According to former Borders customers (thanks everyone who sent this in, by the way,) Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch sent them an email [which can be seen here] that the surviving books and media company acquired the customer data which included “the subject matter of your DVD and other video purchases” amongst other tidbits. Lynch wrote that they sought out the purchase of this data in order to “try and earn your business.”

Massachusetts State Attorney General Martha Coakley has released a statement that noted the following as specifically what is included in the data in question:

Information customers shared with the Borders website, including name, address, and e-mail address.

Information collected from customers in the Borders Rewards loyalty program, including customer name, address, e-mail address, and purchase history. This purchase history will not include the titles of video materials (like DVDs or VHS tapes) purchased by customers.

E-mail addresses from customers who requested to receive special offers from Borders.

You should note here, of course, that credit card information and any and all financial-related information is not included in the Borders database nor in this sale of data. To quell fears that they’d just been bamboozled by the companies in the deal, Lynch added the following in the letter to customers:

It’s important for you to understand, however, that you have the absolute right to opt-out of having your customer data transferred to Barnes & Noble. If you would like to opt-out, we will ensure all your data we receive from Borders is disposed of in a secure and confidential manner. Please visit www.bn.com/borders by October 29, 2011 to do so.

Sound good enough for you?

The Monsoon TV Anywhere placeshifting software is Linux-based and the software will allow cable operators and set-top box markers to integrate the ability to placeshift content to devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones. The software also allows the OEMs and providers to mange what programs the user can placeshift

Monsoon has five integrated modules that will allow the semiconductor encoder firms out there to integrate placeshifting in products. The modules include Adaptive Bit-Rate Encoding and Transcoding, Http Live Streaming (HLS) for Live Video Sources, Proprietary Streaming Protocol, Connection Management and Multi-Screen Client Technologies. Monsoon does point out that it will continue to make the line of Vulkano gear.

The notebook can be fitted with Intel Core i3 to i7 processors up to the Core i7-2630QM. It supports up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM and can be fitted with NVIDIA GPUs including the GT 555M or the GT 540M. Storage is up to 750GB and the machine can be fitted with a Blu-ray drive, Blu-ray burner, or standard DVD burner. The notebook measures 15″ x 10.6″ x 0.99 ~ 1.18″ and weighs 7.27lbs.

The Ethos 8951G can be fitted with Core i3, i5, or i7 processors up to the i7-2820M. It sports a giant 18.4-inch LCD with full HD resolution and the same frameless design as the other Ethos machine. It can be fitted with the same NVIDIA GT 555M or GT 540M processors. Storage is up to 750GB and the notebook supports up to 16GB of RAM. This machine can also be fitted with Blu-ray or standard DVD drives. The larger notebook measures 17.34″ x 11.62″ x 1.21 ~ 1.5″. Both of these notebooks will debut in the middle of June with prices starting at £999 Inc VAT.

Since more people are turning to their PCs or Macs for audio creation and editing these days, Zoom include a copy of Cubase LE 5 (though you can use your own software if you prefer) and the R24 works as a regular 8-in/2-out audio interface and controller.  You can also use the recorder’s own DSP effects from your software.

There are 400 drum machine patterns preloaded (and a USB drive with 500MB more from Peter Erskine and 1GB of Big Fish Audio loops included in the box) and over 100 effects to choose between.  We’re chasing up Zoom to find out official pricing, but the R24 will apparently be on sale from July 24th.

Press Release:

Shipping July 7th: Zoom’s New R24 Adds Tracks and Sampler

Zoom announces its new R24 recorder, which adds a sampler/drum machine, 8 additional recording tracks and 6 channels of phantom power to its popular R16. The R24 combines four production tools in one versatile device. The R24 is a digital multi-track recorder with 24-track playback and 8-track simultaneous recording, an audio interface, a control surface and a drum pad sampler.

The R24’s new sampler function consists of 24 built-in voices that can be triggered using 8 pads and 3 bank keys to assign sounds to each track and create loops. Also, you can use the unit’s drum machine and its 400 rhythm patterns to create original backing beats, or simply output a metronome for tempo control. As a bonus feature, exclusive loops by Grammy Award winner Peter Erskine are included.

“The R24 is a total music production solution,” says Mark Wilder, Director of Marketing. “With the R24, you get a complete system for producing music in any setting. More than ever before, Zoom users have all the tools necessary to create studio-quality recordings anywhere.”

The R24 records on SD memory cards and supports cards up to 32GB for over 100 track hours of recording. The flexibility of SD recording makes the R24 lighter and more reliable. Over 100 built-in studio and mastering effects can be used to enhance recordings.

In addition, the R24’s USB audio interface allows users to record tracks to any Mac or PC and utilize the system’s control surface capabilities to manage the functions of most DAW software programs, most notably the included Cubase LE 5.

With the new Zoom R24, versatility, control and comprehensive features come together in a single device that puts everything you need for professional music production right at your fingertips.

The XPS 5.1 70 Slim speakers have 70W of total power and the front channel speaker is designed to mount to a flat panel monitor. The frequency response is 30Hz to 20kHz and the system uses a multifunction remote.

The XPS 2.0 35 speakers get all the power and connectivity they need from a single USB connector. Total power for the speakers is 2.5/3 watts and a volume knob is on the front of one of the speakers. The speakers are shielded to prevent any interference.

To get you in the mood, a copy of the latest Star Trek movie is included in the sticker price of the drive, and the media files themselves are licensed for playback on multiple platforms.  They’re not DRM-free, however, and Seagate will be pushing out a firmware update for their FreeAgent Theater+ media player later in April so that you can watch the movies on your HDTV simply by docking in the hard-drive.

The full list of pre-loaded titles is in the press release below, but it includes a range of classics like The Hunt for Red October up to newer releases.  You can also delete them if you’d rather have the backup space, of course.  The Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB HDD is available now.

Press Release:

AN INDUSTRY FIRST: SEAGATE OFFERS FREEAGENT GO™ HARD DRIVES PRE-LOADED WITH PARAMOUNT PICTURES’ FEATURE FILMS

Ultra Portable Drive Comes Pre-loaded with One Movie for Activation and Twenty Other Films for Purchase to Help Jump Start Consumers’ Digital Movie Collections

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — April 12, 2010 — Today, Seagate (NASDAQ: STX), the worldwide leader in hard drives, and Paramount Digital Entertainment, a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, announced their agreement to pre-load a selection of 500GB FreeAgent Go™ ultra-portable hard drives with Paramount movies. Beginning immediately, United States’ customers who purchase specially marked packages of the award-winning FreeAgent Go ultra-portable hard drive will be able to activate Paramount Pictures’ popular film, Star Trek (2009), for no additional fee. This collaboration between two industry leaders underscores a new era in digital movie collecting by enabling people to build, store and enjoy their personal libraries of favorite films in their preferred medium—whether on the computer or the TV—at home and on the go.

In addition to Star Trek (2009), those who have purchased the specially marked hard drives also receive an assortment of 20 Paramount Pictures movies pre-loaded on the FreeAgent Go 500GB ultra-portable drives that can be easily and securely unlocked through the online purchase of a license key. The films will be licensed for multiple devices to allow for portability and enjoyment of them on a desktop computer, laptop computer, or widescreen television, using the FreeAgent Theater+™ HD media player[1].

“Seagate and Paramount Pictures are delivering major motion pictures to consumers in a unique and innovative solution. For years Seagate hard drives have been powering the devices that allow consumers to enjoy their digital libraries. Today, we are simplifying content delivery by giving consumers the ultimate flexibility in how they enjoy their movies all in a convenient package,” said Dave Mosley, executive vice president, Sales, Marketing and Product Line Management, Seagate.

To take advantage of this special offer, simply purchase a specially marked 500GB FreeAgent Go ultra-portable drive from Seagate.com, or wherever Seagate FreeAgent Go portable hard drives are sold. After online registration of the drive, a promotional code will be provided for redemption at http://seagate.paramountshop.com. Redeeming the offer code provides the license key to unlock Star Trek (2009) and the option to purchase additional keys to unlock the remaining film titles that are pre-loaded on the drive.

A choice of up to 20 popular Paramount titles can be unlocked for a fee[2] including:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
GI Joe
Shooter
The Hunt for Red October
The Italian Job (2003)
Ghost
Patriot Games
Beowulf
Enemy at the Gates
The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Love Guru
Coach Carter
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Nacho Libre
Jackass 2.5
A Plumm Summer
Carriers
Dance Flick
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
“Collaborating with Seagate on this massive movie pre-load reinforces our commitment to embrace technologies that give consumers choice and flexibility in how they access and purchase their digital entertainment. Paramount Digital Entertainment has created a powerful solution that allows companies like Seagate to offer a seamless experience for consumers to access and securely activate pre-loaded movies, ensuring that exciting films are available everywhere they wish to enjoy them,” said Malik Ducard, senior vice president, Digital Distribution, The Americas, Paramount Digital Entertainment.
“And with over 38 hours of movie viewing enjoyment pre-loaded onto the portable device, we are offering consumers a great opportunity to jump start their digital libraries.”

