Crackle starts streaming all of its free movies to Roku, PS3, Sony TVs and Blu-ray players
March 29, 2011 No Comment
Sony’s Crackle has had a more successful life so far than its previous iteration as Grouper , streaming movies, TV shows and shorts to various devices since launching back in ’07 and announced today its full library will be streaming to the PS3, Roku boxes, Sony Blu-ray players and Bravia TVs. Expanding full access from just the Google TV (there’s also an Android app that currently streams some of the items) it’s taking credit as the only provider offering free full length flicks including Ghostbusters , B ad Boys , A Few Good Men and more for free on these platforms. The drawbacks are video that tops out at 480p standard definition and Hulu-style commercial interruptions but if you absolutely must watch Weekend at Bernies II without spending any money it is an option — at least, as long as the PS3 browser doesn’t crash with an out of memory error like it did for us. It did work better on more capable platforms, so check out the full details in the press release after the break. Continue reading Crackle starts streaming all of its free movies to Roku, PS3, Sony TVs and Blu-ray players Crackle starts streaming all of its free movies to Roku, PS3, Sony TVs and Blu-ray players originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Super Pong Table serves up four-way retro play, whole lot of awesome (video)
March 29, 2011 No Comment
Sure it’s just sliding sticks and bouncing balls, but anyone who grew up playing Atari can tell you that Pong rules. Unfortunately, its earliest incarnation only supported enough 2D fun for two, which is why our eyes just about popped out of our heads when we saw this. The folks over at Instructables are showing off another awesome retro gaming project that makes everyone’s favorite game a party pleaser — it’s also a pretty good fix for an old coffee table. The Super Pong Table allows for up to four players and fives balls per game, and enlists 900 LEDs and four Atari paddle controllers to make the thing work. Each player controls his or her own stick and gains or loses a point depending on whether they hit or miss a ball — the first player to reach 20 points gets their very own “YOU WIN” light up display. Looks like we just found something to do with our weekend. You can check out a video of the table in action after the break or follow the source link for instructions on making your own. Continue reading Super Pong Table serves up four-way retro play, whole lot of awesome (video) Super Pong Table serves up four-way retro play, whole lot of awesome (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Android Market gets in-app billing, your virtual pennies are now spoken for
March 29, 2011 No Comment
Google said they were coming this week , and here they are — Android apps can now have their own miniature storefronts for in-app purchases galore. You’ll find Tap Tap Revenge , Comics , Gun Bros , Deer Hunter Challenge HD , WSOP3 and Dungeon Defenders: FW Deluxe all accept your credit card for microtransactions starting this very instant, and Android developers can start building similar functionality into their own creations right now. Head on over to our source link for instructions on how to shake those extra coins out. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Android Market gets in-app billing, your virtual pennies are now spoken for originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 is still catching up to the competition in terms of apps and basic features , but when it comes to mobile payments it might not be left in the dust — Bloomberg has two anonymous sources who say that Microsoft will outfit the next version of Windows Phone 7 with software support for near-field communications , and bake NFC tech into WP7 smartphones as early as this year. As we heard earlier this week, Google’s reportedly working on a similar plan , complete with partnerships in the credit card space, RIM may or may not be arguing with carriers over its Bank of America trial , and the general consensus around the water cooler is that Apple won’t be pursuing contactless payments this year. Yes, it’s an exciting time to work in industries that rely solely on money changing hands. Windows Phone 7 getting NFC payments in next update? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …IE9 is the most energy-efficient modern browser, according to Microsoft’s own testing
March 29, 2011 No Comment
Of all the battlefields we’ve witnessed in the browser wars, this one’s never really crossed our minds before: energy efficiency. Yes, the power efficiency of a piece of software, not hardware, is being touted by Microsoft as a differentiating feature for its fresh new Internet Explorer 9 . It’s thrown together the top five most popular browsers and put them through a cycle of benchmarks — including Microsoft’s own FishIE Tank graphics acceleration test, but not the somewhat popular Adobe Flash — while measuring how much power they use beyond what the underlying Windows 7 system needs to keep itself going. Shockingly, IE9 was the winner each and every time and there’s a tenuous conclusion drawn that if you want good battery life, you’ll be going with Internet Explorer. Oh well, whether you consider them a good laugh or really valuable buyer’s advice, there’s plenty more of these power consumption comparisons at the source link below. IE9 is the most energy-efficient modern browser, according to Microsoft’s own testing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Videotron parent company tries to push iPhones off its TV network in Quebec
March 29, 2011 No Comment
What happens when a giant media company owns both a wireless carrier and a television network? Shenanigans — or at least that’s what now seems to be going on in la belle province of Quebec, where the parent company of cable and wireless provider Videotron and television network TVA has seemingly decided to throw its weight around a bit. Apparently, some folks from Quebecor Inc. recently realized that a number of television shows produced for TVA featured iPhones somewhat prominently, which just so happens to be a phone that isn’t offered by its Videotron subsidiary. Their solution? Ask the shows’ producers to feature phones that are available on Videotron instead, like the Nexus One — provided free of charge, of course. There doesn’t seem to be an outright iPhone ban, however, and at least one show has apparently been given specific permission to let its characters continue using their iPhones — although another show’s producer says he “wouldn’t be surprised” if such a ban was eventually put in place. Videotron parent company tries to push iPhones off its TV network in Quebec originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Pioneer’s SE-NC31C-K noise-cancelling earbuds are cheap, but are they effective?
