It’s official: everyone has a 3D HDTV. No, not every consumer — not even close — but with Westinghouse’s official entry into the 3D market earlier this week , nearly every television manufacturer, both large and small, has brought at least one 3D product to market. We took a look at the 47-inch Westinghouse W47S2TCD at the CEA LineShows in NYC today, and were actually somewhat impressed with its performance, especially from a distance of more than six feet. Passive displays still don’t offer the same level of quality as 3D sets that use active glasses, but they’re often more affordable, and adequate for most consumers. Our biggest issue with this display is with backlight bleed just above the Westinghouse logo, which is especially noticeable with darker content or when navigating through system menus. The TV carries a MSRP of $1,200, but Westinghouse says to expect a street price of “well below” $1,000, which should help it compete with other budget sets. It uses passive technology and ships with four pairs of glasses, though the manufacturer claims that you should be able to use other polarized glasses, including those RealD specs you’ll forget to return after dropping $19 on your next 3D IMAX movie. Jump past the break for a hands-on video from the show floor. Gallery: Westinghouse 3D HDTV Hands-On Continue reading Westinghouse first 3D HDTV hands-on (video) Westinghouse first 3D HDTV hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We record a lot of video, but seldom do we find ourselves shooting in a professional-class studio, with the comforts that go along with it — namely that ever-so-necessary teleprompter that our broadcast buddies couldn’t imagine working without. Soon, you’ll be able to teleprompt on the go, with the 4-inch Miniprompter for iPhone or iPod touch from Listec Video. An app displays text in reverse, which is then bounced to the reader using a mirror. We didn’t have any trouble reading and following the Miniprompter, even at a distance, and you can adjust speed and position using a remote, which seemed to be MIA at the Listec booth. The sub-$500 (ouch!) setup is compatible with most camcorders and DSLR cameras through the use of interchangeable rings, and should be available in Q3. Gallery: Listec Video Miniprompter for iPhone Hands-On Continue reading Listec Video Miniprompter for iPhone hands-on (video) Listec Video Miniprompter for iPhone hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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HomePlug hasn’t exactly struck it big on the home networking scene but, with so many disparate options (none of which play very nice together) it’s not hard to see why. The Powerline Alliance is throwing its support behind a new IEEE standard, P1905, that may ease our consumer pain and make the outlet connectivity tech a better fit for our dungeons living rooms. The goal is to create a layer that sits atop the various wired and wireless hookups that blanket our homes and let them easily share data. Bridging the gap between HomePlug, HomePlug AV, Ethernet, WiFi, and MoCA is an ambitious task to tackle, but we’ve got faith our gadgets can get along. Continue reading HomePlug and IEEE want our home networks to play nice, talk to each other HomePlug and IEEE want our home networks to play nice, talk to each other originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’re gonna shoot from the hip here — wireless carriers have gotten a little out-of-hand with their 4G marketing. Even industry standard setter, the ITU , can’t figure out a way to keep the story straight . This consumer disinformation loop is exactly what Rep. Anna Eshoo plans to undo with her “Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act.” Like its title says, the bill would force carriers to be absolutely, unfalteringly crystal clear on minimum data speeds, network reliability, accessible coverage maps, and, of course, the technology being used. Think the T-Mobile girl can handle that in thirty seconds? We didn’t think so, either. Retailers tried a similar consumer hand-holding effort during the DTV transition , although that came without a regulatory shove. Hit the source for legalese in all its undisturbed glory, and while you wait for Uncle Sam to act, you can clear up any lingering confusion by diving into our primer . [Image courtesy Going WiMax ] Rep. Eshoo intros 4G disclosure act, hopes to turn consumers into techies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Hulu reportedly retains investment bankers and renews Fox deal, will go on sale soon
June 22, 2011 No Comment
Following yesterday’s rumor that Hulu had received an a buyout offer from Yahoo, the usual “people familiar with the matter” have informed the LA Times and a reporter for CNBC that the sale process could begin within two weeks. The word is investment banks Guggenheim Partners and Morgan Stanley have been tabbed to make the sale happen and prospective bidders are already on notice, as its owners seek to separate themselves from a business that is looking more and more like a competitor than a savior. One way to make sure anyone is actually interested in buying the site is to strengthen its content licensing deals, and oh-so-coincidentally Variety is reporting Hulu has already reached a new deal to keep the TV shows from Fox flowing. Yesterday we asked for your ideas on who an eventual buyer might be and so far the list includes Google, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix and Pets.com, which should just about cover it. Hulu reportedly retains investment bankers and renews Fox deal, will go on sale soon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple granted broad patent for ‘portable multifunction devices’ with multitouch screens