About Paramount Digital Entertainment
Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. PDE develops and distributes filmed entertainment across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices, videogames, and emerging technologies.

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

The Helmet That Acts as a Headlight, and Brake Lights: First off, this thing is called the “Lazer Urbanize Bicycle Helmet,” and that should be just about all you need. We promise you, it looks as cool as it sounds. And yes, we definitely said a helmet looks cool, and no, we’re not crazy. These helmets aren’t cheap either: costing a cool $100 a pop, these things definitely have an objective. The helmet has two lights, one on the front and one on the back. The front is a bright white, and the rear is a nice red hue. You guessed it: headlights, and brake lights. Perfect for those late night treks. [via Crunch Gear]

GM Motors Passes Pre-Production Models of Chevrolet Volt: This one’s a quick one, but it’s big in its meaning and value. GM has passed a huge milestone today, as they watched the first pre-production models of the Chevrolet Volt roll off the assembly line. These models are meant specifically for testing, and will (hopefully) never see the retailers or roads. It just means testing can begin, and as factory workers develop more pre-production models in the later months, as long as everything works out, final models can start being constructed later this year. That’s the plan, anyway. [via GM]

Hyundai Equus Comes With a Multimedia Tablet for a User Manual: Remember the user manual sitting in your car’s glove compartment? Yeah, it’s that big, bulky collection of papers that acts as an instruction novel for your car. The trouble is, they’re becoming a hassle for auto manufacturers to create, especially when our cars are gaining features faster than we can type words. Especially when it comes to the luxury models out there, which, for all intents and purposes, can think for themselves. So, what’s Hyundai got planned? They’re releasing a multimedia tablet with every Hyundai Equus purchase, which is going to work as your user manual. Oh, and it will also help you coordinate your next oil change, and whatever else you need with the dealer you picked the car up from. Pretty cool, right? [via Autoblog]

An iPad Hacked to Run Apple’s Newton OS: Sure enough, it looks like if you get the right developer, you’ll get all sorts of crazy things. Take, for instance, the iPad that’s already running Newton OS. That may sound familiar, because it’s the one that Apple released in the ’90s. Sure, it may not have been a hit then, but maybe it’s got a better chance working on that iPad screen. All you need is the Newton emulator app, and your screen turns a green shade of . . . Well, kind of green. The developer’s name is Jonathan E. Vi, and he was one of the early developers to get an iPad well before launch. This is what he has done with his time with the tablet, and we applaud him. [via DVICE]

David Letterman Licks an iPad. Yes. Licks it. We understand that David Letterman of the Late Show is an old man, and he may not understand the full complexities of today’s latest technology, but we can safely say that licking something is generally not the way to make something work. We could be wrong, but we’d be willing to bet that’s definitely not the way to make the iPad turn on. Maybe that’s a new app. In any case, the iPad was a guest on Letterman’s show, part of the staple “Top 10,” and it was there that the gadget got molested. But, you should definitely watch the video to see it for yourself. [via Everything iPad]

“The magic of the Media Lab is its ability to bring together researchers from an eclectic range of disciplines — engineers, computer scientists, artists, musicians, and others — who work together collaboratively to invent technologies that improve people’s lives and transform society,” says Frank Moss, Director of the Media Lab. “The openness and transparency of this incredible new building will support the Lab’s unique style of research and allow us to take on the major challenges that confront the world in the 21st century, such as human health, education and sustainable cities.”

MIT’s Media Lab is an amazing place for producing innovation and technology talent; it’s credited with breakthrough inventions such as electronic ink, wearable computers, and early social networking platforms among many.

Murdoch says that the iPad’s kept “under padlock and key,” and that “the key is turned by Apple every night”.  The WSJ owner also said that that there will be “half a dozen or more” other devices that the Wall Street Journal would appear on, although no names were given.

Well, we know that Wired and various Condé Nast magazines like GQ and Vanity Fair are already readying their respective iPad versions; now we can add the WSJ to the digital pile of publications to be iPad ready.

[WSJ via Engadget]

This time, TiVo has placed an emphasis on web video services like Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand (similar content will be nearer the front of the line in searches), and has partnered with Pandora and FrameChannel for your music and pictures.  Of course, both the $299 Premiere and the $499 XL have up to full-HD 1080p output, and CableCARD and eSATA support for expansion purposes, while the former can store up to 45 hrs of recorded HD content on a 320GB hard drive, and the XL at 150 hrs on a 1TB drive (plus THX certification).

There also appears to be an optional Bluetooth slider QWERTY-based remote, as well as a Wireless N Adapter, the latter for an additional $90 with the Premiere.  Check out the full press release and PDF spec sheets linked, as well as some shots of the very impressive user interface.

INTRODUCING TIVO® PREMIERE, THE ONE BOX TO RULE THEM ALL
New Box Offers a Stunning New HD Experience That Blows Away Any Other Cable Set-Top Box

TiVo Opens Up the Box to Pandora Internet Radio, Maximizing the TiVo Music Experience

Alviso, Calif. March 3 -TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in advanced television services, including digital video recorders (DVRs), announced today the launch of TiVo® Premiere and TiVo® Premiere XL boxes. TiVo Premiere elegantly combines access to cable programming, movies, web videos, and music all in one box at a truly affordable price. TiVo Premiere is now the only way to unlock the real value of the HD television set, a box that is more powerful, compact, and energy efficient than previous generations. If the DVR changed your life, TiVo Premiere will change it again.

“It has never been this easy to get all your entertainment in one place, on the big screen, in HD, right at your fingertips. And the beauty of TiVo Premiere is that finding what to watch is just as fun as the watching the TV shows themselves. We accomplished it by using pictures and graphics to make the whole television guide experience come alive in a way that it never has before,” said TiVo’s President and CEO Tom Rogers. “TiVo Premiere is your new cable box, it’s your movie box, it’s your web box, and music box; it’s the one box that can give you access to almost anything you want, whenever you want it. We’ve taken millions of pieces of content and organized it for you in a way that makes so much sense you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.”

Why Premiere Is Revolutionary:

It’s the One Box: TiVo Premiere is your new cable box, movie box, web box, and music box; it’s the one box that gives you access to everything you want to get on your television and all with one remote. It’s a true one stop shop for entertainment.*

Broadband and Broadcast Integration: Premiere’s search functionality offers users the ability to find programs from many sources – whether it’s a digital premium channel from cable, a funny outtake from YouTube or a movie from broadband sources such as Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, or Blockbuster On Demand, plus options from the Web all brought together into one unified and simple experience.*

Browse Baby Browse: Premiere is at its best when you want to browse, discover and explore the almost infinite array of TV options. Every show, from every source, is organized by category or topic. With a full-screen menu that includes a rich display of movie posters & TV show logos for exploring, it’s simple to stumble upon interesting things to watch or record. Plus, consumers have never before had the option to browse by specific movie collections on their TV. For example, browse thru Oscar® Award winning movies or Emmy® Award winning television shows with one simple click of the remote.

Six-Degrees of Separation: Premiere will settle debates over “where have I seen that actor before?” far faster than a trip to the laptop ever could. Just click on a show or an actor and consumers will be able to view entire entertainment resumes and cast lists, quickly and easily. Before you know it you’ll find associations from one favorite actor to another that you never dreamed existed, fueling the discovery process even more and likely getting you hooked in the process.

Easy to Use HD Layout: We’ve kept the easy navigation, but significantly cut the number of screens you have to visit by utilizing the extra room high-definition affords. The experience was built for HD television sets and by creating a two-column and three-column layouts we reduce the number of screens, helping you to get to what you want more quickly.

Set-top box built on Adobe® Flash® Platform for the Digital Home: Premiere is built on Adobe Flash software, a pathway to future user-generated experiences and development opportunities, which have not been available before on a set-top box. Premiere is built on multi-core architecture that greatly facilitates future development of third party provided applications.

We Listened: By popular demand Premiere includes an on-screen disk space meter that shows how much room is left to record, a built in 30 second scan, and a new video window that lets you watch your favorite show while navigating the TiVo menus.

Room to Record: The TiVo Premiere box has up to 45 hours of HD storage space or up to 400 hours of standard definition programming capacity. And for those who want even more options the TiVo Premiere XL box holds up to 150 hours of high-definition or up to 1350 hours of standard definition programming.

Even More Content: A brand new relationship with Pandora means in the coming months, Premiere as well as TiVo Series3™ and HD DVR customers will be able to listen to their personalized Pandora radio stations on the best speakers in the house. A new relationship with FrameChannel brings the best of the web directly to the TV offering users access to nearly 1,000 content widgets of personal and commercial content, ranging from Tweets, photos and status updates to news, weather, sports scores and stock quotes. FrameChannel acts as a personalized channel on your television, transforming your TV into a constant stream of real-time news and information with the content that matters to you most.

Speaking about its strategic marketing alliance with TiVo that was announced last year, Mike Vitelli, President of the Americas for Best Buy, said, “This is an important step toward achieving our shared vision to transform the digital home entertainment experience and redefine customer service. Through TiVo we can continue to strengthen relationships and interact with our valued customers even after they leave our stores, which is invaluable in a rapidly evolving digital media environment. Cable companies do a great job of connecting customers to content, but TiVo takes the complete digital experience to the next level.”

“We are proud to be leading the cable industry in the adoption of this groundbreaking approach to advanced television. TiVo will bring a whole new way for our subscribers to experience television with TiVo’s DVR and broadband television offerings,” said RCN President & CEO Peter Aquino. “I’m very pleased to report that based on our field test results, we will begin to roll out TiVo as our primary advanced box in all of our markets, one by one, in the second quarter of this year.”

Coming in May, a new TiVo Wireless N adapter, that allows for faster downloads and faster streaming of content, at speeds that are especially helpful for multi-room viewing (MRV) transfers. Coming later this year, consumers will also have access to a groundbreaking, slide-out QWERTY TiVo remote. The compact peanut shaped remote gives a faster experience, especially when utilizing text entry. With Easy plug n’ play installation, extended range utilizing Bluetooth and backlit programmable buttons the remote will quickly become a must have accessory.

TiVo Premiere Box Specifications:
TiVo Series4™ architecture
Supports digital cable, high-definition digital cable, antenna (ATSC) and Verizon FiOS
Outputs: HDMI, Component video, Composite video, Optical audio, Analog audio
Video output modes include: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Inputs: CableCARD™ support, Cable coax, Antenna coax, Ethernet
Ethernet connection, USB 2.0 ports (2), E-SATA support for external storage
TiVo Wireless N and G Network Adapter support
ENERGY STAR® certified
320 Gigabytes
Records up to 45 hours of HD programming or up to 400 hours of standard-definition

TiVo Premiere XL Box Specifications (all specs not listed are the same as above unless noted)
One Terabyte storage
Records up to 150 hours of HD programming or up to 1350 hours of standard-definition
Backlit, programmable, and learning remote
THX®certified, ensuring optimal audio and video reproduction and enables seamless integration with other THX components
TiVo Premiere XL box is the first HD product to feature THX® Optimizer™, a video calibration tool that lets users fine tune color, black levels and other settings to improve picture quality. Hailed by critics for its ease-of-use, the exclusive THX Optimizer for TiVo Premiere XL box is found in the My Shows menu of the TiVo service. A pair of THX Optimizer Blue Glasses, designed for adjusting Color and Tint settings, is included with the owner’s manual.
TiVo Premiere and TiVo Premiere XL boxes will be available in retail nationwide in early April. They are also available for pre-order today at tivo.com for $299.99 and $499.99 respectively.
*TiVo service is required and sold separately. Cable and Netflix subscriptions required for cable and Netflix programming, respectively and are not included in TiVo service subscription. Additional fees may apply for other broadband content. Broadband programming sources subject to availability and may change without notice.

[TiVo Premiere, XL PDFs]

Connectivity includes wired ethernet and WiFi b/g/n, though we’re not entirely sure what video/audio outputs there are to go along with that; we’re guessing HDMI will be among them, since it’s present on ASUS’ more basic O!Play range.  Supported media formats include H.264, WMV, MPEG1-4, HDV, VC-1, DivX, XviD, AVI, VOB, MOV, MKV, RMVB video and JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG and TIFF / TIF stills.

It’s also possible to surf the internet directly from the EM0501, though there’s no indication of whether ASUS will be supplying a remote keyboard to make that a little more straightforward.  Instead there’s talk – but no photos – of an IR-based “multimedia remote control” which will presumably handle basic navigation.  No word on pricing or availability.

Initially demoed at the TED conference, the digital tablet version apparently “was not a CGI demo or concept — it was running live code with real copy. The content was created in Adobe InDesign, as is the case for the print magazine, with the same designers adding interactive elements, from photo galleries and video to animations, along with adapting the designs so it looks great in both portrait and landscape orientation. This is a departure from the usual web model, where a different team repurposes magazine content into HTML, unavoidably losing much of the visual context in the process. Wired.com is not a re-purposed version of the magazine, but rather an separately-produced news service.”

Wired Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson has announced the release of the digital tablet version of Wired set for this summer.  Of course, we’re still wondering how much a subscription will cost.  I’m an avid Wired reader, and I’m hoping that  it won’t be that much more than print (or will it?).

Check out the video demonstration here.

[via Wired]

According to Google, the update will include:

Google Goggles: this mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps: the Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:

• Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer
• Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before
• Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving

Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

Apparently in order to access the update, you’ll need to wait until you “receive a message on your phone’s notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set. This update will be rolled out gradually to phones – and most users might not receive the notification until the end of the week.”  Hold on, Nexus One owners.

The Light Touch projector transforms the usually static image created by a projector into interactive multimedia content using Light Blue Optics’ proprietary holographic laser projection technology.  The device can project a virtual 10-inch interactive display onto any surface and the integrated infra-red touch sensing system enables users to interact with the virtual image in the same way they would use a handheld touchscreen device.

The device is set to be showcased in an invite-only event on Thursday, January 7th at CES.  LBO also announced a list of global companies working with the Company to bring its unique projection technology to market; Adobe, CSR, Foxconn, Interbrand, Microsoft, Micron, Nichia, Photop, Opnext and Toshiba.  It comes equipped with 2GB of onboard Flash memory and has a Micro SD card slot for up to 32GB of storage, running wall-powered or battery-operated, with a run-time of two hours before recharging is required.  The Light Touch certainly looks very interesting, but there are no details on pricing or availability yet.

The Sling Receiver 300 has component, composite and HDMI connectors for hooking up to your second HDTV, along with both analog and digital audio outputs for if you’re not using HDMI.  EchoStar have confirmed they’ll be offering the device as an accompaniment to their SlingLoaded 922 HD DVR sometime in the not-too-distant future.

As for the Slingbox 700U, it hooks up to a compatible DVR via USB and automatically decrypts incoming video, transcodes it and then re-encrypts it ready to be sent out over the internet connection.  The concept is enough to appeal to DISH Network, who plan to offer it to their line-up as a companion to their existing ViP HD DVR.  No word on release dates, however.

Press Release:

Sling Media Introduces Sling Receiver 300 for Television Service Providers

Enjoy your primary SlingLoaded™ DVR content on any HDTV in your home

Las Vegas, Nev., USA – Jan. 6, 2010 – Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), today unveiled the Sling Receiver 300 to television service providers. The Sling Receiver 300 is a companion product to a SlingLoaded™ set-top box, such as the award-winning EchoStar SlingLoaded 922 HD DVR, that delivers a full 1080i video stream from an HD DVR to any other HD television in a home using the viewer’s wireless home network. The Sling Receiver 300 was selected as a CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Award honoree in the Multi-Room Audio/Video category.

With the Sling Receiver 300, viewers can enjoy the same HD programming that they experience on their primary HDTV on a secondary HDTV in their home without the need to run additional cables or purchase a second DVR.

“HDTV viewers often want to extend their main set-top box experience to another HDTV with minimal hassle and expense,” said John M. Paul, executive vice president of Products at Sling Media. “The Sling Receiver 300 can extend the full quality of a primary HD DVR experience to any secondary HDTV in the home, while eliminating the cost and problems of running cable.”

How It Works
The Sling Receiver 300 connects to a second HDTV via its built-in HDMI, component or composite video connectors. Depending on the connection method, multiple video formats up to 1080i can be delivered. Audio is delivered to the second TV using HDMI, digital audio or analog audio outputs. The Sling Receiver 300 is small enough to be mounted behind an HDTV.

The Sling Receiver 300 is one in a suite of products and services that EchoStar Technologies L.L.C and its affiliate Sling Media are making available to television service providers to help them attract new subscribers, retain current customers, and bring placeshifting to the largest audience possible.

Sling Media will be demonstrating this new technology in Booth 9021 at the Consumer Electronics Show 2010 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Press Release:

Sling Media Introduces Slingbox 700U for Television Service Providers

DISH Network plans to be first to take sleek, ultra-slim device that adds HD Slingbox capability to any compatible set-top box using simple USB connection

Las Vegas, Nev., USA – Jan. 6, 2010 – Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), today unveiled the Slingbox 700U and announced that DISH Network plans to be the first television service provider to add the device to its product lineup. The smallest Slingbox® yet, the Slingbox 700U is the fastest way of adding award-winning Slingbox capabilities to an existing Internet-connected set-top box such as DISH Network’s ViP® HD DVR.

“Television service providers are constantly looking for ways to deliver new and exciting services to satisfy existing customers and attract new customers,” said John M. Paul, executive vice president of Products at Sling Media. “The surprisingly small, easy-to-install Slingbox 700U delivers ‘TV Everywhere’ services at a low acquisition and installation cost because it connects via USB on the existing set-top box and self-configures.”

The Slingbox 700U eliminates the need for television service providers to invest in the development of their own placeshifting set-top boxes in order to offer “TV Everywhere” services. The newest Slingbox is easy to set up and can help television service providers reduce training and installation costs. The Slingbox 700U can significantly reduce time to market for television service providers wanting to add “TV Everywhere” services to their portfolio.

