Does Starz Want to Follow the HBO Go Model?

Starz is pulling its content from Netflix in early 2012, and the ripples are being felt throughout the entire video distribution ecosystem. Can Netflix recover? How expensive will content licensing get? What does this mean for over-the-top video as a whole? With potentially 300 million dollars on the table in a Netflix/Starz renewal deal, it … Read more

EchoStar Preps SlingLoaded CableCARD DVR

EchoStar continues to pitch US cable providers with a higher end set-top box solution. The company, generally known for its satellite television technology, first unveiled a CableCARD-powered tru2way DVR with Slingbox capabilities back in 2009. Despite what appears to be limited interest and uptake, EchoStar presses on and announced the Aria initiative earlier this summer. Amongst other … Read more

4G Downstream Speeds Faster Than Wi-Fi

Now here’s a surprise. Using Speedtest.net as a monitor, I can get better downstream results from my mobile broadband connection than I can from my Wi-Fi connection delivered over a FiOS-driven home network. I’m a Verizon 4G LTE subscriber for mobile broadband, and a Verizon FiOS Extreme customer (25/25 package) for Internet at home. I tested … Read more

Still Looking For A HP TouchPad?

Still looking to pick up a HP TouchPad? While it may very well be the tablet deal of the year, especially if a reasonable Android port is made available, I’m still saving my pennies for Amazon’s imminent entrant. But, being geeky, that remains subject to change… and I had signed up for HP’s email inventory alerts. Today, some mostly non-news arrived:

Thank you for your interest in the HP TouchPad and webOS. The overwhelming demand for this product in recent days has made it difficult to fulfill your request at the present time, and we are working to make more available as soon as possible. While we do not yet have specific details, we know it will be at least a few weeks before we have a limited quantity available again. We will keep you informed as we have more specifics that we can communicate, and we encourage you to join the conversation here for the latest information.

In light of this and other recent HP news, we want you to know that we remain committed to you. We will continue to honor our warranties now and in the future. We will continue delivering products that make a difference in your life and we will continue to provide the best possible service to you every day.

So we’ll keep our eyes on HP.com and their updated TouchPad FAQ. Having said that, you may also want check in with your local Best Buy. As of last week, they were still receiving shipments – a coworker spent about 6 hours in line Saturday AM and managed to walk away with one of 40 units.

Read more

TiVo Courts Cord Cutters

TiVo’s generally known as the retail DVR for digital cable. Yet, the TiVo Premiere is also capable of dual tuning over-the-air (OTA) high definition programming. And I suspect many cord cutters are frugal and find themselves turned off by TiVo’s $20 monthly service fee. Heck, as a full-on cable fanboy, I find TiVo’s fees irksome (and … Read more

Will The Best Buy TiVo TV Find An Audience?

It’s been nearly four weeks since the TiVo-powered Best Buy Insignia HDTV launched. Yet all we’ve heard is crickets. How bad is it? To my knowledge, not a single owner has stepped forward on the TiVo Community. Being a Best Buy house brand, I assume they’re the ones responsible for marketing. And we just haven’t … Read more

iHome iW1 AirPlay Speaker Ships August 31st

Announced last September and expected to launch in time for the 2010 holidays, iHome’s iW1 AirPlay speaker system will finally begin shipping in a a few days with orders starting August 31st at 2PM EST.

The iW1 weighs in at $300, the same price point as the highly regarded Sonos Play:3 connected speaker system. But there are some significant differences in how these two products move music around your home. The iHome speaker receives audio wirelessly directly from Apple products, such as an iPhone or computer running iTunes, via AirPlay technology – which hasn’t yet lived up to its potential. On one hand, you should be able to stream just music from just about any iPhone app to the iW1. Yet, you’re obviously restricted to the Apple ecosystem.

By comparison, Sonos streams audio from the Internet or home computer and you’d use your smartphone as a remote (if you so choose) – including Android-based handsets. In my household, this means that my wife and I can both control the Sonos experience from any phone or computer while the AirPlay experience is more a 1:1 relationship. Of course Sonos also provides a whole-home solution as you add more wirelessly connected speakers. But, as compelling as Sonos is, the charging dock of the iW1 appeals (see here).

Video of both premium wireless sound systems follow…

Read more

The Golden Age of CableCARD Has Arrived

ZNF regular Chucky routinely proclaims that we live in the Golden Age of CableCARD. While I had my doubts in the FCC’s ability to enact reform, I stand corrected and believe that era has indeed arrived. Most large cable providers now provide CableCARDs with simplified pricing and without requiring a truck roll. Further, staff finally … Read more