While we’re still an hour away from Amazon’s smartphone reveal, what I believe to be their Android-powered handset just passed thru the FCC. We don’t have much to go on other than a shell company and my successful track record in turning up Lab126 products ahead of launch. Beyond the label, identifying the unnamed smartphone as the SD4930UR, documents indicate it … Read more
Roku Mania has returned to Woot with three refurb streamer models up for grabs. Of course, we’d suggest the no-comprise Roku 3 – that clocks in at a record low $62. Per Woot’s standard operating procedure, all orders ship for 5 bucks… regardless of how many Roku’s you stick in your cart. Roku remains our go-to … Read more
https://twitter.com/jnealis/status/478932566347501570/
Google’s investment in Sage TV continues to bear fruit as the team is apparently hard at work preparing their second generation Google Fiber set-box.
Amongst the various E3 gaming convention announcements is news that Sony intends to bring PlayStation TV to US shores this fall. Introduced in 2013 as PlayStation Vita TV (review), Sony appropriately drops “Vita” branding given its generally poor mobile market reception and the PSTV’s broader capabilities. Part TV streamer, that will surely replace Sony’s unsuccessful line of Roku competitors, and gaming system, PSTV will be priced at Fire TV equivalency: $100 for the base system, add $40 if you’d prefer the gaming controller upsell.
Why hello there, little Slingbox. I’ve been tracking you several weeks since first popping up on the Sling Media warranty page as the Slingbox M1. Further I’m told, as FCC docs now confirm, that you’ll bring wireless capabilities to the lower end of Sling’s lineup via a more Roku-esque form factor. In fact, you may even replace the Slingbox … Read more
While Coffee Bean may have given up on café table Qi charging, Starbucks has just announced a nationwide initiative to bring Powermat inductive charging to all US stores. Despite the promise of wireless power, a variety of competing standards and far-from-universal mobile manufacturer integration have led to limited consumer uptake. Perhaps more than 12,000 retail SBUX outposts will stimulate adoption. Although, iPhone and iPad owners will require compatible cases or external chargers, which probably defeats the purpose, as wireless power hasn’t (yet?) been integrated.
After months of rumor and speculation, Amazon Prime Music has arrived. And, as with other Prime benefits, the streaming service is effectively free for existing Prime members ($99/yr). At launch, Amazon’s collection pales in comparison to other streaming music services, such as Spotify. Yet, as The Verge notes, it doesn’t have to compete head-on. Prime Music … Read more