“The Slingbox 700U is an ideal device to implement our ‘TV Everywhere’ strategy for existing customers with ViP series satellite TV receivers,” said Ira Bahr, Chief Marketing Officer for DISH Network. “Sling Media has developed an easy-to-install Slingbox that greatly expands the number of customers who can enjoy ‘TV Everywhere’ around the house, or anywhere outside the home, on their laptops or mobile smartphones.”

How It Works
The Slingbox 700U’s sleek, modern and ultra-slim enclosure only hints at the technical sophistication inside. It is powered through a USB connection which removes the need for any other wires or connectors. In real time, the Slingbox 700U decrypts incoming video, transcodes it and then re-encrypts it for secure transmission over the Internet.

The Slingbox 700U is one in a suite of products and services that EchoStar Technologies L.L.C and its affiliate Sling Media are making available to television service providers to help them attract new subscribers, retain current customers, and bring placeshifting to the largest audience possible.

Sling Media will be demonstrating this new technology in Booth 9021 at the Consumer Electronics Show 2010 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The BCM2763 actually packages together the functionality of eight chips, including GPU
and graphics memory, image signal processing (ISP) and ISP memory, video processing and video memory, HDMI and USB 2.0.  It also includes 128MB of LPDDR2 graphics memory, and actually uses 20 to 50-percent less power than Broadcom’s last-gen Videocore III chipset.  It’s also capable of supporting image stabilization, face and smile detection and panorama modes in devices with cameras.

The BCM2763 is currently sampling to manufacturers, though you shouldn’t expect to see it show up in devices any time soon; Broadcom don’t expect shipping products to include it until 2011.  No word on when the Persona platform will appear in shipping devices.

Press Release:

Broadcom Announces 1080p Multimedia Processor with Breakthrough Mobile Power-Performance

New Broadcom® BCM2763 VideoCore® IV Processor Features 1080p Video, 20 Megapixel Photos and 1 Gigapixel Graphics in an Ultra-Low Power 40 Nanometer Design

IRVINE, Calif., Dec 15, 2009 — Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced its next generation multimedia processor that delivers industry leading performance and lower power in the top multimedia categories for mobile devices. Using 40 nanometer (40nm) CMOS process technology, the new Broadcom® BCM2763 VideoCore® IV multimedia processor provides even higher integration, smaller footprint size and lower power consumption than 65nm designs.

With the higher integration and significant power savings from 40nm CMOS process technology, the BCM2763 multimedia processor features the most advanced mobile high definition (HD) camcorder and video playback, up to 20 megapixel digital camera and photo image processing, and 1 gigapixel 2D/3D graphics rendering for a world-class gaming experience. HD video, 3D games and high resolution 20 megapixel pictures can be displayed at top quality on full-sized HD televisions and monitors using an on-chip industry standard HDMI interface. Additionally, the BCM2763′s highly integrated architecture reduces bill-of-materials (BOM) cost to help drive sophisticated multimedia features into more affordable handsets.

Highlights/Key Facts:

– The breadth and quality of Internet multimedia content is rapidly
improving, with sites such as YouTube now supporting full HD 1080p video
sharing. Consumers are also increasingly using cell phones as their
primary digital camera and camcorder, which is driving demand for higher
resolution and more sophisticated image processing which is currently
only available on advanced standalone camcorders and cameras.
Additionally, newer graphics-oriented user interfaces and mobile games
now require enhanced graphics capabilities.
– The new Broadcom BCM2763 VideoCore IV multimedia processor enables
best-in-class performance in the following areas:
– Full HD 1080p camcorder capabilities in a cell phone with
significantly improved quality over current generation handsets
(which generally have VGA or lower resolution camcorders).
– Up to 20 megapixel digital camera with advanced features such as
multiple shots per second, image stabilization, face and smile
detection and panorama mode.
– The ability to render mobile games natively at up to 1080p
resolution, which in combination with an on-board HDMI output,
allows a console-quality gaming experience on large screen HDTVs.
– In addition to providing these capabilities on new handsets, the BCM2763
has improved power savings using a 40nm process without draining the
battery or significantly reducing talk time. Additional ultra-low power
consumption features include:
– 20% to 50% power reduction in comparison to the prior generation
Videocore III multimedia processor.
– 4 to 6 hours of 1080p video recording and 8 to 10 hours of mobile
playback, with up to 16 hours of full HD playback over HDMI given
sufficient handset storage.
– Only 490 mW of chip power is required for 1080p camcorder H.264 High
Profile encoding and only 160 mW for 1080p playback.
– Only 160 mW of power is required for mobile game graphics
processing, supporting up to 1 gigapixel per second fill rates and
improves graphics performance by a factor of 4x to 6x in comparison
to the prior generation Videocore III multimedia processor.
– The BCM2763 processor integrates the key functionality and components
needed to drive advanced multimedia capabilities in new handsets. As a
result of this high integration, the BCM2763 enables a lower overall BOM
cost, enabling manufacturers to pass these lower costs on and introduce
advanced features to lower tier phones than previously possible.
– The BCM2763 integrates the functions of eight chips including GPU
and graphics memory, image signal processing (ISP) and ISP memory,
video processing and video memory, HDMI and USB 2.0. 128MB of LPDDR2
graphics memory is stacked in a single package.
– The 40nm process enables reduced power, improved performance and
reduced handset board space.
– Benefiting from an existing VideoCore software code base and legacy
architecture, manufacturers of phones and other consumer electronics
devices can easily add these new VideoCore IV multimedia features to
their products, allowing faster time-to-market.
– The BCM2763 is currently sampling to early access customers (pricing
available upon request). Handsets utilizing this new 40nm VideoCore IV
multimedia processor technology are expected to reach the market in
2011.

Supporting Quotes:

Mark Casey, Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom’s Mobile Multimedia line of business.

“VideoCore IV is setting new benchmarks for performance, power consumption and affordability and is poised to drive advanced multimedia capabilities into new tiers of handsets. Supported by our comprehensive line of complementary cellular and connectivity solutions, our multimedia processor technology is the right choice for next generation mobile designs.”

Press Release:

Broadcom Announces Next Generation Persona™ IP Communications Platform

New Platform Enables ‘Always On, Always Connected’ Multimedia Consumer Devices for the Growing Connected Home Ecosystem

IRVINE, Calif., Dec 15, 2009 — Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced its next generation Persona™ Internet protocol (IP) communications platform for multimedia connected consumer devices. The Persona platform, consisting of the Broadcom® BCM11211 communications processor and the Broadcom BCM11181 multimedia processor, enables full-featured multimedia applications and advanced capabilities such as 3D graphics and a superior audio experience. By combining lifestyle benefits, such as home energy/automation control and monitoring, reliable high resolution video conferencing, and seamless digital video recorder (DVR) and set-top box (STB) integration into an always-on, always-connected platform, Broadcom is poised to supply products in the emerging connected home device (fourth screen) segment.

Highlights/Key Facts:

– According to ABI Research(1), as the digital home evolves and services
expand, the fourth screen market will slowly take shape. The features
available to the three screens (TV, PC, and mobile) are quickly melding
and ultimately will lead to a relatively homogenous ecosystem. As the
number of households with home networks grows, access to Internet
content and services will continue to expand.
– Broadcom is addressing the growing consumer demand for a connected home
network by enabling ‘always on, always connected’ IP communications
devices. This single portable device will act as an information,
communication and entertainment portal of the connected home,
proliferating into the much anticipated ‘fourth screen’.
– The key differentiator between next generation IP communications
connected devices and today’s products are the inclusion of lifestyle
benefits that allow for the sharing of information, communication and
entertainment. Broadcom enables the consumer to administer, control and
stream DVR and STB content directly to this device, providing a new
means for interacting with a DVR/STB, and allowing the device’s mobility
to be utilized anywhere within the home. With this approach,
information may be readily available, with access to online content as
well as high resolution and high quality video phone capabilities that
stay connected. Other examples of lifestyle benefits include:
– Information capabilities – (i.e. full web browser, widgets, digital
picture frame, STB menu browsing, home monitoring).
– Communication/Connectivity capabilities – (i.e. VoIP, Wi-Fi®, video
conferencing, Bluetooth®, GPS, location based services).
– Entertainment capabilities – (i.e. next generation remote control,
content portability, gaming).
– The new Persona consumer IP communications multimedia platform includes
the BCM11211 communications processor and the BCM11181 multimedia
processor featuring Broadcom’s proven core voice and applications
processing technology.
– The BCM11211 high performance RISC and DSP processor cores enable
advanced end user productivity applications such as rich GUI/web
browsers and multimedia content. Its advanced peripheral support
hosts SDIO for memory cards, dual USB ports to enable external media
devices, as well as PC connectivity. The BCM11211 seamlessly
connects to Broadcom’s industry-leading Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS
connectivity products, allowing OEMs to efficiently add
best-in-class wireless technologies and expanded functionality for
next generation wireless products.
– Designed for advanced mobile multimedia products, the BCM11181
multimedia processor is power-efficient and optimized for images,
video capture and playback, and 3D graphics.
– The Persona platform runs the Broadcom MediaxChange™ Linux®-based
software, which is the latest voice, video and multimedia version of the
field proven Broadcom PhonexChange™ software. Broadcom PhonexChange
is a flexible software platform used across all Broadcom IP phone
communication solutions, allowing customers to leverage a common
software code base across product portfolios, which in turn, minimizes
engineering development resources and time-to-market. It also includes
built-in support for Broadcom’s Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi solutions.
Broadcom MediaxChange optionally supports the Qt Applications
development framework or Google Android mobile operating system.
– The software suite includes Broadcom’s high fidelity SmartAudio® voice
enhancement technology. SmartAudio is based on Broadcom’s innovative
audio clarity technology that significantly improves audio quality over
IP networks. It includes the company’s high quality acoustic echo
cancellation, advanced jitter buffer, high definition voice speech
technologies and packet loss concealment (PLC) technology which
compensates for lost data packets while ensuring the delivery of clear
digital voice communications.

