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Roku opens TV app store for OTT channels

November 23rd, 2009 9:03pm
by Chris Nuttall

With streaming Netflix movies now available on TV screens through the Xbox, PlayStation 3, Tivo, several Blu-ray players and LG HDTVs, the little Roku set-top box, which became one of the first Netflix streamers 18 months ago, is in need of some differentiation.

That came today with the launch of 10 free channels on the box, which sells for as little as $80.
Pandora radio, Facebook and Flickr photos, FrameChannel feeds, MobileTribe social networking and video from Blip.TV, Mediafly, Motionbox, Revision 3 and TWiT make up the lineup. Continue reading "Roku opens TV app store for OTT channels"

November 23rd, 2009 9:03pm in Consumer Electronics, Digital media, Hardware, Internet | Permalink | Comment

Sonos enters cheaper zone with music system

November 10th, 2009 11:30pm
by Chris Nuttall

Sonos, maker of wireless multi-room music systems that most people can’t afford,  now has a one-room option that may seem a bargain to iPhone and iPod touch users.

The Zoneplayer S5, available worldwide from today, costs $400 in the US and can be controlled by a free app available for the Apple devices. Continue reading "Sonos enters cheaper zone with music system"

November 10th, 2009 11:30pm in Consumer Electronics, Digital media | Permalink | Comment

AT&T says people still don’t want the Web on TV

November 6th, 2009 12:31am
by Joseph Menn

Top wired telecom provider AT&T is clearly doing something right with U-verse TV, its cable-like service delivering more than 100 high-definition television channels over internet pipes to what are now more than 1.8m living rooms.

On Thursday, AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan and others came to San Francisco to show off what may be coming improvements to U-verse, among other things, from the research labs that claim 8 Nobel Prizes. Continue reading "AT&T says people still don’t want the Web on TV"

November 6th, 2009 12:31am in Consumer Electronics, Digital media, Internet, Software, Tech, Telecoms | Permalink | Comment

Alex v Nook, legal duel for dual-screen eReaders

November 3rd, 2009 11:50pm
by Chris Nuttall

We did wonder about the timing two weeks ago, when the first eReader with dual screens, one of them colour, appeared 24 hours before another eReader, also with dual screens, one of them colour.

Draw your own conclusions, but Spring Design, which launched the Alex on the eve of Barnes & Noble’s Nook, now says it has filed a lawsuit alleging “Barnes & Noble misappropriated trade secrets and violated the parties’ non-disclosure agreement when it copied Alex’s features into its recently announced Nook e-book.” Continue reading "Alex v Nook, legal duel for dual-screen eReaders"

November 3rd, 2009 11:50pm in Consumer Electronics, Digital media | Permalink | Comment

FT techtalk - We’ve an Apple for that

October 23rd, 2009 12:43am
by Chris Nuttall

In this week’s FT techtalk, whatever was under discussion, it was hard to avoid bringing Apple into the conversation.

A blow-out quarter, new products, fresh Android competition for the iPhone and Nokia launching a legal strike - Apple is in everyone’s sights.

We also looked at the latest eReaders (yes, we’re sure there’s an Apple one coming as well) and assessed whether they are ready to be bestsellers with consumers or end up in the remainders pile.

And we reported live as Microsoft issued its first-quarter earnings.

Read the multimedia transcript below and join us live again next Friday for FT techtalk, a multimedia chat with the FT’s tech correspondents. Continue reading "FT techtalk - We’ve an Apple for that"

October 23rd, 2009 12:43am in Consumer Electronics, Digital media, Hardware, Internet | Permalink | Comment

Nokia maps a path to Dopplr’s door

September 28th, 2009 7:01pm
by Tim Bradshaw

Nokia has acquired Dopplr, an online community of frequent travellers, giving an early payday for the site’s large group of high-profile backers.

The acquisition is part of Nokia’s plan to create a comprehensive set of services for its mobile devices, including maps, music and gaming.

Dopplr – whose tagline is “where next?” – allows its members to indicate to chosen contacts where they are travelling to. Continue reading "Nokia maps a path to Dopplr’s door"

September 28th, 2009 7:01pm in Consumer Electronics, Digital media, Europe, Mobile, Tech | Permalink | Comment

Top picks from DemoFall 09

September 22nd, 2009 11:30pm
by Paul Taylor

DemoFall 09 kicked off in San Diego today and the first session included some interesting new applications and technologies. Here are a couple of my favourites – one software, one hardware:

Sunnyvale-based Micello launched an indoor mapping service for the  iPhone that provides users with a clickable layout of indoor facilities like shopping malls, college campuses and so forth and potentially fills a hole in Google’s otherwise excellent mapping service.
Continue reading "Top picks from DemoFall 09"

September 22nd, 2009 11:30pm in Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Internet, Mobile, Software, Tech | Permalink | Comment

Cowboys screen is a sign of the times

September 21st, 2009 9:29pm
by Chris Nuttall

It was hard for Dallas Cowboys fans to look away from their team’s opening 33-31 home defeat to the New York Giants on Sunday night.

The Giants’ victory was writ large on huge Mitsubishi-made screens getting their National Football League debut in the Cowboys new $1.2bn stadium. Continue reading "Cowboys screen is a sign of the times"

September 21st, 2009 9:29pm in Consumer Electronics, Digital media, Hardware | Permalink | Comment

Why Japan’s handset makers are merging

September 14th, 2009 1:06pm
by Robin Harding

NEC, Casio and Hitachi announced today that they are merging their mobile handset divisions. The following two graphs explain why:

Handset sales in Japan have been falling steadily since 2007, when the mobile networks cut subsidies on new phones, and the market has now all but halved in size. The blue line shows the twelve-month moving average of sales and the data is from the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association. Continue reading "Why Japan’s handset makers are merging"

September 14th, 2009 1:06pm in Asia, Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Mobile | Permalink | Comment

A difference between US and Japanese technology

September 10th, 2009 7:56am
by Robin Harding

The ever-entertaining Onion is running a skit about Yamaha of Japan under the headline:

Yamaha CEO Pleased With Current Production Of Jet Skis, Alto Saxophones, Snowmobiles, Power Generators, Scooters, Golf Carts*

The Onion futher refers to Yamaha’s production of synthesizers, PA systems, DVD players, tone generators, motocross bikes, power amplifiers, heart-rate monitors, signal processors, analog mixers, engine oil, microphones, HiFi systems, grand pianos, sound chips, ceiling brackets, editing software, race-kart engines, sport boats, flugelhorns, ATVs, sequencers, outboard motors, conference systems, golf clubs, projectors, MIDI controllers, lamp cartridges, portable recorders, subwoofers, component systems, and motorcycles.

It is a bit unfair - Yamaha Corporation now owns only 15 per cent of Yamaha Motor, which makes about half of these products - but the Onion could have added unmanned helicoptors, health supplements, and swimming pools to the mix, with plenty more products left over.

What is so striking is that the US satirists thinks this broad array is funny - whereas Japan’s technology industry sees it as laudable and prudent diversification. Continue reading "A difference between US and Japanese technology"

September 10th, 2009 7:56am in Consumer Electronics, Hardware | Permalink | Comment

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