Altec Lansing XM3120 and Roady XT Review

No sooner had I contemplated the usefulness of the XM3120 did Altec Lansing send me a review sample. The compact speaker dock includes two clear plastic cutouts for either the Delphi Roady XT or the Audiovox Xpress. I’ve enjoyed using it with the Roady XT at work the last few weeks. Not only does it look sharp and sound decent, but I’ve gotten rid of Roady2 home kit cable clutter and bulky computer speakers. The bundled external antenna wisely includes 20′ of cable for placements without window exposure. XM3120 retails for about $100, which compares with the butt-ugly Belkin F5X007. However, Belkin’s offering does come with a remote control — something I’d like to have seen Altec Lansing include.

Getting the XM3120 in the mail was all the encouragement I needed to upgrade from the Roady2 to the Roady XT. As you can see from the pics, the XT is smaller and sleeker. More importantly the FM transmitter is significantly improved, resulting in better reception and higher quality audio coming through my car radio. The display is also noticeably brighter. If you’re in the market for a small plug & play XM receiver, this model with included car kit runs only about $50 – $60 after rebate at places like Amazon and Best Buy or you can pick it up for $48.34 at Walmart without any rebate hassles (which is what I did).

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CNET’s Tech News Goes Live on TiVo

Enrollment and distribution has begun for folks interested in receiving a weekly CNET tech news segment, as announced last month. The service is being offered to both Cox cable customers, and in this case, broadband-enabled TiVo units. CNET had also announced their intention to include advertising, partnering with Best Buy as a charter sponsor. The … Read more

Interesting News Dave Hasn’t Covered

Never enough time… TiVo VP podcast: DVR meets broadband. (iMedia) NBC Nightly News rebroadcast on web. (MSNBC) Windows Media Player 11 Beta released. (Microsoft) How TiVo is cashing in on the interactive age. (Thomas Hawk) Samsung intros plasmas with built-in DVR. (HD Beat) Elgato EyeTV software updated. (MacNN)

Interesting News Dave Hasn’t Covered

Never enough time… Time Warner Cable to test “Start Over” service in Greensboro. (News Record) Discovery Channel content arrives on iTunes. (Apple Insider) Movielink and CinemaNow suck. (Thomas Hawk) Pioneer Inno XM2GO video review. (PC Mag) Netflix adds Blu-ray option. (Hacking Netflix)

MacBook Drops, Keyboard Irks

Let me start by saying I’ve been anxiously awaiting the MacBook — small form factor, dual bootable, reasonable price point! But having spent about 30 minutes exploring it, I may have to pass.

I want to love the MacBook and it suits my purposes perfectly, but the keyboard just isn’t working for me. I realize I didn’t give it a lot of time to grow on me, as an Apple Store clerk insisted it would (How does he know that?). I was also typing at a less than ideal level standing at the Genius Bar. On the other hand, I type hours a day (on various devices, in various positions) and am a graduate of the Thinkpad School of Keyboards. My main complaint is what I want to call a lack of travel followed by a lack of bounce. The stroke just feels too short and too firm — it’s somewhat jarring. The other problem I have is the unfamiliar feel of the keyboard; the keys aren’t very concave and I’m a little too cognizant of the edges or space between them. For comparison, I like the feel of the MacBook Pro keyboard.

Several folks wanted me to report back on the new glossy screen – I can tell you it’s similar to what many PC laptops offer these days. There is more glare/reflection, but the extra contrast is nice and offsets it. (The reflection in the photo is the overhead lights in the Apple Store, my cell phone doesn’t have a flash.) Design-wise, that recessed keyboard allows the closed laptop to have a very sleek form and subtle magnetic closure. The black finish is nice and tasteful, though I was originally afraid it was going to be too glossy.

So what’s the verdict? I want to love it, but I’m not sure I will gamble $1200 on getting used to the keyboard. I see several more visits to the Apple Store in my future…

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Blockbuster Leaks TiVo Partnership

As I originally reported, TiVo and Blockbuster has had a partnership in the works. TiVo inadvertently revealed the deal first, and Blockbuster just returned the favor… They’ve prematurely published the TiVo Blockbuster promotion web page. Oops! Additionally, TiVo.com has launched their page and reactivated the Blockbuster bundle shopping cart links (here, here, and here). This … Read more

Nielsen DVR Data Analyzed, 80% Skip Ads

In an article written either before or without knowledge of TiVo’s new commercials-on-demand service, Business Week breaks down Neilsen data on DVR usage. Among the 5% of homes that recorded the 4/16 episode of American Idol, about 80% skipped ads during later playback. While Business Week estimates only about 3% of all commercials are being … Read more

TiVo Spam Machine Gains Momentum

TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), the creator and leader in advertising solutions and television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced an upfront, multi-million dollar advertising agreement with Interpublic Media, which oversees the media services operations of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), including Initiative, MAGNA Global, Universal McCann and a number of leading specialist media agencies.

“TiVo is pleased to have Interpublic Media as the first major advertising holding company to sign an upfront deal. This agreement further validates our commitment to the advertising industry and presents an opportunity for all of Interpublic’s clients to leverage TiVo’s DVR advertising to reach an attractive demographic,” said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo. “TiVo offers an interactive advertising solution that enables the consumer to pause television and engage in a branded advertising experience, without missing even a second of the TV show a viewer is watching. We are excited to expand our long-standing relationship with Interpublic and look forward to capitalizing on their intellectual capital, experience and relationships in the future.”

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