Supporting Quotes:

Martyn Humphries, Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom’s VoIP line of business

“Broadcom is dedicated to connecting everything and the introduction of our next generation Persona IP communications multimedia platform is a testament of that. The ability to enable always on, always connected devices for the home opens up the realm of possibility for the distribution and consumption of content, whether it be informative, communicative or for entertainment purposes. These next generation devices are going to change the way that consumers look at whole-home connectivity.”

Both projectors are low cost with the NP110 selling for $459 and the NP215 selling for $599 when they launch in October. Features include internal 70-watt speakers, closed captioning, and ECO mode technology. The ECO mode tech can extend the lamp life up to 5000 hours.

The NP110 has a native resolution of 800 x 600 and the NP215 has 1024 x 768 resolution. Contrast ratio is up to 2000:1 for the devices with up to 2500 lumens of brightness. Inputs include VGA, composite video, S-Video, and component video with an adapter. The NP215 also has an Ethernet jack for connecting to a network.

That’s because Knoll’s Eco-System amps can shut off unused channels or the full system, which according to the company adds up to hundreds of dollars in saved energy bills over a year, and an idle power draw of under 2W compared to the 40-80W of a standard amp.  As a handy benefit of this selective shut-down, the GSZ44 and GSZ67 channels left active can actually use some of the freed-up rail voltage to boost their own output.

As for the hardware itself, the GSZ67 has a12-channel class A/B amplifier with 50W per channel at 8 ohms and 70W per channel at 4 ohms, while the smaller GSZ44 has an 8-channel class A/B amplifier producing 30W per channel at 8 ohms and 35W per channel at 4 ohms.  The former comes with six multiroom keypads, the latter with four, and both systems can be daisy-chained together for expansion.

Available now, the GSZ67 has an MRSP of $2,199 while the GSZ44 has an MRSP of $999.  Crested Grebe sold separately.

Press Release:

Eco-system™ packages from Knoll Systems combine energy-friendly amps and fingertip control keypads for the whole house entertainment that is green.

Their all new GSZ44 and GSZ67 controller-amplifiers with keypads provide stellar entertainment quality with energy-conscious ingenuity.

Atlanta, GA – CEDIA 2009 – Knoll Systems award winning amplifier technology, called Eco-System™, is available in two different packages to enable this innovative green technology to be available to a broader market. The GSZ44 and GSZ67 systems are powered by the award–winning Eco-System amplifier that shuts off the amplifier (or channels within the amplifier – depending on what’s being used or not) to save power with no turn-on artifacts. The GSZ series also offers two different type keypads in the four most popular colors to fit into any décor.

The GSZ67 has a12-channel class A/B amplifier that produces 50 watts per channel at 8 ohms and 70 watts per channel at 4 ohms. The smaller GSZ44 has an 8-channel class A/B amplifier that produces 30 watts per channel at 8 ohms and 35 watts per channel at 4 ohms. While offering unparalleled reliability, power and sound quality these GSZ systems offer the Knoll exclusive Eco-System™ circuit. This patent-pending circuit determines which of the 8 or 12 stereo channels (in pairs) are in use and delivers power only to those channels needing it. The channels that are “off” are truly off, not in “standby” or “mute”. As an added bit of ingenuity, the circuit enables the active channels to share more rail voltage resulting in more reserve power for the stereo channels in use.

Given today’s energy-conscious consumers, the most timely benefit of the Eco-System™ circuit is the electrical savings that the owner gets over what a comparable class A/B amplifier would cost to operate. The typical home owner will enjoy a savings of hundred dollars or more per year in electrical costs and that can be multiplied when taking into account the increased costs of air conditioning to extract unwanted heat produced by a typical multi-channel amplifier. Comparable amplifiers without the Eco-System™ circuit would use about 14 times (40 – 80 watts) the amount of power while idling in standby. By comparison the GSZ44 with Eco-System™ uses under 2 watts while idling!

According to Knoll Systems VP of Marketing and Sales, Richard Hanson, “These Eco-System multi-room audio systems are perfectly timed for today’s marketplace. Homeowners that want multi-room audio as a part of the everyday lifestyle want great sound. The 8 and 12-channel Eco-System amps sound fabulous, thanks to Kevin Knoll’s years of experience and design savvy. But these same customers also want to be responsible and only put in systems that are energy-efficient at the same time. These Eco-Systems let the homeowner fill their homes with great sound, while showing their appreciation for energy conservation. It’s the perfect entertainment match for today’s economy.”

The GSZ 44 comes complete with four keypads, a controller amplifier and is also expandable by daisy chaining two or more together to make larger systems. The complete package retails at only $999. It offers twice the power and a tenth the energy consumption of its competitors.

The GSZ67 comes complete with 6 keypads, a controller amplifier and also expands by daisy-chaining two or more together to handle larger applications. The GSZ67 system has a suggested retail of $2199.

The new GSZ systems are aiming to be record breaking product for Knoll Systems by virtue of their Eco-System™ technology, ease of installation and affordable cost. Knoll’s experience with the custom installation channel also means that these new systems offer unparalleled reliability, power and sound quality.

For nearly 10 years Knoll multi-channel amplifiers have sold around the world because of their legendary reliability and unparalleled sound quality. The GSZ Series takes the next logical step by being eco-friendly as well.

If shelling out $349 for the CR200 is too big of pill for you to swallow, but you by some chance own an iPhone or iPod – then you’re in luck! Last year, Sonos released a native app for iPhone/iPod. The app miraculously transforms any iPhone or iPod touch into a Sonos controller. It works seamlessly and it’s so awesome that the existing Sonos CR100 remote control is quickly a thing of the past.

During our briefing with Sonos, representative shared that the new CR200 remote is faster than the iPhone / iPod touch app.  SlashGear is due to receive our review unit any day now.  Rest assure that we’ll run a head to head test drive. The CR200 is now bundled with the Bundle 250, priced at $999 (same exact price as the Bundle 120). Included in the Bundle BU250 are the Zone Player 120, the Zone Player 90, and a cradle for the remote.

Once again, be on the look out for a full review of the Bundle 220 on SlashGear.com in the next week.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – July 28, 2009 – Sonos®, Inc., the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems, today launched a state of the art music Controller for the home, the Sonos Controller 200 (CR200). The new full-color Sonos Controller features an ultra-responsive touch screen display making it easy to quickly find and play all the music you want, in any room of the house, and all with the touch of a finger.

“Finding and playing music all over the house needs to be so easy that anyone who walks into a home can pick up the Controller and start playing DJ,” says John MacFarlane, CEO, Sonos, Inc. “Sonos has applied our seven years of experience designing wireless music systems for hundreds of thousands of customers in more than 60 countries to deliver the most innovative and intuitive way to find, play and control music anywhere in the home.”

The Sonos CR200 is 100% dedicated to providing a great music experience throughout your home so everything — from the hardware and industrial design to the software and user interface — works together to make controlling the Sonos system fast, easy and fun. The Sonos CR200 features a 3.5” full-color VGA display (640×480 pixels) and comes with a capacitive touch screen for accurate and responsive operation. The convenient touch screen keyboard enables rapid search of the world of music, including multi-million song jukeboxes (Napster® and Rhapsody®), more than 25,000 radio stations and podcasts, SIRIUS® Internet Radio, and of course, your own personal music library. It also makes the creation of custom radio stations from services like Last.fm and Pandora® incredibly easy. The quick intuitive interface provides rich graphics that display what music is playing and in what room all while making it a pleasure to view artist information, cover art and more. The CR00 is styled with an anodized precision machined extruded aluminum case and soft durable rubber backing that fits comfortably in your hand. The CR200 includes ships with the Sonos Charging Cradle 200 so it’s always easy to find and charge your Controller.

Other Sonos Controller 200 features include:

Easy set up – A few simple steps are all that’s needed to get Sonos up and running using the new Controller.

