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Bloomberg: Hulu coming to PlayStation network ’soon’

Nilay Patel — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:17:00 +0000

It was just two weeks ago in the runup to E3 that Reuters spread rumors of Hulu coming to the Xbox 360 and the iPad as some sort of paid service, and now Bloomberg is adding to the chatter, saying that everyone's favorite video service is also in talks to become part of Sony's Playstation Network and appear on the PS3 "soon." As with the previous rumors, Hulu on PS3 is said to be a paid service, but nothing's actually confirmed yet. So is Hulu playing Microsoft, Sony and Apple against each other in a bid to collect the biggest exclusivity fee possible, or are we about to see an aggressive Netflix-style multiplatform rollout? We'll see.

Bloomberg: Hulu coming to PlayStation network 'soon' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect tech destined for TV-embedded greatness in 2011, HTPC integration later this year

Sean Hollister — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:22:00 +0000

From Tel Aviv unknown to Xbox gaming wunderkind, PrimeSense has already had quite a run, but the camera-control tech that powers Kinect is destined for new applications before long. VP Adi Berenson tells us the company's already signed deals to put PrimeSense inside HTPCs by the end of the year, and has at least one cable company ready to launch a gesture-controlled set top box by summer 2011. The end goal is to provide natural human control over TV-based media consumption, said Berenson, who's working to get cameras in TVs themselves sometime late next year.

Like Kinect, these solutions will have a pair of 640 x 480 camera sensors to measure user position in 3D space, but don't expect them to have motorized tilt functionality or voice recognition -- PrimeSense said it won't be able to make those available for manufacturers, as they're all Microsoft ideas. The gesture recognition has reportedly evolved, though, and we're eager to check that out soon. See what it used to look like in our GDC 2010 preview.

Kinect tech destined for TV-embedded greatness in 2011, HTPC integration later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Screen EPG gets a Windows 7 update

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:08:00 +0000

Here in the US we take for granted the free guide data that Microsoft provides for Windows 7 Media Center users, but it isn't like that in every country of the world. Nope, in many regions of the world there is no EPG data at all and any DVR without guide data is basically a VCR. Luckily 3rd parties have filled the void and the most renown has finally starting distributing Windows 7 compatible binaries. But unlike some other great 3rd party plug-ins, Big Screen EPG comes with a price, which seems pretty reasonable if it means actually being able to use Media Center. Especially when it includes so many other features like channel logos and enhanced series matching and meta-data imports. If you still aren't sold, you can try out a none expiring trial that simply has a subset of the features before dropping the full $20 for a 2 year family license.

Continue reading Big Screen EPG gets a Windows 7 update

Big Screen EPG gets a Windows 7 update originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix for Xbox 360 adds search in November

Richard Lawler — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:51:00 +0000

It didn't get a slot during Microsoft's just-concluded Xbox 360 press conference, but the Netflix streaming app will finally add one of the most often requested (and denied) features: the ability to search through the entire Watch Instantly library and add movies to your queue, right from the console. Proudly stating it's the first gaming console to let you update your queue without a computer (Roku does it too, but try playing Gears of War on that) there's no word on any Kinect tie-ins, probably the reason it didn't get any higher billing than a bullet point in Marc Whitten's 2010 letter to Xbox Live members.

Netflix for Xbox 360 adds search in November originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESPN3 comes exclusively to Xbox 360

Richard Lawler — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:20:00 +0000

The recently relaunched ESPN3 online portal is coming to Xbox 360 , as just announced during Microsoft's pre-E3 press conference. Trey Wingo and Josh Elliott from SportsCenter are on stage demonstrating with footage from a USC / Ohio State game, and of course it has built in Kinect controller support. 3,500 live sporting events, instant replays, highlights, polls all at your fingertips or by the sound of your voice. The PiP stuff will be familiar to fans who have already indulged online, but with the new control aspects (and of course, HD streaming) it could give a reasonable alternative to the existing channels. The usual requirement of Xbox Live gold is present, but beyond having a TV provider / ISP that's signed up for the package, there's no additional charge.

