We're not sure where the Americans Q & A Research polled live, but they must not have a decent network hookup out there because they appear to represent the most silent of majorities: the ones who absolutely loved how NBC handled the Winter Olympics. Also reported was an average of 20 hours of viewing each, with figure skating, hockey and speed skating taking top spots on the most watched events list. Even though the often ridiculous tape delay strategy was one of the most often heard complaints around these parts, it only warranted a single line in summary, noting "some" found it frustrating, but that the most notable problem was actually too much studio commentary. Are we that out of touch with the mainstream, with our DVRs, HDTVs and interest in interactive and online content, or is this study just completely off base? Research shocks the internet, says most viewers loved NBC's Olympics coverage originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Never wanting to be a step behind the stand alone Blu-ray players, Cyberlink just released the latest version of PowerDVD that adds a few nice features including support for 3D Blu-ray Discs. Now of course you'll still need a 3DTV and a video card that supports stereoscopic output -- which are actually pretty common -- and of course a 3D Blu-ray Disc. The last might be the toughest to come by though as none have reached retail shelves by themselves yet. Both Samsung and Panasonic are including 3D Blu-ray Discs with their 3D bundles, but that isn't much help to HTPC fans who might already have a 3D display. Assuming you have everything else, the $99 for the Ultra 3D version shouldn't be too hard to swallow but if you still aren't sure, you can try it out the 14 day trial before you buy. PowerDVD Ultra 10 bring 3D Blu-ray to HTPC fans originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
People just love to hate on DRM and honestly we understand, in fact we hate DRM as much as anyone. But like we've said in the past, as much as we hate it, we aren't willing to lie to paint it in a bad light -- the facts do a good enough job by themselves. The latest from a few chicken littles is that after December 31st 2010, Blu-ray Discs won't play in HD via analog outputs. Now anyone who's followed Blu-ray and AACS knows that the analog sunset is nothing new and is not good news. But the fact is it only applies to new Blu-ray players released after said date. So in other words it does NOT apply to all the players currently on the market. This of course means that the Blu-ray player you installed today will continue to work the same ways it does today for years to come. Now to make matters worse, some have confused the AACS's analog sunset policy with the Image Contraint Token. While both are bad for consumers, they aren't related. The analog sunset defines the types of outputs a Blu-ray player has, while the ICT is per title and affects all Blu-ray players no matter when they were manufactured. The other important point about the ICT is that studios have had the ability to implement since it since the first HD DVDs shipped, but has never been used. Each studio announced its plans not to use the ICT for the foreseeable future, but the rumor is that the ride might be over this year, or next. The only good news about the ICT is that the outside of the box must be marked if its used, so at least you know before you buy.
Bottom line is that any player or disc you buy today will be playable as long as you own it. So as long as the player doesn't break, it'll continue to output HD via its analog outputs and any Blu-ray disc will continue to work the same way it did when you bought it. Everyone knows that analog will die one day -- and for good reason -- but lets not run around and pretend that the Blu-ray players and discs we buy are going to somehow self destruct any time soon. Analog HD from Blu-ray isn't going anywhere originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
One of Italy's most wanted criminals is captured after he can't help himself chatting with his associates on Facebook.
Twitter has taken out South by Southwest presenters in the past, leading to very public — and very embarrassing — onstage meltdowns. Here's how you can avoid a similar disaster.
As the Web generation descends on the South by Southwest Interactive show in Austin, AT&T's network actually works, Twitter announces its @Anywhere platform, Facebook focuses on games, and Digg unveils a revamp.
What we're watching tonight:
- NBC (1080i) has Community at 8 p.m., Parks & Recreation at 8:30 p.m., The Office at 9 p.m. and 30 Rock at 9:30 p.m.
- CBS (1080i) has NCAA Basketball tournament first round action at 7 p.m.
- ABC (720p) brings FlashForward at 8 p.m.
- WGN (1080i) has WWE Superstars at 8 p.m
- FX (720p) has the season finale of Archer at 10 p.m.
- TLC (1080i) has Police Women of Maricopa at 9 p.m. and L.A. Ink at 10 p.m.
- HGTV (1080i) brings the season premiere of Selling New York at 9 p.m. and Tough as Nails at 9:30 p.m.
- A&E (720p) has The First 48 at 9 p.m. and Manhunters at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
- Speed (720p) brings Bullrun at 10 p.m.
- HBO (1080i) presents Afghan Star at 9 p.m.
