More Sling Media Shenanigans

Remember that Android or iOS SlingPlayer app that cost you $15 (or even $30!) to beam your Slingbox video around?  Well, the company is retiring it. And you’re welcome to replace it with a free, ad-infested variant.  Oh, you don’t like ads? Sling will gladly take another 15 of your hard earned dollars to remove them via an … Read more

Sonos Trueplay Tunes Speakers (via smartphone mic)

As we continue to examine the updated Sonos Android app that revealed the upcoming touch-sensitive, second generation Play:5 connected speaker, we’ve learned that Sonos looks to further improve audio quality by listening to room acoustics – as we often see with home theater receivers. This new feature, called Trueplay, uses the mic on your mobile device to analyze acoustic performance in a given space. Presumably units with more speakers can be fine tuned to overcome positioning obstacles while units with fewer speakers might elicit suggestions to move it to another location.

There are multiple references to using the internal Android’s microphone for walking and waving as the analysis is conducted. Further, within the Android app code, there’s even reference to using an iPad microphone, so iOS support is clearly on the docket. Given some of the wording, I also wonder if newer Sonos models like the ZPS6 could even include their own mics. And while self tuning is great, the potential for Echo-esque voice control is absolutely stellar. Make it so!

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New Sonos Speaker to Feature Gesture Control

As the story goes, I’ve been tracking at least one new incoming Sonos speaker — the S100 aka RM010. And after unpacking a publicly available Sonos beta APK for Android, I came across several interesting renders. They appear to show a sleeker Play:3 or Play:5 that does away with hardware buttons on top in favor … Read more

TiVo Bolt To Feature Flat UI & HD Settings

No one leaks quite like TiVo… as the forthcoming TiVo Bolt has just shown up in five YouTube videos that seemingly document time to launch, play, etc for the development staff. However, for us civilians, there are a few interesting nuggets. First, the Bolt will feature flatter interface elements, as previously disclosed via patent filings and an overseas demo.  Next, we … Read more

TiVo To Challenge Apple TV With Voice Control

By way of Fierce Cable, we learn TiVo is seemingly posed to introduce voice recognition and control. Jeff Klugman, EVP and general manager of products and revenues for TiVo, said “I don’t know” when questioned whether the company would build a TiVo app for the Apple TV. Klugman also pointed out that TiVo offers a … Read more

The Wemo Connected Light Bulb Deal

While Belkin’s WeMo is largely a closed smarthome ecosystem, with a questionable history in terms of performance and security, I found $40 for three “connected” bulbs and mini hub too good a deal to pass up. So, at the very least, the two lamps I have on old school mechanical timers will be getting an wireless upgrade (and CFL > … Read more

TiVo Lite Isn’t For You

In response to TiVo’s IBC press release, we’ve received several inquiries. And I’m here to tell you: the TiVo Lite isn’t for us. Which is OK.

Incorporating technologies from Cubiware, Digitalsmiths and TiVo, TiVo Lite answers operators’ call for distinctive, next generation multi-screen experiences which can be used to improve their competitive position while also being very cost effective to deploy. Built on Cubiware’s CubiTV middleware, TiVo Lite enables TiVo’s award-winning experience on a range of low-cost STBs.

The Cubiware acquisition was all about getting a toehold in less TV-centric overseas markets with a more simplistic set-top. And, in short order, TiVo has obviously integrated the TiVo interface, if not full fledged, tricked out DVR capabilities, onto Cubi’s middleware. What we’re looking at is something akin to Evolution Digital’s TiVo-skinned DTA… which they themselves may be running Cubiware … with TiVo.

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