Mac Netflix Streaming Coming In ’08?

Netflix confirms what we knew to be the holdup in bringing “Watch Now” streaming movies to OS X: A key issue for delivering movies online is that the studios require use of DRM (Digital Rights Management) to protect titles. And that’s our holdup for the Mac – there’s not yet a studio-sanctioned, publicly-available Mac DRM … Read more

Mari Goes on Vacation

Vacation is always a good thing, but it’s made even better with every technology advance. Here are the top five ways tech will be improving my trip to the beach this week: Portable DVD player to keep child happy in the car GPS to the beach rental Wi-Fi at the beach (no kidding – it’s … Read more

HTPC: The Cost of Guide Data

As anyone running freeware HTPC DVR software already knows Zap2It will cease to provide free guide data as of 9/1. While I’m sure there’ll be (already are?) solutions that scrape or import programming info (from somewhere), Schedules Direct is attempting to fill the void with a pay service of $5/mo. Wonder how many PC users … Read more

Xbox 360 Update

Wondering about that Xbox 360 update last week? I was – Major Nelson says it provides support for the upcoming wireless guitars (and a more substantial Xbox update is coming later this year). Though I’ve got to say I’m pretty much over Guitar Hero… and ready for my Rock Band drum set!

Apple Releases My iTunes Badges and Feeds

Didn’t I say Apple would be getting social? Still nothing for Safari though… Hm. Anyhow, this is a small step in the right direction by providing personalized iTunes-related RSS feeds and graphical badges of various categories, color schemes, and sizes. Of course Apple isn’t being entirely altruistic here — they hope to mobilize customers in … Read more

TiVo v EchoStar, Part XVII – He Said, She Said

Speaking publicly on the recent Patent Office decisions… Both TiVo and EchoStar appear to hope for the best while appeasing (or is that calming?) their stock holders via the press. TiVo: “The patent office affirmed the majority of the claims of the patent including two that the jury found that EchoStar infringed,” he said. “The … Read more

Light Reading’s Exclusive Fire-to-the-Node Coverage

How often does Light Reading get to strut its stuff with exclusive photos? Not often. (It’s a telecom rag!) So enjoy the slide show Phil Harvey has put up showing a blown-up, AT&T fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) cabinet. This thing was charred to smithereens. And Light Reading has the before and after evidence – a full 18 … Read more