Instant on — Pick up the Controller or touch the screen and it’s instantly ready to play music.
Dedicated buttons — Mute, Volume and Zones buttons provide shortcuts to the most often used functions.
Quick, intuitive search — Instantly find the artist, song, radio station, or radio show you want to listen to by typing on the on-screen keyboard. Suggestions are provided as you type.
Superior wireless performance — The CR200 works on SonosNet (Sonos’ proprietary mesh network) ensuring that you get the best wireless performance of any wireless music product on the market with no interference.

Easy zone management — Take music with you as you move through the house by linking rooms with ease (and without interrupting music playback).

Multi-room volume control — Change the volume in a single room, or in several rooms, all from the same screen.

Great for using outdoors — The CR200 features a transflective screen, making it easy to use while listening to music outdoors on a sunny day.

Long-life and replaceable battery — Comes with a high capacity lithium ion battery that gets about five days of usage between charges and can easily be replaced.
Compatible — The CR200 is compatible with all existing and previously purchased Sonos Multi-Room Music System hardware.

Also today, Sonos Software 3.0, a one-button software update, was made available to all Sonos customers. Sonos 3.0 brings new music discovery tools to the Sonos multi-room music experience when using the Sonos CR200 or Sonos Controller for iPhone – Info View. This new feature provides one-touch access to rich music information, like artist bios, album reviews, concert listings, and lists of similar artists. Info View is available on Last.fm and Rhapsody and can be accessed using the Sonos CR200 or Sonos Controller for iPhone.

In addition to enabling the new features of the CR200, Sonos 3.0 allows the CR200 to work seamlessly with any existing Sonos Controllers, including the CR100, Sonos Controller for iPhone and Sonos Controller for Mac or PC. Sonos 3.0 also provides Controller support for the latest Operating Systems. Sonos now supports Mac OS 10.4 and above (including 10.6), Windows XP and above (including Windows 7) and iPhone OS 3.0. The new Sonos Controller for iPhone 3.0 is expected to be available via the iTunes App Store after receiving approval from Apple Computer.

Pricing & Availability

The Sonos Controller 200, which includes the Sonos Charging Cradle 200, has a suggested retail price of $349 in the United States and is available worldwide beginning today at authorized Sonos dealers and at www.sonos.com. Also, the CR200 is available today as part of the new Sonos Bundle 250 ($999 suggested retail) which also includes a Sonos ZonePlayer 90 and a Sonos ZonePlayer 120. The Sonos CR200 replaces the Sonos Controller 100, which has been discontinued.

It works with a 3.5 SATA hard drive, but can also work as an iPod dock, since it has a Dock Connector mounted to the top. This is an easy way to directly connect your media. And the built-in Ethernet makes it easy to share your files with others over a network.

You even view YouTube clips and Picasa images on the hub, if you’d like. The included remote allows you to control the media stored on the drive or on connected Apple devices. Supported formats include MP3, WMA, AAC, AC3, DTS, DivX, RMVB, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and XViD. Inputs include RCA, USB and outputs are TCA, optical audio and HDMI. You can get the Media Cowboy MC35ULI in Japan next month for the equivalent of $255.


Physically the device is wider than the Iomega DVR Expander we reviewed not too long ago. The unit is well ventilated with air holes in the plastic front cover, an aluminum case, and a small fan helping to cool the eco-green series Samsung HD502Hi 500GB hard-drive (16MB cache; 5,400RPM). We had no problems with heat at any time, but the drive does have a noticeable whine even when idle. In a busy environment you wouldn’t be able to hear it, especially if it’s next to the jet-engine PS3, but in a quiet atmosphere it could be distracting for some users, even up to 4-5 feet away.


Set-up
 


Getting the Home Media Network drive to work is fairly straightforward: plug the drive into your network hub or router, install the Manager Console from the included CD and it’s ready to serve. In a nutshell, the software utility installs shared folders to your systems – mounting essential folders from movies, music, photos to public – making it easy to drag and drop your media files from any workstation to the media drive.

The manager console worked flawlessly on windows XP SP2 Pro and Vista, shared folders were quickly mounted upon installation, but it was slightly challenged by OS X when we first set it up. The app was unable to locate the drive across the network, whether connected to either our Linksys WRT54GX2 or WRT610N test routers. Kudos to Iomega support, they went out and bought their own WRT610N to try to replicate the problems we were having, and the issues were swiftly resolved. If you are experiencing some router issues with the Iomega Media Network drive on your Mac, try the new discovery tool here.


The web interface has a clean and simple layout. In the left panel there are Home, Folders and System tabs, with sub categories listed in right panel. Changes made to the settings are handled in an ajax-like way, and the whole thing is intuitive and very user friendly. 
 


The Home tab shows information about the multimedia NAS drive from capacity, status, and space occupied to its current IP address. It also has disk format and repair functions if needed. After loading around 50GB of data onto the disk, we formatted it; that didn’t take more than 15 seconds to complete. 
 


The System tab allows you change the admin login, network settings, drive name, workgroup name for your home network and reset all settings back to factory defaults.  It’s also where you can apply firmware updates, and shut-down or restart the drive. Under System is where you’ll find the “Reset iTunes and DLNA” button; according to Iomega, after adding new files to your DLNA server, you must reset it to see the changes. Basically, a click of the button disconnects and reconnects the drive from the DLNA server, which took just a few seconds of reconnection; we’d prefer to see this automated or at least have a schedule option, though.



Files and sharing settings are addressed in the Folders tab. Folder access can be switched between “Everyone” – where there are no limitations – or “Secure”. For the latter, users can be individually assigned using the checkbox list next to it. Iomega have also added out-of-the-box compatibility with common DLNA clients such as games consoles, TV, multimedia players and digital photo frames. To enable multimedia content streaming to DLNA devices or iTunes, it’s a case of simply hitting a button and you’re good to go.
 


In our tests, folder security worked just ok. You can assign, delete and edit users, and once created the new user will be added to all folders.  All folders are visible to guests within the network but they only have access to content when they’ve been assigned it.  We’d prefer a slightly more pleasant and descriptive message when access is denied, though; throwing up an unexpected error code or “Folder cannot be found” is hardly informative.


It’s also worth noting that turning the DLNA service off doesn’t block the access immediately: content previously indexed is still accessible, but new files added to the folders are not visible. We reset the DLNA settings after each change in the System tab, but still had no luck. Deleting content, on the other hand, worked just fine. In summary, accessing the content is not the problem here, it’s just that preventing it is somewhat tricky. 
 


Extras 



Iomega bundle the NAS with EMC Retrospect Express, an automated and schedulable backup app for your Pc and Mac, together with 2GB of free Mozy online backup.  There’s also a USB port on the back of the unit which can either take an external hard-drive to augment capacity or let the Home Media Drive act as a print server. 
 


Performance
 


The Iomega doesn’t come equipped with WiFi connectivity, just a gigabit Ethernet socket for network connection. We’re not too concerned with the lack of wireless, though; in our experience the patchy performance and relatively low throughput of WiFi means you’re far better off going for a wired link between router and NAS.   
 


To test the NAS’ performance we ran several backups to the drive, first with a large number of small files and then with a single large file, all over the Linksys WRT54GX2 router. The small file package contained digital images range from 15MB to 25MB, for a total of 4.45GB, while the large file was a single 4.36GB DMG image. 
 


Using a wireless connection between our test computer and the router, the smaller files were copied at 1.37MB/s; this improved slightly with a hardwire connection, up to 3.59MB/s, but still pretty disappointing.  The large file transfer managed a far more cheerful 14.53MB/s write and 28.34MB/s read rates respectively.
 


Streaming video over wireless is manageable for compressed files, but you can forget about viewing the 5D Mark II’s Full HD capture; with a bit rate of 42.32Mbps (or 5.29MB/s), more than the average 40Mbps Blu-ray video, it’s just not happening! Wired connections had no stutter issues, though, and we were able to stream the same HD video to two locations with ease. Note that with a read speed of 28.34 MB/s, I should be able to stream up to five high bit rate 5D Mark II videos simultaneously.
 


Conclusion
 


Anybody particularly serious about either backup or home media servers, especially the Mac users, may find the Iomega Home Media Network Drive underkill; it’s a typical NAS device with average transfer speed, and the DLNA server, while functional, lacks finesse and is occasionally buggy.  Also, there’s room for improvement in managing the file-sharing. At $160 for the 500GB and $230 for the 1TB versions it’s reasonably priced, though, for a single-drive system with no hardware redundancy.  For home users looking to double up on their everyday files, together with serve some content around the house, it’s a decent choice.

Compared to previous Netgear digital media players, the EVA9150 is far faster and smoother in operation.  Photo navigation is quicker, and streamed media – either from elsewhere on the network or online – is automatically buffered on the EVA9150′s hard-drive.  There’s also a neat remote PC viewer feature, though this requires an app loading onto any PC you want to control, and usability is low thanks to only the remote being available for navigation.