June 22, 2011 No Comment
Avid watchers of tech know that Apple is almost as good at requesting patents (though, its record of defending them is somewhat less impressive ) as it is at actually creating compelling products. Three years after initially filing for the design of a “portable multifunction device” with a multitouch interface, the USPTO has awarded the Cupertino crew a rather broadly worded patent that’s sure to raise few eyebrows amongst its competitors. The language could easily be interpreted to cover practically any device with a multitouch screen, be it tablet or smartphone — which we’re sure Jobs and co. are excited to add to their growing stockpile of claims to gestures and capacitive displays . Whether or not Apple actually uses its recently granted patent to go lawsuit loony against its market rivals remains to be seen but, chances are, it’ll stay quiet for the time being — those battles with Sammy and Lodsys are already consuming plenty of precious resources. Apple granted broad patent for ‘portable multifunction devices’ with multitouch screens originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s a busy week for Vizio . The budget TV manufacturer flaunted its flashy new tablet in front of our cameras yesterday, and had us hopping across town this afternoon for a chance to go hands-on with its latest entrant into a mysterious brand-new product category (for Vizio, at least). Reps were mum on details, so we had no choice but to return to the CEA LineShows in NYC to see what was up. We walked around the booth, looking for signs of that Vizio Android phone we saw at CES, only to find co-founder Ken Lowe cradling the new goods: a line of light bulbs . We laughed. Then asked to see the real product that Vizio insisted would be worth the trip. Nope, that was it: a LED light bulb — four of them, in fact, arranged in height-order on a chrome bathroom vanity fixture. Lowe then proceeded to introduce his product as he has any other, so we hit record. They’re bright, round, and standards-compliant, and will be coming to a screw-in fixture near you in Q3. How much? “A Vizio price.” Gallery: Vizio LED Light Bulb Hands-On Continue reading Vizio, your favorite low-cost TV leader introduces… a light bulb (video) Vizio, your favorite low-cost TV leader introduces… a light bulb (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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As former Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater demonstrated last year, flight attendants can be pushed to their breaking points. So Boeing makes their lives a little easier by relocating and redesigning that poorly placed call button. The 49th International Paris Air Show has plenty of aircraft flash that means little to the everyday air
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At long (long!) last, the N950 is upon us. While ” announced ” via a nondescript text document earlier this week, we still had no clear indication of what Nokia’s second MeeGo device would truly look like just a day ago. Despite years of leaks and an inestimable amount of visions tip-toeing around in our brains, we never could nail down a solid image of the thing. Until today. In addition to the video grabs seen earlier, we stumbled upon a backdoor repository leading to a somewhat curious looking Nokia device; and sure enough, 20-some-odd N950 photos from Nokia itself flowed forth. It’s mighty troubling to still not have a cemented price or release date, but hey — at least you know it’s worth saving for. Enjoy. [Thanks, Jerry] Gallery: Nokia N950 press shots Nokia N950 pictures: a gallery’s worth of MeeGo to tell the story originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …At long (long!) last, the N950 is upon us. While ” announced ” via a nondescript text document earlier this week, we still had no clear indication of what Nokia’s second MeeGo device would truly look like just a day ago. Despite years of leaks and an inestimable amount of visions tip-toeing around in our brains, we never could nail down a solid image of the thing. Until today. In addition to the video grabs seen earlier, we stumbled upon a backdoor repository leading to a somewhat curious looking Nokia device; and sure enough, 20-some-odd N950 photos from Nokia itself flowed forth. It’s mighty troubling to still not have a cemented price or release date, but hey — at least you know it’s worth saving for. Enjoy. [Thanks, Jerry] Gallery: Nokia N950 press shots Nokia N950 pictures: a gallery’s worth of MeeGo to tell the story originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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