Sony makes 4K player nonproprietary, shows off $50K 4K short-throw projector

by Geoffrey Morrison cnet.com

When Sony says the VPL-GTZ1 ($50,000) is an "ultra-short-throw" projector, it's not kidding. It can project a massive image from 0 inches away. Zero. The case can be against the wall you're projecting on.

New Mac Mini expected in October alongside iPad Air 2

by Andrew Hayward stuff.tv

After releasing a new model on a more-or-less annual basis for a few good years, Apple’s Mac Mini has gone dormant - next month marks two years since the last refresh. But that’s reportedly about to change.

PlayStation TV launching October 14 in US for $99

Sony Computer Entertainment of America

by Sam Machkovech arstechnica.com

Sony's latest gaming hardware product, the PlayStation TV, received a release date announcement on Monday, months after its official E3 unveiling this summer. Starting October 14, fans in the US will be able to buy the hardware by itself for $99 or purchase a "bundle" that includes a DualShock 3 controller, an 8GB memory card, and a free copy of The LEGO Movie Videogame for $40 more.

PlayStation 4 can now play 3D Blu-ray discs

Sony has updated its PlayStation 4 to play 3D Blu-ray movies.
Available now, version 1.75 of the PS4's system software now matches the PlayStation 3 in being able to play 3D Blu-ray discs. All you need now to complete the picture is a compatible 3D TV and the 3D flicks.

Xiaomi Mi4 announced as the fastest smartphone in the world

by Dusan Belic intomobile.com

Xiaomi has officially announced its latest flagship smartphone, the 4G LTE-enabled Mi4.

LG unveils flexible and transparent OLED displays

By Brett Molina usa today

LG's 18-inch flexible OLED display.(Photo: LG)

Electronics giant LG revealed new OLED displays that can not only bend and roll, but that users can see through.

The company's 18-inch flexible OLED features a high-defintion resolution of 1200 x 810, and can be rolled up to a radius of 1.1 inches without impacting the display.

What is Android TV?

Google already has a semi-hit with Chromecast, a $35 dongle that allows you to stream the Internet and other services from your smartphone or tablet to your big screen TV.

Sony's $99 PlayStation TV set to battle Apple TV in U.S. and Canada this fall

By AppleInsider Staff appleinsider.com

PlayStation TV announcement at E3 2014. | Source: PlayStation via YouTube

At a press event during the E3 gaming conference on Monday, Sony revealed plans to release the $99 PlayStation TV in the U.S. and Canada this fall, taking aim at set-top streaming devices like the Apple TV.

New iPad Air with same design, 8MP rear camera, and more efficient A8 chip enters production this month

Written by: MARK GURMAN 9to5mac.com

Apple is reportedly set to begin production of its next-generation iPad Air this month with display components going into mass production in the middle of this month and components such as the processor and camera sensors going into production next month. The design of the sixth-generation full sized iPad will mimic that of the current model and the display resolution will stay at 2048 x 1536, according to ETNews.

HP's 7 Plus is a $100 Jelly Bean tablet

BY ZACH HONIG engadget.com

Cheap Android tablets are a dime a dozen these days, but HP's targeting the budget market with its own $100 slate.

First official look at the LG G3

by Chris Chavez phandroid.com

After teasing the LG G3 — and its Quick Window case — in an official video last week, LG is finally saying “eff it,” and announcing the case ahead of the phone’s May 27th unveiling. It’s a little strange to hype up an accessory before showing the world what it belongs to, but we suppose LG sees it as one big tease (even if the we have seen the phone unofficially through a variety of leaks).

Microsoft: The Surface Pro 3 tablet will replace your laptop

By James O'Toole and David Goldman @CNNTech cnn.com

Microsoft on Tuesday introduced the Surface Pro 3, the company's latest attempt to get consumers to buy into its PC-tablet hybrid concept.
The company says it has designed the one device consumers need to be productive and consume media. The Surface Pro 3 is a full-powered PC that has tablet-like weight and size.

Lumia 630: first Windows Phone 8.1 device launched

By Matt Warman telegraph.co.uk

Lumia 630 smartphone is the first to run Windows Phone 8.1, a new version of the operating system that Microsoft hopes will finally allow it to compete on an even footing with Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS.
Launching the new software on the platform’s main budget device is intended to build on its success at the lower end of the market, which helped establish Windows Phone as the fastest growing platform and securing it the number three position behind Android and iOS.

