Link on a dedicated hardware box for the better part of a year.
The Boxee platform in and of itself grabs stream-able video from all over the web—YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, CNN,
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Philips Touts ‘World’s First Cinema Proportion 3D TV’
Philips recently unveiled “the world’s first cinema proportioned 3D TV” at the IFA consumer electronics show in Germany. The line will be called Cinema 21:9 Platinum Series TV.
It’s comprised of a 58-inch screen shaped into a super wide 21:9 aspect ratio, which is the same used in most movie theaters. Aside from the big screen, …
3D Blu-ray Playback on PS3 Delayed
Time to put your sad face on because Sony is delaying the firmware update that will allow 3D Blu-ray playback on your PlayStation 3. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason for the delay that was announced back in January at CES. Alas, you won’t be able to dive into that ginormous catalog of 3D Blu-ray titles until October.
[via EP]
2G Apple TV: The Specs Sheet
Apple announced today that it will try again with Apple TV, unveiling a smaller, all-HD device that eliminates storage, available to customers in about four weeks.
Here’s what we know so far: (Updates as they’re available.)
Apple TV:
Quarter of the size of the 1G Apple TV
Built-in power supply
HDMI port (Cord sold …