In fact the general conclusion is overwhelmingly positive, especially if you already own something from Netgear’s media player range as the devices will not only live in harmony but pass content between themselves using the “Follow Me” feature.  The only problem we can see is the price: currently up for preorder at around $400, it’s not a cheap way to access your media from the living room.

The goggle translation is sketchy at best, but most of the features we already got our hands-on at CES, from a preview to a video demo if you like to learn more. What unique to the Wave Home communication hub is ability to commute ATM processing, and online payment via a credit card swipe reader. We are sure when these personal and confidential service will get its debut in US, but it’s more commonly used in Asia country.

From the quick-look, the Korean unit has the ATM integrated but registration with bank institution is required to turn on the service. Also mentioned is the desktop widgets can be drag-n-drop and the music playback quality is up to expectation.

[via portablealliance]

To load either your iPod or a DVD, the iLuv i1155 opens up like a laptop; inside there’s a DVD bay and a cut-out for the PMP. The screen is on the outside, so the i1155 is intended to be used as a slate, not with the lid flipped up like most portable DVD players. Somewhat strange is iLuv’s choice of iPod accommodation: the compact slot will only fit the iPod Classic, iPod Video and 3rd generation iPod Nano, and the latter will require an adapter (sold-separately) in order to bring its display up to the window cutout to the right-hand side of the LCD.

The point of any dock of this nature is to give you a bigger, better display than what comes on your iPod, and happily iLuv didn’t stint on their choice. Measuring 8.4-inches and true 16:9 wide-aspect, the LCD is clear and bright, with no shadowing, and has reasonable viewing angles to either side. We’d say around 130-degrees maintaining decent color. An adjustable stand flaps out of the back of the unit and allows it to be propped up at various angles.

Control is either via the included remote or the touch-sensitive buttons on the i1155 itself. Although these roughly resemble the layout of an iPod’s scroll-wheel, there’s actually no scrolling functionality; instead you get simple illuminated skip/pause/stop/etc keys. For DVDs, it’s everything you need to navigate the standard menus on the i1155′s screen; iPod navigation is done on the PMP’s own display, visible through the small window, with only actual playback on the main display.

Sound quality from the i1155 is decent, and there are two headphone sockets in addition to the integrated speakers making it handy for in-car use. Unfortunately the DVD player mechanism itself is far from discrete, with a continuous, loud spinning sound whenever it’s playing a disc. Compounding that, the volume from the internal speakers doesn’t go as high as we’d like; you could hook up a larger, amplified pair through the audio output jack, but that seems an unnecessary chore when the i1155 is meant to be a standalone solution.

Fully charged, the iLuv i1155 lasted us 2 hours and 42 minutes in DVD playback. That’s almost twenty minutes short of iLuv’s expectations. iPod playback lasts longer, but not as much as you might expect; the company predicts around 4 hours, and we got within a stone’s throw of that. What all that means is that you’ll be wanting to carry the included AC adapter and cigarette lighter adapter with you; a full charge takes 4-5hrs.

We’re not entirely convinced by the iLuv i1155. For a start, the limited number of supported iPods – which doesn’t include any of the current generation nano, touch or iPhone models – cuts down its potential audience significantly; throw in our review unit’s noisy DVD mechanism and it’s a potentially frustrating video dock on both counts. Reasonable battery life, a decent screen and slick design are in the iLuv i1155′s favor, but unless you fit the narrow niche you could do better shopping elsewhere.

The unit comes with a PC app works as localized server to share, store or play media over DLNA network or attached storage, and allows a direct user interaction to create playlist, schedule and uploading contents. A remote control comes standard to enable basic navigation on DLNA or UPnP devices.

The media hub supports 720P video decoding from Mpeg1,2,4, DivX, XviD to WMV9 VC1; high resolution picture from TIFF, PNG, GIF to JPEG; and 48khz audio from MP3, MPEG1L2, ACC-LC, WMA , WAV, to LPCM. Output connectivity is provided with a pair of stereo audio to component and composite videos.

Price and availability were not announced.

The new Amex’s digicframes sport a 7-inch widescreen display with 800×480 resolution, and support multimedia playbacks from Jpeg, AVI, Mpeg 1/2/4 to MP3 files. An internal memory storage is included (size unknown) for both units, as well as an external media card reader to support SD, xD, MMC, MS and CF cards. Other features include calendar display, user adjustable brightness control, photo album slide show and USB connectivity.

The SW-7 adds a wealth of weather reports to forecast indoor/outdoor temperatures, humidity, and has barometric pressure meter display, as well as showing the moonrise, moonset, sunrise and sunset data.

The Amex Digital SR-7 is available in silver and black finishes while the SW-7 only comes in black. Pricing and availability have not yet announced.

[amexdigital via digitalpictureframereview]

The HD Theater 1000 features five identical speakers for main, surrounds and center channels. Each unit drives a dual 2.5-inch fiber composite woofers and a MicroTractrix Horn-loaded 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeter. Low frequency range is taken care by an active subwoofer with an 10-inch fiber composite woofer and a digital hybrid amp. Next up is the mid-range HD Thearter 500 with 2.5-inch IMG drivers, smaller 8-inch down-firing subwoofer and a class D digital amp. The center channel is also different than 1000 series with a dual-woofer driver.

The smallest set, HD Theater 300, having the same drivers and features from 500 series, but a much-compact 6.5-inch subwoofer and a magnetically shielded center channel (to avoid image distortion for CRT-tube based monitors). It can be set up to add basic surrounds for your TV set, and is suitable for high-end PC entertainment as well.

Klipsch will launch the HD Theater 1000 in February, with the 500 and 300 coming in the next following month for $899, $599 and $399, respectively.

It can be used to display images on a TV or computer screen or on a blackboard if connected to an external projector. The device features a 2-megapixel camera, auto focus and 8x digital zoom. It’s small and weighs just 2.7 pounds but can project images sized up to A4 paper.

This device can also apparently utilize a 28mm adapter to show what a microscope can see. You can even connect it to video devices and computers. It features an RCA and a VGA output and a VGA input. You can choose between 800×600, 1024×768 and 1280×960 resolutions. You can get the AVerVision VP-1 Portable Visual Presenter for $450 now.

[via Electronista]

The new Firmware 1.57 now supported camera raw file formats taken from Nikon D3, D60, D700, Canon EOS Kiss/Rebel Series, PENTAX K100D Super, K20D, K200D and Sony α200, α300, α350 Digital SLR.

Other changes on FW V1.57 listed below

• Added sound effect to a HOLD button, beeps when pressed
• Improved speed on thumbnail images
• AC power connection status now reflects on the screen when unit is connected to a computer
• Fixed 6mp Raw image playback when images were zoom to portrait mode
• Corrected writing error on the last sector of SD memory card
• Corrected Japanese input character “under bar” error

Links to Firmware updates in Espon Japan site, we advice you to confirm its OSD is in Japanese or English before updating.

PC

Mac

It’s these PEs that make up the Zii ZMS chips, twenty-four in total, and capable of 10 gigaflops – that is, concurrent calculations – per second.  A blade server can take 256 ZMS chips – 6,144 PEs in all – and is capable of a staggering two teraflops per second.  In contrast, to make a comparable blade server from standard chips, you’d require 1,000 blades. 

Of course, Zii’s strength for consumers is not in supercomputing but in packing high-definition multimedia capability into a compact package.  PMPs, MIDs, UMPCs and netbooks would all be ideal candidates, with the Zii chip acting as a co-processor for multimedia alongside a traditional CPU for everyday computing.  Plus, since a ZMS chip can selectively shut off power to unused PEs, overall energy demands are lower than a traditional chip; that means battery life can be longer despite the greater capabilities.

Creative are pushing not only their first ZMS-05 chip, which includes a media processing array, dual ARM cores and integrated peripheral controllers, but the full Zii platform of specially compatible OS, SDKs, hardware reference designs and middleware.  While the company wouldn’t commit to release dates and availability of products using the Zii platform, they did demonstrate working in-house prototypes.  These included a CCTV security camera capable of processing 30fps high-definition video and a early-stage prototype set-top box for HD encoding and decoding.

Dubbed an “all-in-one solution”, the WAVE-HOME features a 7 inch screen, built-in speakers and comes with a handset that acts as both a VOIP phone and a remote control.  The device also has a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam.  So what all is the WAVE-HOME capable of?

• VOIP
• web surfing
• video chat
• SMS/MMS
• taking photos
• displaying photos, videos
• playing music files, FM radio
• widgets (weather, news, traffic, etc.)

As you can see, iRiver is really positioning the WAVE-HOME as a “do everything” multimedia and communications center.  They want this sucker sitting on your desk at the office or on the coffee table in the living room.  It sounds cool so far and we can’t wait to see it in action.

We’re going to try and get some hands-on time with the device a little later on today.  We’ll update afterwards with more information, and, hopefully, a price range and release date.

LaCie’s new gadget supports JPEG images, MP3 and WMA audio formats, and three video formats – DivX, XviD and MPEG-4 AVI.  The LaCinema Classic includes a remote which can be used to navigate the media on the device.  

There are two versions of the LaCinema Classic, both with different sized hard drives.  You’ll be able to pick up the 500 GB model for $170.  There will also be a 1 TB model, but as of this time, a price for it hasn’t been announced.

[via Electronista]

The joint-venture allow purchased HDGiants premium movie catalogs deliver to its network dealers in the form of hard drives devices. It’s priced at $1,099 for 50 movies or 100 flicks for $2,099 which includes “top-rated films from major movie studios.” The content stored on the Cargo Edition can be accessed via the scalable Niveus Media Server or connected Media Center Extenders.

100 movies in HD quality could take forever if downloading, the hdd delivery services is a niche market services for high end users that hates the idea of internet streaming and have the time to wait for the turn-around. To reward its subscribers, HDGIANTS will give away a $75 music sampler for each movie collection purchased.

Western Digital has rolled out a major firmware update for its sub $100 multimedia player. A long list of new features and fixes are enabled on the 1.01.01 release to improve playback stability, reliability and further increase player performance; It ever supports 1080P at 24hz for smoother video playback!

New Features:

• Added .MKV chapter selection for video playback for MKV with chapter support
• Added .MTS file extension support
• Added .TP file extension support
• Added .TS file extension support
• Added 1080p 24hz support
• Added disk volume name to folder navigation in list mode
• Added EXIF orientation flag functionality for auto picture rotate
• Added file size in filename
• Added jump feature to the remote: While fast forwarding or reversing, if the “Next” or “Prev” buttons
are pressed, video will jump 10 minutes in the respective direction
• Added progress indicator for the duration of the FF or REV function
• Added a blinking status LED behavior while drive is mounting; previously the light just stayed on
• Added sequential .M2TS file playback function
• Added additional subtitle support (SMI, SUB, ASS, SSA)
• Added user selectable font size for subtitle support
• Added song title scroll in music playback to prevent truncation
• Added embedded subtitle display in .MKV files
• Added additional subtitle encoding support for the following: Western Europe (ISO), Traditional
Chinese (Big5), Simplified Chinese (GB18030), Japanese (Shift-JIS), Korean (EUC-KR), Cyrillic
(Windows-1251), Cyrillic (KOI8-R), Greek (ISO); previously only UTF-8 was supported
• Added display sizing menu for photo playback: Fit to Screen, Full Screen, Keep as Original
• Added accelerating scroll speed based on how long the arrow is held down on the remote when
navigating folders with a large number of files; previously only one, constant speed was available

Resolved Issues:

• Resolved issue when 2 drives were connected, then one drive was disconnected, the files from the
disconnected drive still showed up on the file list but were not playable
• Resolved “repeat one” failure during music playback; previously songs would not repeat
• Resolved artist name truncation issue during music playback
• Resolved issue where WD TV would not turn back on with remote after extended period of inactivity;
previously WD TV had to be unplugged and was unrecoverable with the remote
• Resolved image size and position issues during video playback; previously the image displayed did
not fill the screen until the picture was zoomed in and then out again
• Resolved info bar display issues in PAL (European display standard) mode
• Resolved issue of the slideshow playing while in the Option menu during playback, slideshow now
pauses if the Option menu is accessed
• Resolved issues surrounding drives going to “sleep” and folders showing as empty; previously drives
equipped with a sleep feature would not re-initialize before the WD TV timed out and displayed the
folders as empty
• Resolved issues with DVR-MS file playback, FF and REV now function properly; previously FF or
REV during a DVR-MS file would cause the file to stop playing and the video signal to be lost
• Resolved issues with forced resolution changes dropping video signal; previously the signal would be
lost if the user switched between forced resolution and auto
• Resolved photo self re-sizing issue; previously during photo playback the pictures would randomly
re-size themselves
• Resolved Status LED behavior by blinking to reflect accurate read cycles while data is being read;
previously the LED just stayed on
• Resolved subtitle default to “on” issue (subtitles now default to “off”, unless there is an external
subtitle file created, then subtitles default to “on”)
• Resolved subtitle position issue, the subtitles were moved down towards bottom of screen; previously
during playback of some files subtitles were positioned too high blocking the view of the video
• Resolved the 1-2 second FF during initial playback of .MPG video; previously video would play in
what appeared to be FF for the first 1-2 seconds and then slow to standard play rate
• Resolved video signal failure when pan function in video files with subtitles is used; previously
subtitles would stop functioning, video would stop playing, or TV would lose signal
• Resolved zoom issues while file info is displayed during video playback; previously signal would fail
or video would stop playing
• Resolved zooming issues while subtitles were on; previously the screen used to go black and the
video would stop playing

Channels from the USA, UK, France and Germany are available, including CNBC, Comedy Central and highlights from the BBC.  Of course, since Makayama don’t actually host the shows, they could disappear at any time; in fact, they warn that “Content offering may vary and channels may be withdrawn without prior notice”.

Streaming via 3G is not possible, only using your WiFi connection.  Television costs $2.99 to buy from the Apple AppStore, either directly on your iPhone/iPod touch or via iTunes on your computer.

Channels:

USA

• CNN – Now in the News, In Case You Missed
• CBS – Eye to Eye, Face the Nation
• NBC – Nightly News, Meet the Press
• CNBC – Fast Money
• Comedy Central – Standup Highlights
• VH1 – Celebrity Rehab, The Pickup Artists
• Onion Networkk – All videos
• College Humor TV – All videos
• Digg.TV – Diggnation
• CNET – First Look, Buzz Report
• Discovery Channel – Highlights
• National Geographic – Highlights
• MTV – MTV News, music videos
• NBA – News and match highlights

UNITED KINGDOM

• BBC – Highlights from Top Gear, Torchwood, Goodness Gracious, QI
• SKY – Sky News
• ITN – News and Showbizz
• Megawhat.Tv – Tech News

FRANCE

• TF1 – Le Journal, Météo
• M6 – Six Minutes
• BFM – Première Edition
• iTele – iTele News

GERMANY

• RTL – News, Aktuell, Wetter, Exclusiv
• ARD – Tagesschau, Das Wetter
• NDR – Ratgeber Technik
• WDR – Die Sendung mit der Maus, Käptn Blaubär
• ZDF – Heute, Wetten Dass Backstage, Aktuelle Sportstudio

Most Mvix media player doesn’t come equipped with an on-board storage but this MvixPVR is documented to has supported SATA drive for up to 1TB in size (Fat32 and NTFS). The included USB 2.0 port allows user to add external storage or flash-based storage cards. The device when connect to compatible system, will reveal itself as an external storage. Audio video connectivity including HDMI, component, SPDIF, Optical, composite and a pair of stereo output.

The multi-talent media player is also said to be able to record digitally from any source, from set-top box, satellite receiver or your camcorder. The MvixPVR is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux PCs. Price and availability are unknown at the moment.

Video modes support high quality AVI format encored with MPEG4 AVC/H.264 in 720×480, 30fps at bit rate below 1.5Mbps, as well as motion JPG format up to 640×480 in 30fps. Like most digital frames; the iriver has a pair of embedded speakers, supports music playback with WMA, WAV and MP3 media files up to 320kbps.

Remote control comes equipped to manage slide show, movies and music from a distance. Additionally, the multifunction iriver can also replace your digital time piece to display calendar and clock with alarm feature. The L-framee is slated to hit the street of akihabara at December 20 with an estimated price of 17,800 yen ($198).

Don’t get me wrong; a 500GB content storage with user replaceable drives, Full HD feature on top of the wireless streaming are fairly ahead of the likes of Roku Netflix player, Apple TV or Xbox 360; but the cost is rather steep without the core content providers. A niche product for enthusiasts preferably better hardware and resolution supports with owned supplements of video content.

The new Digital Entertainer is set to sail in the first quarter of 2009. The hefty price tag of $400 will prep you 500GB of storage space.

It’s unclear exactly what resolution the videos are now being streamed in, but what’s patently obvious is that the image detail is far improved.  Edges are much sharper, and text is more readable.  High-bandwidth broadband is essential, given the size of the downloads, and you probably don’t want to be using any connection with a small usage cap.

The screenshots in the gallery below are from this video, viewed in standard and HD settings.  This raises a question: SlashGear use YouTube for our unboxing and demo videos; is there enough of an audience with the bandwidth and/or the patience for it to be worthwhile shooting everything in higher resolution than we currently do?

[via TechCrunch]

This system includes an Ensemble server that provides both storage and playback and a Control:One touchscreen for managing your music collection. It is actually the cheapest system offered by Sooloos, though $7,900 hardly qualifies as “cheap.” However, prior to this, you had to purchase other components for the storage and playback features. And while you can still purchase those components to make a higher-end system, they are no longer a requirement.

The Control:One touchscreen is a 17-inch display with a USB port and a CD tray that allows you to browse through your music collection with your finger. The server itself can hold up to a terabyte of audio and metadata. That’s equal to about 2,400 full albums. The server can also send your music to four different zones in your home that you designate. Pretty cool stuff here, folks. And while it’s more affordable now, it’s still not exactly in your average consumer’s price range.