Why ultra high-definition TVs are about to take off

by Peter Nowak newscientist.com

Firms like Netflix and YouTube have all announced support for 4K –- the next generation of high-definition TV

The new MacBook Air: Faster and $100 cheaper

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes zdnet.com

(Source: Apple)
The revamp centers around Intel's Haswell CPU, with the 11-inch base model MacBook Air getting a speed bump thanks to a 1.4GHz Core i5 processor (compared to the 1.3GHz part that was shipping previously). And for an extra $150 buyers can bump the processor up to a 1.7GHz Core i7 part.

Sony FMP-X5 brings 4K streaming to early adopters

by Jon Mundy trustedreviews.com
Sony has announced the Sony FMP-X5, a media streaming box that will allow European early 4K adopters to stream Ultra High Definition content to their expensive TV sets.

Huawei YouView+ DN371T box launched

Huawei has launched the Huawei YouView+ DN371T set top box that offers on demand TV without a subscription.

by Sam Loveridge trustedreviews.com
The DN371T offers access to on demand services like BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and 5 on Demand on your TV, plus pay per view services.

Netflix pays off Comcast, discovers that speeds magically improve

by Anthony Domanico techhive.com

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings may complain about it publicly, but his company’s decision to pay Comcast for better access to the Internet service provider’s subscribers is paying off. The streaming video service says performance on Comcast’s network has improved dramatically since it started cutting checks.

New Image of iPhone 6 Manufacturing Mold Suggests 4.7-inch Display

by István Fekete iphoneincanada.ca

Yesterday, for the second time, iPhone 6 production details were leaked directly from Apple’s assembly partner, Foxconn. A new photo shared by Nowhereelse claims to shed light on the size of the body the mold would hold, with the help of an iPhone 4S handset placed near the mold.

Microsoft unveils Windows in the car, battles Apple CarPlay

By Tom Warren theverge.com

Microsoft has been powering a lot of different car entertainment systems over the years. Ford, Kia, BMW, Nissan, and Fiat have all used special versions of Windows to create their own interfaces and systems, but Microsoft is also focusing on its own "Metro" user interface for its Windows in the car future. At the company's Build developer conference this week, Microsoft's Steve Teixeira revealed what that future will look like. It's actually a lot like Apple's idea of CarPlay, a method to project what's on your phone screen directly onto a car's infotainment system display.

Documents point to “Android TV,” Google’s latest bid for the living room

by Megan Geuss arstechnica.com

The Verge

On Saturday, The Verge posted a number of screenshots from a document that it says reveals Google's latest endeavor: Android TV. Yes, this would be Google's second attempt to make its way into the living room, the first being the Google TV platform that debuted in 2010 and died slowly over the next couple years.

The streaming stick wars begin with Roku’s purple dongle

by Casey Johnston arstechnica.com

The streaming stick will stick straight out of an HDMI port. If a TV's ports are oriented directly out the back, this could be a problem for wall-mounted TVs.
Roku is at long last releasing the "streaming stick" it promised to its customers almost two years ago, though at a hair lower price than previously estimated. The device doesn't quite replace some of the higher-end Roku streaming boxes, as it's designed more as a response to inexpensive streaming devices like the Chromecast, a lightweight way to get video on a TV with minimum effort.

Amazon Fire TV misses the same marks as Ouya, other media boxes

By Casey Johnston and Sam Machkovech arstechnica.com

The power light on the front of the Fire TV.

In early April, Amazon announced that its long-rumored video streaming media box was finally coming to market. According to Amazon, the Fire TV wasn't just another slightly differently shaped rectangular prism of plastic. Fire TV was no less than the solution to so many of the problems plaguing its competitors.

What Time Warner Cable Customers Can Expect From Comcast: The Xfinity X1 Platform

The Comcast Xfinity X1 interface offers easier access to on-demand shows, as well as apps for traffic, weather, Facebook and Pandora.

By Thomas Halleck ibtimes.com
Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) has announced it will purchase Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) for $45.2 billion. Currently, the two companies currently serve 33 million subscribers, of which Comcast says it will get rid of 3 million cable subscribers to allay antitrust fears.

Samsung Smart Home officially launched

BY: DUSAN BELIC, INTOMOBILE

Samsung has officially announced the global launch of its Samsung Smart Home service which will first be rolled out in Korea and the United States, with more countries added throughout the year. As you would imagine, the service makes home automation effortless and easy, with a single app that makes it possible to connect and control home appliances, TVs and mobile devices.

Google prepping 'Android TV' set-top box with stripped-down interface, voice input and notifications

Source: The Verge By AppleInsider Staff
According to supposedly leaked documents, Google is readying a new contender for the living room in Android TV, a set-top box with an easy-to-use card interface, voice controls, push notifications and more.

Comcast/Time Warner filing with FCC says Apple exploring new set-top box

by: MARK GURMAN 9to5mac.com

There has been no shortage of indicators that a new version of the Apple TV set-top box is incoming. We reported last year and earlier this year that Apple is progressing on new Apple TV hardware that will include new content, such as an App Store or “Game Store,” references to a new model have appeared in iOS 7 code, and numerous other reports have said that a new box is incoming from Apple.

Bendable phones taking a step towards reality

Samsung 105 inch Curved UHD TV: Graphene could prove crucial in creating flexible phones, bendable displays and wearable technology devices
Relaxnews
Samsung heralds a new Graphene production breakthrough that could have a huge impact on the future of mobile devices and wearable technology.
Graphene has been touted as a miracle material for some years now, and understandably so. It's 100 times better than silicon for making processors and is stronger than steel yet thinner, lighter and more flexible.

Voice search is a feature Amazon is promoting on the Fire TV, though it will retrieve results only from the Amazon catalog.

How to Watch TV on Your Laptop

The big TV news this week is about hardware, with Amazon launching its Fire TV to rival Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast. For a while, speculation was hot and heavy that Amazon would launch its own pay-TV service, but that hasn't happened... yet. That's what the real TV wars likely will be fought over, though -- how content reaches consumers.

New ‘extreme’ computer chip can withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees Celsius

By Ryan Whitwam extremetech.com

Deep beneath our feet is a nearly unlimited supply of renewable energy originating in the super-dense core of Earth. At up to 7,000 degrees Celsius (12,600 F), the heat from the planet’s interior could be a key part of our energy future, but first we need the technology to dig deep enough to reliably take advantage of it.

Hexoskin Looks to Put Montreal on the Wearable Technology Map

by Roger Huang techvibes.com

Montreal is well known for its creativity and fashion. But if entrepreneurs like Pierre-Alexandre Fournier have their way, the fascinating world of wearable technology may well have a defining impact on the city and become part of its new identity:

Microsoft Finally Gave Away MS-DOS. Now It Should Open Source Everything Else

BY KLINT FINLEY wired.com
Microsoft just released the source code of one of its most important computer operating systems. The catch is that the software is over 30 years old.

The Improbable Rise Of Roku

by Ryan Lawler (@ryanlawler) Techcrunch.com
In 10 years, when we look back and think about which companies fundamentally changed the way viewers get their TV shows delivered to them, will Roku be a part of the conversation? Based on what the company has done to date, and where it’s going, it seems likely.

Apple iPhone 6 release 'as early as September,' in two sizes

by Brooke Crothers CNET.COM

The iPhone 6 will arrive as early as September in two screen sizes, according to Japan's largest business daily.

The next-generation iPhone 6 "will likely be offered in 4.7- and 5.5-inch versions," Nikkei reported in its Friday edition. The current iPhone 5S has a 4-inch screen.

End of Windows XP tech support: How it will affect you

By Dan Misener, CBC News

Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system is being officially decommissioned April 8. However, company said it will continue offering anti-malware support until 2015. (Dan Chung/Reuters)

The end is nigh. The end of support for Windows XP, that is.

HTC One M8 smartphone launches

The Associated Press

Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, introduced the new HTC One M8, which has a metal body, today in New York. (Mark Lennihan/Associated Press)
HTC is updating its flagship HTC One smartphone by giving it a larger screen, better software and a camera that's easier to use.

