We love us some home automation but sometimes we get the feeling that we’re the only ones. Perhaps it isn’t that no one wants home automation as much as it’s that no one can get home automation; and if that’s the case, Verizon’s new Home Control might bring us all together. The idea is that Verizon would sell and support a small Z-Wave enabled home automation controller (manufactured by ActionTec at least initially) that would be controllable and programmable via Verizon’s website, mobile phones and FiOS TV set-top boxes. The demo was right on par with what we expect a good HA controller to do, but at this point there is only a trial in New Jersey, which means the rest of us will have to wait to see how it fairs in the Garden State before we’ll get a chance to try it for ourselves. The only issue we did have with the demo was that while you can control your home form your FiOS DVR, you can’t control you FiOS DVR from the other devices. This means that wake-up scenes like ones that would turn your every TV in your house to CNN at 7am in the morning, are out. Obviously this could and hopefully will change if this progress as Verizon hopes it will. Gallery: Verizon home automation for the masses Hands-on with Verizon’s Home Control originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …TRENDnet TEW-692GR 450Mbps concurrent dual band router, yet another first
January 7, 2011 No Comment
We told you to keep an eye out for TRENDnet at CES this year, and guess what? They delivered. The kings of first-to-market WiFi devices will demo another first this week: the first 450Mbps concurrent dual band wireless router, or TEW-692GR. TRENDnet will be the first to tell you that their new router is the first to offer full 450Mbps on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless bands, simultaneously. As with the company’s TEW-690AP, the TEW-692GR delivers a max theoretical throughput of 450Mbps, with three spatial streams per antenna, and can hit a whole gigabit via wired ethernet port. The TEW-692GR goes to market in April and will retail for about $250. If you want to be the first on your block to see the power router in action, check out the TRENDnet booth at CES . TRENDnet TEW-692GR 450Mbps concurrent dual band router, yet another first originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Verizon is sharing its grand vision of the future of TV at CES this year which not only includes FiOS TV programming on its set-tops and iPads, but also via Blu-ray players, game consoles, and even directly on the TV without any tethered box at all. And unlike other providers , Verizon isn’t taking the media server approach because it doesn’t scale. The demo at the at CES’s bloggers lounge included all four screens with a Samsung Blu-ray player’s app delivering both traditional live TV, DVR’d content and video-on-demand — in this case the DVR content was being streamed from a FiOS DVR, but the device could have internal storage. Because this content is to be delivered via IP instead of QAM , there’s the chance that this programming could be delivered everywhere and to any screen (rights issues aside of course). That’s the good news, the (potentially) bad news is that all this great content will only be delivered via Verizon’s software, so if you’re a TiVo or Media Center guy, no programming for you. We still stick by the idea that true inovation will only come when cable customers can chose both their hardware and their software , but we you can bet we’ll bite our tongue and enjoy some HD when we are not standing on our soap box. Gallery: Verizon FiOS TV on a Blu-ray player Verizon intends to take its FiOS TV to every box, maybe even everywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Ford just made some tire marks on the stage at CES unveiling its Focus Electric , the first new major vehicle announced at the show. We of course knew it was coming, and we have all the details right here of both the car itself and the MyTouch Mobile app , but we were given an opportunity to get up and close with them both. Click on through for some impressions — both in visual and textual formats. Gallery: Ford Focus Electric launch Continue reading Ford Focus Electric and MyFord Mobile hands-on (video) Ford Focus Electric and MyFord Mobile hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Idapt has its new i4 and i1 Eco universal chargers on the CES show floor, and if you’re not a fan of iGo products but hate the need for multiple chargers you should maybe give these a look. The i2+ simultaneously charges three different devices (plus one via USB), and comes bundled with six tips for charging pretty much any gadget you can throw at it. The tips can be interchanged quickly by clicking on either side, and it even puts your devices on display. The i1 Eco utilizes the same interchangeable tip system, but only has room for one in addition to a USB port. This one has hot swappable end tips for charging in the car or on the go, and costs around $25. Check out both of them in the gallery below. Gallery: Idapt 2011 charging systems hands-on Idapt 2011 charging systems hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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As you will recall, “Wet” is the single Snoop intends to perform at Prince William’s bachelor party. So this is basically a very appropriate audition tape. Just kidding, it’s totally NSFW. [ Idolator ] Read more posts by Amanda Dobbins Filed Under: clickables , music , prince william , snoop dogg , video , wet Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Vulture Discovery Date : 07/01/2011 16:52 Number of articles : 9
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The ousted Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem says he’s locked in an apartment in a church compound in the Old City. Irineos spoke to The Associated Press through a microphone lifted up to him in a grocery bag by a rope. (Jan. 7)
Continue reading …Cute French-speaking kids try to make sense of gaming technology from the 1980s
January 7, 2011 No Comment
[Video Link]. Not sure who produced this, but it’s super cute and it’s making the rounds. [via Flavorwire, also seen on MeFi, Le Monde, Cyberpresse]… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Boing Boing Discovery Date : 07/01/2011 16:17 Number of articles : 8
Continue reading …Geohot demos homebrew on ‘jailbroken’ PS3, Sony vows to ‘fix’ via software update (video)
January 7, 2011 No Comment
We just saw how you can now add an Install Package Files option to the PS3 using some custom firmware, but that darn hacker George ” Geohot ” Hotz has taken it a step further by demonstrating homebrew in a quick, Mr. Blurrycam-approved video. It’s a barebones app that only says “sup dawg, it’s geohot,” but in reality it’s a pretty huge step. Geohot’s provided the file on his website along with a copy of the METLDR root key that enables the homebrew. Sony, meanwhile, has issued a statement saying it’ll “fix the issues through network updates, but because this is a security issue, we are not able to provide you with any more details.” This runs counter to what pytey from fail0verflow (the famed group that kickstarted this new round of hacking) just told the BBC, “the only way to fix this is to issue new hardware… Sony will have to accept this.” Hey, at least you’ll be in good company , eh Sony? Check out geohot’s proof of concept video after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Continue reading Geohot demos homebrew on ‘jailbroken’ PS3, Sony vows to ‘fix’ via software update (video) Geohot demos homebrew on ‘jailbroken’ PS3, Sony vows to ‘fix’ via software update (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You may recall ThinkGeek’s pretty convincing April Fools’ prank last year: the iCade cabinet for the iPad . Now, thanks to the keen beans at Ion, the two companies held hands and turned this totally rad concept into reality (although they’re definitely not the first ). Come late spring, retro gaming enthusiasts will be able to pick up one of these well-built Bluetooth joystick kits for $99 direct from Ion, and eventually they’ll make it across the pond for about €99 and
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