We know the feeling of set-top box fatigue as much as anyone, so naturally we were interested in Sony’s Internet TV Blu-ray player — just like the Sony Internet TV , it lets you add Google TV to your system without adding any more boxes. At the same time, we’re always wary of combo devices — they’re often a jack of all trades and master of none. And so we set out playing with Sony’s second riff on Google TV with the hope that it could serve both duties without sacrificing any features or functionality that we’d expect if we bought two devices. Obviously if you’re in the market for both a Blu-ray player and a Google TV device and price is the most important factor it’s an easy decision, but you’ll have to click through to find out the true cost of having one fewer box under your TV. This review is primarily of the Sony Internet TV Blu-ray player hardware — make sure you read our full Google TV review to get a feel for the platform itself ! Continue reading Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player with Google TV review Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player with Google TV review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Yamaha brings Netflix, Blockbuster and YouTube access to BD-A1000 ‘universal Blu-ray player’
November 1, 2010 No Comment
Calling this thing a ” universal Blu-ray player ” seems a bit disingenuous (at least compared to models that have used that moniker in the past), but there’s no question that Yamaha’s latest does a good bit more than simply play back your newest Blu-ray Disc. The BD-A1000 offers 1080p playback via HDMI, component outputs, coaxial / Toslink digital audio ports, an RS-232C control socket and an Ethernet port, but unlike many BD decks, you’ll also find a pair of USB ports (one on the front, one on the rear). Moreover, this guy can tune into Netflix, Blockbuster and YouTube without any fancy software hacks, and as expected, it’ll handle BD-Live and BonusView content as well. Too bad that $699.95 MSRP is bound to scare just about everyone away. Gallery: Yamaha BD-A1000 universal Blu-ray player Continue reading Yamaha brings Netflix, Blockbuster and YouTube access to BD-A1000 ‘universal Blu-ray player’ Yamaha brings Netflix, Blockbuster and YouTube access to BD-A1000 ‘universal Blu-ray player’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …3G Kindle a hit on the Chinese gray market for its ability to bypass the "Great Firewall"?
November 1, 2010 No Comment
A report this morning from the South China Morning Post claims that Amazon’s 3G-boasting Kindle is selling fast on the so-called “gray” market in China because of its 3G internet connectivity and browser. The device, it seems, offers the Chinese a rare opportunity to side-step the ” great Firewall ” of the Chinese government, which restricts access to sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Amazon does not officially sell the Kindle in China, which has the world’s largest internet-connected population at 420 million. The Kindle, which seems to have been overlooked by the Chinese authorities thus far, makes use of Amazon’s own network, Whispernet. 3G Kindle a hit on the Chinese gray market for its ability to bypass the “Great Firewall”? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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There’s been a lot of speculation about what’ll happen to ye olde Droid 2 when the GSM-enhanced Droid 2 Global finally busts loose, but it looks like we might now have the answer: it gets a lower price tag. The original model has now fallen to $149.99 on contract on Verizon’s site, and evidence from the carrier’s internal systems (see after the break for that) suggests it’ll be hanging around at that price until at least the tail end of January. Meanwhile, that same internal screenshot is also showing the Droid X holding steady at $199.99 until December 30, so we wouldn’t count on getting any sweet deals — or a dual-mode version of the 4.3-inch beast — at any point in 2010. Interestingly, the Droid 2 R2-D2 edition is holding steady at $250, so you’d better really want it. Go ahead and follow the break for the evidence. Update: The Droid Incredible is now $150 direct from Verizon, too — and considering how universally well-liked that thing is, the Droid 2 might still be a tough sell at the same price. Decisions! Continue reading Motorola Droid 2 falls to $150, makes room for $200 Droid 2 Global Motorola Droid 2 falls to $150, makes room for $200 Droid 2 Global originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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There still isn’t much in the way of actual details or pictures, but 4/3 Rumors is reporting that it’s heard from sources who say the Panasonic GF2 Micro Four Thirds camera (successor to the GF1 ) will be announced as soon as next week. What’s more, those same sources say that the camera will be the smallest mirrorless camera to date, and that it will use the Panasonic G2 12-megapixel sensor. That rumor is further backed up by a new listing for a GF2 at the Korean Radio Research Agency, although that unfortunately doesn’t provide any details beyond the name. You might not want to ditch your GF1 just yet, though — while camera will supposedly be announced next week, it apparently won’t actually be released until sometime early next year. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Panasonic GF2 rumored to be announced this week, released early 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …VLC for iPhone and iPad soon to disappear thanks to GPL complaints — go get it now
November 1, 2010 No Comment