Chromecast SDK is finally open to developers, expect greater app compatibility in the near future

It’s been nearly 6 months since Google’s Chromecast officially became available for purchase, and it’s only now regular ‘ol developers are finally allowed to take advantage of the SDK. Up until now, we’ve watched as developers like Koush — creator of the AllCast app for Android — had to reverse engineer his way into building apps with Chromecast support.

HP Chromebox officially announced

HP has now officially unveiled their own Chromebox desktop computer, which it plans to release sometime this spring.





For the moment at least, not a lot is known about HP’s Chromebox series other than it is powered by a Haswell CPU and has HDMI, DisplayPort, Bluetooth and 4 USB 3.0 ports. We also know that it comes in four colors: Smoke Silver, Ocean Turquoise, Snow White and Twinkle Black.

Asus unveils new Chromebox line

The Asus Chromebox series will come in three models: a entry model with an Intel Celeron 2955, a mid-range model with a Core i3 4010U and a higher-end Core i7 4600u model in selection models. Aside from the difference in processing power, all the models will come with up to 4GB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, display ports, SD card slot, and USB 3.0 ports.

GeForce Experience 1.8.1: Introducing ShadowPlay Twitch Streaming

By Andrew Burnes
Earlier in the month we brought you GeForce Experience 1.8, which introduced Adjustable Optimal Playable Settings, and major ShadowPlay updates that made the critically-acclaimed gameplay recording tool even better.

beIN SPORT Launches Comprehensive Streaming Service beIN SPORT Play Exclusively for Authenticated Subscribers

Authenticated Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks Subscribers will be First in Country to Experience New Service

IPTV RENEGADES CHALLENGE INCUMBENTS WITH CHEAP TELEVISION PACKAGES

George Burger
Cable and satellite companies, already dealing with competition for subscribers from companies such as Netflix Inc., have a new threat to worry about as a handful of technology-heavy startups prepare to launch rival television services at lower prices.

Netflix Looking To Significantly Invest In Original Shows

Streaming provider Netflix are currently keeping both investors and subscribers very happy, but they are not resting on their laurels The US company have revealed that they are raising some $400m to fund both original programming as well as to help finance further expansion into Europe.

Chromecast Release Date For UK Announced

The Google Chromecast wireless streaming dongle has been a rip-roaring success in the US since launching last summer, and the rest of the world have been waiting with baited breath for a release in their own Country. And finally good news for UK viewers as a launch has been announced for March.

Google TV Could Shift to Android

For years now, Google has been trying to make the leap from computers to TV. The internet’s largest advertiser released Google TV in 2010 with the hope of expanding its reach into the lucrative TV market while heading off Roku, Apple, and others in the coming streaming video services market.

RCA DBA936 streaming media box My review

I just got this unit and here is what I can tell so far:

There are only two sites right now that reference the RCA unit, this thread and one in French as a comment in an non-specific forum with a guy saying his unit doesn't work.

Roku Moves Beyond The Box, Partnering With Hisense And TCL To Introduce Roku TVs

Who would have thought that streaming set-top box manufacturer Roku would actually introduce a TV before Apple? Well, it looks likely that’s going to happen, thanks to partnerships with Hisense and TCL that will make Roku’s streaming video platform available directly on a new generation of smart TVs launching later this year.

Google Plans to Shutter GoogleTV and Transform it into AndroidTV

According to a new report from late last night, sources from an undisclosed electronics manufacturer shared that Google is planning to close down GoogleTV. However, they aren't killing it, rather, they plan to merge it with Android and rebrand it as AndroidTV. The intel even points out the process has already begun. Several of Google's channel partners on GoogleTV have recently released devices which are technically GoogleTV devices, but they are not calling them GoogleTV.

Rogers to launch online service to rival Netflix

Rogers is preparing to launch an online streaming service in the coming months that would compete with Netflix, according to a report in the online trade magazine Cartt.ca.

The 35 $ Home theater media center

The Raspberry Pi is a bargain mini computer that's designed to get kids into programming. It sells for just 35$ and includes an HDMI socket so you can connect it to a TV. With Ethernet and USB ports on board too, you can easily turn it into a cheap-as-chips media streamer for watching online TV catch-up services like iPlayer and 4oD.

XBMC

Discs on your shelves. Files on your computer. Websites around the web. You, the modern media consumer, don’t get your entertainment from just one place: you get it from a variety of different sources.