ESPN3 comes exclusively to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surewest adds Online DVR access, Caller ID on TV for IPTV customers in Sacramento

Richard Lawler — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:18:00 +0000

SureWest announced it would migrate its platform to Microsoft Mediaroom late last year starting with its Sacramento customers, and now its added a few more "advanced digital TV" features to go along with the Whole Home DVR and four tuner DVR features (not to mention lightning fast channel change times) launched in January. Now subscribers can log into the websiteand schedule edit, or delete recordings just like they were at home, while Caller ID on TV resolves that minor annoyance of having to actually see the phone to know who's calling. It's far from the first provider to add such features, but we're figuring Kevin Johnson and Tyreke Evans appreciate the effort. Now SureWest, let's talk about some Windows Media Center and Xbox 360 integration, ok?

Continue reading Surewest adds Online DVR access, Caller ID on TV for IPTV customers in Sacramento

Surewest adds Online DVR access, Caller ID on TV for IPTV customers in Sacramento originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous

Darren Murph — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:52:00 +0000

Still looking to snap up your own Surface? Ain't got the cheddar to buy that one that comes free with a yacht? In all honesty, we're in no position to make promises about the affordability of this one, but GestureTek is gearing up to offer the world yet another option with the curiously titled GestTable. This 42-inch beast of a table contains a multitouch LCD with a lovely 1080p resolution, which means that you could theoretically watch the next installation of the Batman series on the same surface that's holding your cup of joe. Not that we'd recommend that, but hey.... In related news, the company is introducing the new 70-inch GestDisplay, a massive freestanding multitouch panel aimed primarily at businesses looking to give prospective customers a way to interact with the wares they're about to inevitably buy. As we alluded to earlier, there's nary a mention of price, but feel free to dip into the nitty-gritty just past the break.

Continue reading GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous

GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulu headed to a Xbox 360 dashboard near you?

Sean Hollister — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:40:00 +0000

From its humble origins as a chunky black box of PC parts, the Xbox has grown into a strapping young adult -- attracting a social circle including Netflix, Facebook and Twitter. Now, rumor has it that the Xbox 360's preening for a date with Hulu, too. Though plans aren't set in stone, Gear Live tells us Hulu has been spotted in internal Xbox 360 dashboard builds, and that Microsoft will introduce the streaming video service as part of their Xbox LIVE experience at E3 2010. The publication is mighty certain here, but at this point we can't corroborate for ourselves. If this does end up happening, the question is how much it might cost, as we hear there's going to be some sort of fee -- perhaps Hulu will be part of that "Xbox LIVE Platinum Tier" rumor that gets dragged out most every year.

Hulu headed to a Xbox 360 dashboard near you? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google TV: Who is the competition and what are they saying about it?

Richard Lawler — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:40:00 +0000

The Google TV has landed and is already sending ripples through the marketplace, but what about all the companies already blending internet and TV? Whether they are already planning to work with the new initiative (Rovi), even more firmly staking a claim on their existing technology and vision for the connected TV (Microsoft, Yahoo), sounding like it's an option for the future (Samsung, VIZIO, Boxee) or already working on their own Android on TV projects (People of Lava, MIPS) each one should tell a little bit about where this market is headed in the coming months and years. Read on for their statements -- and a quick breakdown of what each is bringing to the table in case you weren't already running a network cable to your HDTV years ago.

Continue reading Google TV: Who is the competition and what are they saying about it?

Google TV: Who is the competition and what are they saying about it? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 21 May 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7 Embedded doesn’t support CableCARD, yet

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 13 May 2010 03:09:00 +0000

Sure the final release of Windows 7 Embedded just got delivered to OEMs last week, but we were afraid that it might not be all its cracked up to be and wondered why CableCARD support wasn't mentioned in the original press release. Well we reached out to Microsoft and learned that the initial release of Windows 7 Embedded doesn't support CableCARD tuners. We're not sure if this is a CableLabs technicality or just one of those things, but Microsoft does expect to release a quality fix engineering (QFE) update by the third quarter of this year that will make things right. Lets just hope it's in time to be included in the first embedded box to market; and that there's nothing else we love that's missing.

Windows 7 Embedded doesn't support CableCARD, yet originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 12 May 2010 22:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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