Unboxing the Nixeus Fusion HD

The parade of network-connected media streaming and playback devices continues. And we’re gotten our hands on yet another recent entrant, the Nixeus Fusion HD (~$220).

The Fusion HD probably has more in common with the WD TV Live solutions, rather than the Roku, given it’s 1080p local media playback capabilities – via both LAN (DLNA, UPnP) or directly connected storage. Speaking of which, the reason the Fusion HD is about triple the size of the Roku (pic below) is because it can optionally house a 3.5″ SATA drive (to no doubt support the BitTorrent client). Of course, web services are a requisite these days and the Fusion HD delivers multiple, including YouTube and Flickr. Additionally, they’ve even integrated a browser. However, despite the nice remote for this class of device, I’m finding text entry a bit tedious.

Read more

Adobe Updates Photoshop for the iPad

There may be a thousand photo editing apps today, but I still have a nostalgic fondness for Adobe’s Photoshop. So when I heard the Photoshop mobile app had been updated for the iPad, I had to give it a whirl.

Now dubbed Photoshop Express, the new iPad app is both simple and, unfortunately, simplistic. It’s hard not to love the iPad as a photo editing platform because the display is beautifully large and there’s room to really work with your images. However, the Photoshop app doesn’t give you a whole lot to play with. There are no sophisticated tools like layers, Dodge and Burn, or the Clone Stamp. Instead, Photoshop Express sticks with the basics like color tinting, borders, contrast adjustment, and image cropping. It’s also missing a red-eye-removal tool,which, as far as I’m concerned, should be in every photo editing software.

Read more

Grooveshark iPhone Music Streaming Now Legit

Grooveshark is the latest streaming music service to get into the iTunes App Store. But there are a few key differences between the Grooveshark mobile app and those from Rdio, MOG, and Rhapsody. First up, you can use Grooveshark for free for 30 days before signing up for a subscription. Second, the subscription is about 1/3rd the price … Read more

AppleTV Rumors: iTV, 720P?

Engadget has posted something, that I’ll consider a rumor until official, regarding a much speculated AppleTV revision expected this Fall. Good News: The new version of AppleTV seems to be more and more likely. Supposedly will be priced at $99 which isn’t too bad. There would likely be an App store in this scenario since it … Read more

Cox VOD Services Headed To TiVo Premiere

If you needed additional proof that retail tru2way is dead, look no further than the TiVo and Cox Communication announcement to bring Cox Video on Demand services to TiVo Premiere hardware. Unlike RCN’s on demand solution, Cox will ultimately link TiVo Premiere units acquired from them through upcoming cross promotional marketing OR units purchased via … Read more

Apple Release iOS Update To Fix PDF Exploit

Appls has released minor software updates for the iPhone and iPad. The good news is that they fix a potentially dangerous PDF exploit that could allow hackers to push code to your device through Mobile Safari. The bad news is that’s exactly how the Jailbreakme.com web-based tool for jailbreaking devices works. In other words, if you upgrade … Read more

Ceton Quad CableCARD Tuner Arrives (For Real)

It’s here. Ceton’s quad-CableCARD tuner, aka InfiniTV 4, has finally started shipping to those who pre-ordered – and the first few end user hands-on reports are trickling out. The Ceton tuner is unique for the following reasons: There aren’t a lot of choices at the moment for CableCARD tuners.  So anytime we see a company willing … Read more

Eye-Fi Center Makes Photo Sharing Easy

I am a big fan of the Eye-Fi card, and have had my 2GB SD version (i.e. photos, no video) for two and a half years. However, I rarely if ever used the old Eye-Fi Manager software, and over the last few months I’ve been without Eye-Fi wireless transfers altogether thanks to a PC migration, and general laziness on my part. Then last week I got a notice from the company that they’re discontinuing the old Eye-Fi Manager, and replacing it with new Eye-Fi Center software. The shift finally prompted me to set up Eye-Fi on the new computer and give the updated management portal a try.

The Eye-Fi Center has a clean, simple interface showing thumbnails of recently uploaded photos at the top, a list of connected devices along with a calendar to the left, a photo tray for sharing pics at the bottom, and a big preview screen taking up most of the display. There’s also a settings menu available with tabs for network selection, photo storage options, notifications, geotagging, and photo transfer preferences.

Stuff I Like:

Read more