- TNT (1080i) has an NBA doubleheader with Heat/Magic at 8 p.m. and Hornets/Nuggets at 10:30 p.m.
HDTV Listings for March 18 , 2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
No need to spot clean your spectacles, and no need to brush the cobwebs out of your dome -- you really are seeing yet another IR dongle for Apple's dear iLineup. Hot on the heels of New Potato's FLPR, ThinkFlood's RedEye mini and Power A's solution comes this: an all-too-similar way to convert your iPod touch, iPhone or forthcoming iPad into a universal remote. Functionality wise, there's really nothing here that the other guys don't provide, though the beefed-up database of over 40,000 IR codes should make setting up your system a breeze. Users simply plug this into their dock connector, download the free application from the App Store and then dial up whatever components they have; once loaded, the IR beamer should do the rest, nixing the need to keep those 40 remotes around. It's expected to start shipping any day now for $69.95. i-Got-Control IRB1 dongle gives your iPhone / iPod touch universal remote functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Parent company of Paramount Pictures and MTV, says YouTube contained "truckloads" of infringing content was a "rogue enabler of content theft."
A number of websites ask iPhone developers for money in exchange for "expedited" reviews of their apps. One site even refuses to review apps unless developers pay them a fee. The FTC says paid reviews aren't illegal, but the practice should raise questions about a publication's credibility.
An undersea cable built by a group including Google and telecom companies is set to start carrying traffic at any point, with Google to get as much as 20 percent of the capacity.
Reams of court documents in the long-running battle between Google and Viacom over copyright material on YouTube were released Thursday. Here's Google's statement.
Viacom wanted to buy YouTube. Viacom says YouTube founders always intended to build video version of Napster and looked for ways "to avoid the copyright bastards."
The whole portable TV thing never really caught on in the States, so we're left looking longingly from afar at offerings like the Panasonic DMP-HV100 and DMP-BV200. Both are 10.1-inch sets that sport 1024 x 600 resolutions and, while either can tune DTV over the airwaves, they can also connect wirelessly (with an optional WiFi dongle) to a Panasonic DVR and stream content. The 200 model can also act as a sort of bulky PMP, playing back a variety of media formats from an SD card, including DivX and H.264. It's good stuff, but there's no price attached and, at this point, no release date either -- not that they're likely to ever hit the US, anyway. Panasonic's portable Digital Viera TVs handle more than prime time originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Just what are the prospects for 3D TV services in Central and Eastern Europe?
The industry focus at present is very much on the format, not only in CEE but Europe as a whole. Indeed, demonstrations have taken place in a number of countries and Sky 3D, the first channel offering 3D content, is due to [...]
Say hello to Harman International's home, media and mobile updates for the spring, bringing its audio expertise to those who aren't quite ready to step up to its higher end line of standalone receivers and the like. Promising to perfect the audio performance of any car audio setup in just 10 minutes, the $799 JBL MS-8 is as interesting as it is specialized. The HKTS 20 and HKTS 30 ($799 / $999, March) are standard 200w 5.1 surround sound setups, and while they promise improvements over their predecessors the Go + Play Micro boombox ($399, March), On Time Micro & 200P clock devices (both $249, April) and On Stage Micro II ($129, April) probably aren't hiding anything too surprising underneath those iPod docks, but we'd suggest perusing the gallery just to be sure.
Harman Kardon, JBL spring forward with refreshed audio lineups for 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Google is working with Intel and Sony to develop a new class of Internet-enabled televisions and set top boxes, according to the New York Times. Will this finally bring us the converged living room hub that Media Center, Apple TV and Tivo haven't?
The Polish DTH platform Cyfrowy Polsat ended 2009 with 3,202,000 subscribers, having added 475,000 to its total during the year.
As a result, it claimed a 59% market share among the country’s three leading DTH platforms, which also include Cyfra+ and n.
The number of Cyfrowy Polsat decoders at year’s end meanwhile stood at 3,904,000, [...]
UPC subscribers with direct access to Uitzending Gemist watch the catch-up TV service more through their cable connection than the public broadcasters’ own portal, according to new data from the Dutch cabler.
The ten-day catch-up service is a clear winner for UPC Nederland’s burgeoning video-on-demand platform that received 47.5 million requests during 2009, a year-on-year increase [...]
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[i]Database
 Our [itvt] free industry database called The [i]Database contains many listings of operators, broadcasters, software developers, design firms, manufacturers, Web sites, consultancies and many more organizations and people working in the interactive multiplatform TV industry. Upload your company or yourself!
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