There’s always been tension between Apple’s tight control of the iOS App Store and the DRM-free license requirements of the GPL, and it seems like things are coming to a head over VLC, the open-source video player. As you’ll recall, VLC was just released for the iPad and iPhone in the past few months, but the port was done by a company called Applidium — not VLC developer VideoLAN, which holds the copyright and licenses the code under the GPL. VideoLAN now says that since VLC for iOS includes Apple’s FairPlay DRM, it’s in violation of the GPL and must be pulled — and that “concerned users are advised to look for applications on more open mobile platforms for the time being.” That’s certainly fair enough, although we do find it a bit sensationalist that the takedown notice was sent to Apple and not Applidium, since it’s technically Applidium that violated the GPL. Then again, the statement was written by VideoLAN developer R
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The story of the Galaxy Tab has been quite a saga, to say the least. In fact, it was actually back in May that we first heard rumblings of Samsung’s plans to unleash a 7-inch Android tablet much like its Galaxy S phones, but it was only after months of painful teasing — including a cruel look at just its packaging on the Engadget Show — that Sammy finally unveiled the Galaxy Tab to the world at IFA. The Tab certainly packed the specs — a 1GHz processor, full Flash support thanks to Android 2.2, dual cameras, support for up to 32GB of storage and WiFi / 3G connectivity — to put other Android tablets to shame, and our initial hands-on with it only had us yearning for more. Without pricing and availability, however, the story was at a cliffhanger. Of course, those details trickled out over the next few months, and here in the US, Samsung finally announced that all four major US carriers would be getting Tabs to call their own. Verizon then finally took the lead in announcing pricing, and revealed that its Tab would hit contact-free for $600 — Sprint followed with the same no-contract pricing along with a $400 two-year contract option. Indeed, it’s been quite a long journey, but even after all of that, some of the major questions are still left unanswered. Does the Tab provide a more complete and polished experience than all the other Android tablets out there? How are Samsung’s specially tailored apps? And ultimately, has a tablet finally hit the market that can rival Apple’s iPad ? We think it’s about time we answer those questions and finally open what might be the most important chapter of the Galaxy Tab story — the official Engadget review. We knew you’d agree, so join us after the break. Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Tab (Sprint) Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab review Samsung Galaxy Tab review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The argument used to be that carriers’ higher pricing for smartphone data plans were what kept them out of the low end, regardless of the upfront on-contract cost — but now that T-Mobile has rolled out a 200MB / $10 package , phones like the Comet — a T-Mobile branded version of the Huawei Ideos announced at IFA — might actually pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of dumbphones everywhere. Why’s that? Well, the carrier will be charging a ridiculously low $9.99 on contract after $50 rebate for it, featuring 7.2Mbps HSPA, FM radio, integrated Swype , microSD expansion up to 32GB, and 802.11b / g / n atop Froyo ; in fact, the only immediately-obvious downside to it is that it’s got just a 2.8-inch QVGA display. As you might recall, Huawei worked closely with Google to design the Ideos as an Android device for the masses, and we came away with a pretty positive impression with it when we checked it out at IFA — so we’re bullish that this thing is going to make some waves in its Comet guise. It launches on November 3 — and you’ll be able to get it in prepaid guise through some third-party retailers for “less than $200.” T-Mobile Comet sends $9.99 shot across the bow of dumbphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’d all like to think that when we leave our homes absolutely nothing happens there — except maybe a Roomba making its solitary rounds or a pooch waiting somberly by the door. Of course that’s not the case, lots of things can go wrong in your absence and if you’re of the paranoid variety surely you’ve entertained a few of those ideas. With a camera capable of remote monitoring you can assuage some of those fears, and the models from Dropcam are about the easiest we’ve seen to use. But, at $199 to $279 with monthly monitoring fees ranging from $8.95 to $24.95, they sure aren’t cheap. Gallery: Dropcam Echo Continue reading Dropcam Echo review Dropcam Echo review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …SCHEMA robot shows off its conversation management skills in a group setting
November 1, 2010 No Comment
SCHEMA is a conversational humanoid robot at Waseda University in Japan with some pretty serious skills. As you’ll see in the new video video they have posted (which is embedded below), SCHEMA is able to participate in a three person conversation without losing the plot, and is perfectly capable of understanding which speaker is which and what has been said by whom. It’s an impressive performance, to say the very least. Continue reading SCHEMA robot shows off its conversation management skills in a group setting SCHEMA robot shows off its conversation management skills in a group setting originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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