March 29, 2011 No Comment
Active noise cancellation’s the secret sauce that keeps us counting sheep even when surrounded by the cacophony of crying babies and the dull roar of jet engines — though we often find the bulky form factor of those serenity-inducing cans unwieldy. Luckily for us, Pioneer has released its SE-NC31C-K noise-cancellation earbuds that promise to remove 90 percent of ambient noise at the flip of a switch on its AAA battery-powered in-line module — all for around a hundred bucks, which is a far more palatable price than its sound-suppressing brethren from Sennheiser ($320) and Sony ($415). Should you run out of juice, fear not, for you can bypass the noise cancellation features to listen to your tunage as you would with a garden variety set of buds. Given its (relatively) bargain-basement price, we aren’t sure how well Pioneer’s latest nullifies ambient noise, but there’s only one way to find out if they can give the best headset ever made a run for its money. Should you not share our skepticism, hit the source link and grab a pair for yourself. Pioneer’s SE-NC31C-K noise-cancelling earbuds are cheap, but are they effective? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Visualized: awesome, non-functioning ‘robot’ made from worthless computer parts
March 29, 2011 No Comment
It might not actually do anything, and it’s certainly in no danger of crawling into (or out of, however that metaphor works) uncanny valley , but Mike Schropp’s latest creation sure put a smile on our face. All this thing needs is a pair of Pentium Nikes and it’ll be truly styling! Get a closer look after the break, and then hit the source link for plenty of glamor shots at the Total Geekdom blog. Continue reading Visualized: awesome, non-functioning ‘robot’ made from worthless computer parts Visualized: awesome, non-functioning ‘robot’ made from worthless computer parts originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
How many Nintendo 3DS handhelds got sold stateside after Triforce Johnson got one ? More than enough for Nintendo to boast about it, that’s for sure. “U.S. day-one sales numbers for Nintendo 3DS were the highest of any Nintendo hand-held system in our history,” the company claimed today, adding that the volume of tech support calls it received was also “well below the rate experienced during past hardware launches,” and that there are no widespread issues with the handheld. That may sound a bit premature, considering Nintendo won’t provide actual sales figures until April 14th, but we’re willing to consider the possibility that the Virtual Boy’s legacy is done: perhaps this time, the only major headaches Nintendo’s handheld will create are for the likes of Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo says 3DS sets day-one handheld sales record, doesn’t quantify it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Panasonic, Xpand team up on M-3DI standard for active shutter glasses at home and in theaters
March 29, 2011 No Comment
Last year’s problem was a complete lack of standards on active shutter 3D glasses but now we might have too many, as Panasonic and Xpand have joined forces with several other companies to push M-3DI as a single spec for TVs, computers and theaters. Initial plans for the spec cover only IR sync, with the RF Bluetooth technology included on many 2011 3DTV models ( Samsung and Sony are notably missing from the list of participants) to “be considered” for the next step. We’ll wait to see some cooperation between this alignment (full list of supporters in the press release after the break) RealD and the CEA’s 3D Technologies Working Group — which, probably not coincidentally is expecting proposals by the end of this month — before believing the current 3D glasses mess will be resolved. Continue reading Panasonic, Xpand team up on M-3DI standard for active shutter glasses at home and in theaters Panasonic, Xpand team up on M-3DI standard for active shutter glasses at home and in theaters originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …