Hands On With PalmOS Slingplayer and Slingcatcher

Last night at the Digital Experience sideshow over at Caesars (featuring piles o’ crab cakes and lobster spring rolls), I spent a few minutes with the Sling folks and touched some of the new stuff. The PalmOS player seems entirely functional (we connected to a Slingbox broadcasting from the Golden Gate Bridge?!), though the skin/GUI isn’t complete. I also got a closer look at the SlingCatcher. The flat white piece in the third photo is the optional hard drive accessory that the Catcher will sit on (it looks like they’ll connect via USB).

I have a thorough briefing planned this AM by the Sling folks, though they slipped and let me in on to two pretty interesting announcements coming: one today, one tomorrow. I’ll share more when I get a bit more info and clearance to post.

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Mac TiVoToGo Is Here… By Roxio?!

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Mac TiVoToGo is finally here, and it’s not at all what we expected. Mac TiVoToGo does not require the TiVo Desktop and has been entirely built into Roxio Toast 8 Titanium as a collaboration between TiVo and Sonic. Product Directors Amir Gharaat (TiVo) and Adam Fingerman (Roxio) got me up to speed last week during a conference call.

As we know, Mac TiVoToGo is looooong overdue so my first question was: “What happened?” If you recall, we saw an alpha version at CES last year which looks nothing like what they’ve just devliered. As I suspected, the main sticking point was TiVo’s inability to keep the media locked down (as they do using Microsoft DirectShow on Windows). After spinning their wheels with “content security issues” for awhile, they turned to partner Sonic for technical assistance last spring… and here we are!

Mac TiVoToGo (via Toast) is composed for four distinct functions: TiVo Transfer, Video Playback, DVD Burning, and Portable Conversions.

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PalmOS Slingplayer Gets Official

A few months ago I pealed a sticker off a Slingbox Tuner and discovered a Palm logo. In short order Sling Media confirmed to me that a Palm client was in the works, but they weren’t prepared to commit to a time frame. As CES is the place for cool announcements, Sling has the product … Read more

Digeo Announces Two Stand-Alone HD DVRs

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The press release drops tomorrow, but I’ve got the deets (and a sexy pic) today.

A few months back, Digeo announced they were switching gears expanding new markets by prepping a stand-alone HD DVR to be sold through electronics retailers. (Current Moxi boxes are distributed through cable providers, such as Charter, with 400,000 in circulation.) Turns out, there are at least two models coming down the pike.

At CES, Digeo will preview two prototypes of planned products for consumers. Both versions will feature the Emmy Award-winning Moxi interface, an integrated CD/DVD player, and features that allow users to watch, record and play high-definition programming, stream content from their PCs and support web scheduling. One prototype, the Moxi Multi-room HD DMR, will provide multi-room HD recording and playback with an integrated multi-stream CableCard (M-Card). A second prototype, the Moxi Home Cinema Edition HD DMR, is a Linux-based system leveraging the recently announced AMD LIVE! Home Cinema reference design that includes advanced audio features and is the ultimate device for home theatre enthusiasts. The Moxi retail product offerings are planned to be available in the second half of 2007.

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On The Ground In Vegas @ CES

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I’m on the ground in Vegas… and the rumors are true: it’s a sight to behold. They say 2,700 companies are presenting, so I plan to cover them all! ;) Seriously, there’s no way a single person can hit all the big news. My plan is to focus on a few companies that interest me (and you) for publication here on ZNF, while also providing Netgear-specific and meta convention coverage over on Netgear’s site.

CES is not just about product announcements, it’s also about relationships and I intend to meet up with about two dozen people over the week including some of my blogging buddies — Though, it probably won’t get much ink. I’ve already run into Jeremy Toeman, the Capable Networks folks, Gizmos for Geeks, and even swung by Engadget‘s CES command center.

I’ve got a lot of a work to do and a full schedule, so my goal is to skip all parties and forgo the gambling. We’ll see how that works out. YES, Mari will be here too. She’s doing a little consulting for Motorola, but I begged her to write a bit if she can find the time.

Lastly, I’ve already got a few posts queued up and ready to go tonight as embargos lift… so you’ll probably want to check back. The announcements are particularly interesting: One is a little early and wireless, I expected it next year (someone jumped the gun, so I was cleared to post last night). One is little late and somewhat different, I expected it last year. One is right on time, but it’s really two. And NO, none of these are the iPhone and Microsoft didn’t give me a Ferrari laptop.

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SlingCatcher Is Real!

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A few months back, I stumbled upon some patent applications by the Krikorian brothers (AKA Sling Media founders and execs) that alluded to a device designed to receive broadcasts — as opposed to the Slingbox which broadcasts your home television signals.

Apparently they liked my proposed name, as Sling’s newest device has been branded the SlingCatcher. As both a geeky consumer and someone who tracks this space, I feel confident saying this device is huge. The ability to control (it has a remote!) and broadcast my Series3 TiVo in the living room via Slingbox to my bedroom TV via SlingCatcher is awesome. All those digital channels (IFC, NFL, etc) and content stored on the S3 we have in the living room will be accessible in the bedroom. Or at a buddies house. Or in a hotel. Kick ass!

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