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.