~Tech Angel~

Humax PMP with DirecTV support

Humax's PMP was designed to use content offered by pay TV providers and first up is DirecTV with their new DirecTV 2Go service.  The Humax PMP features a 4-inch widescreen LCD, high capacity hard drive (to be specified according to content partner), supports MPEG 1/2/4, DivX, WMV9 with WMDRM10 support, and is USB 2.0 compatible.

The new DirecTV service allows for a direct connection to the DirecTV DVR and users can transfer recorded content to the PMP.  The device will also feature a DirecTV approved playlist interface that's similar to the one offered on their own receivers. 

Expect to see a release later on this year along with the DirecTV 2Go service at different retail and Internet stores.

Technorati Tags: DirecTV, DirecTV 2Go, Humax, Humax, mobile TV, PMP, DVR, satellite

Mustek releases 60GB Portable media player and recorder

Mustek is known for making "affordable" electronics and they've now announced another portable media player and recorder.  The PVR-H160 Portable Media Player and Recorder has a 3.6 inch TFT color screen, 60GB hard drive, supports MPEG-2, WMV, MPEG-4, DivX, Xvid, MP3, WMA, and M-JPEG.  You can directly record television programs and movies to the device with the included software converter without having to use a PC.

It should be available this month and will retail for $499.

Found via| I4U News

Technorati Tags: Mustek, Mustek PVR-H160, portable media player, PVR, television

AOL and XM form joint venture

America Online and XM Satellite Radio AND Anschutz Corp have formed a joint venture to offer live and on-demand concerts and comedy shows via the Internet, satellite, wireless, and other platforms.  The company, Network Live, was created in hopes of bringing digital entertainment content to users anytime, anywhere, and on any device.

 

This joint venture is yet another example of the growing trend of companies embracing online video.  Earlier announcements yesterday included CBS offering a 24 hours news network over high-speed broadband lines and last week Nickelodeon launched an on-demand service that promises to bring up to 20 hours of new kids programming every week.

Tags: AOL, America Online, XM, XM Satellite, Anschutz, satellite, wireless, Internet, online, entertainment, CBS, Nickelodeon, technology

NASA Shuttle Launch broadcasting live in HD

Next Wednesday, the NASA Shuttle Launch will be the first ever live coverage of a shuttle launch in HD.  At 3:51 pm ET on July 13th, two airplanes mounted with HD cameras will circle the Shuttle above the launch pad, capturing the event in HD.  The Discovery Channel will be broadcasting a live one hour special, Discovery: Return to Flight, beginning at 3:30 pm ET.

Tags: HD, HDTV, Nasa Shuttle Launch, NASA, shuttle, Discovery Channel, television, space travel

Tivo slashes prices?

It's being reported that Tivo is cutting prices on its entry-level DVRs from $199 to $99.  Costs on the 80 and 140 hour boxes will remain the same, but customers can still receive a $100 rebate on the larger boxes.  The cost-cutting measures have been put into place due to the ever increasing competition from cable companies in the DVR industry.  The company recently announced the appointment of a new President and CEO.

Tags: Tivo, DVR, digital video recorder, cable company, entertainment

Verizon's Fios video service signs Time Warner

In my area of Pennsylvania, Verizon has been digging up everyone's lawns and installing fiber-optic cables, all in preparation of launching its Fios video service.  In my earlier post about the problems with IPTV, I estimated that Verizon would be the first to implement mainstream IPTV. 

"Terry Denson, Verizon's vice president of programing and marketing for Fios television, said in an interview with Reuters last month that Verizon would offer about 300 video and audio channels, along with about 2,000 video-on-demand titles, by the time it launches the service broadly next year." source: Reuters

Well, yesterday Verizon announced that they have signed their first video deal with Time Warner which will allow it to carry several Turner channels, including CNN, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner also owns the HBO pay channel.

Tags: IPTV, Verizon, television, fiber optic, video, entertainment, technology, Time Warner, TNT, Cartoon Network, TBS, CNN, Pennsylvania

Digital TV service for mobile phones

Have a billion dollars you want to invest?  Contact Crown Castle International.  The company is looking for an investor to help finance a project that will bring digital TV service to mobile phones.

"For its TV service, the company plans to use digital video broadcast technology developed in Europe. Crown Castle and Nokia have been testing the DVB technology in the Pittsburgh area since October." source: Investor's Business Daily

Currently, Qualcomm is pursuing a similar project but using its own money to finance the project.

Tags: Crown Castle, digital tv, mobile phones, cell phones, DVB, Nokia, Pittsburgh, Qualcomm, technology, television, gadgets

Rent a Hummer equipped with DIRECTV

Taking a long road trip on your summer vacation?  You might want to consider renting the Hummer H3 from Avis (only at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona).  For only $120 a day, you can ride military style in a H3 fully equipped with access to over 135 channels of live satellite programming through DIRECTV, all thanks to the TracVision A5 satellite system from KVH Industries.

"The TracVision A5 is a low-profile satellite TV system designed specifically for passenger vehicles. The TracVision A5 uses KVH’s patented hybrid phased-array technology to create an antenna with a rugged, sleek design suitable for vehicles traveling on open roads across the U.S. The system includes KVH’s ultra low-profile TracVision antenna, a 12-volt DIRECTV receiver designed for automotive use, an RF remote control, and exclusive access to DIRECTV’s TOTAL CHOICE® MOBILE programming. Recently, Cadillac announced that it had approved the TracVision A5 as an aftermarket accessory to be sold through its dealers nationwide." source: Press Release

via| Engadget

Tags: Hummer, H3, Hummer H3, DIRECTV, satellite, television, cars, automotive, TracVision, Cadillac, SUV, Avis, Phoenix, Arizona, entertainment, technology

New way to watch TV - Slingbox

I first saw the Slingbox when I was checking out CNet footage of the Consumer Electronics Show this year.  What is a Sling box? It's an electronic device that "placeshifts" the signal from your TV, satellite or your DVR to any computer or laptop...at home, work, wherever, as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection.  Basically, streaming real-time TV to another computer.

CNet has done a review, along with the Wall Street Journal and PC Mag.  The reviews are very promising for this new product.

Sling Media has promised that in a couple of months it will be compatible with select PDAs, smartphones, and Macs.

Tags: Slingbox, placeshifting, DVR, television, satellite, streaming, reviews, pdas, smartphones, Apple, Macs, computers, PC, home theater, technology, entertainment, TV

3-D TV in your living room

Whenever I want to view a movie in 3-D, I have to go to an IMAX theater.  That may change in the near future and consumers will be able to watch 3-D movies in the comfort of their own homes sans those tacky 3-D glasses. Deep Lights, a company currently working on the technology, plans to introduce a HD3D screen at next year's Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.

"Ordinary TV sets deliver 500 lines of resolution. Most high-definition screens reach 1,050. The HD3D hits 1,280 lines and counting - which means better picture quality than that of any TV available today, all in a convincing impression of the third dimension. And here's the seriously trippy part about the new screen, which Deep Light plans to introduce at next winter's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: multiple "blades" of video enable one screen to show different programs to different viewers, at the same time."