More Cable Media to Appear on Internet?

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, Music

Several media companies are considering releasing programming on the Internet for paid subscribers. Such channels as HBO, MTV, Discovery, TLC, and Turner Broadcasting stations are included. Cable TV operators that pay networks a per-subscription fee each month have begun to complain that a lot of that content is free online. President of NBC UTG Jeff Gaspin said that it is important to “find ways to do business that protects that business model.” He added that it would involve a small fee or perhaps be a freebie. Should that be the case, it might mean that you should consider buying a better monitor as opposed to that new HDTV you were considering.

Read More | USA Today

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

HTPC Building Series: Laying out all the components

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, PC / Laptop

Check out our HTPC on a Budget series and join us in building a great HTPC for under $1,000.

In our quest to build the ultimate inexpensive hoome theater computer, we’ve walked you through selecting all the major components that will power our labor of love PC. I’m talking about things like why we picked our chosen motherboard, the MSI MS-7411, a look at how we will drive 7.1 sound from the HTPC to our receiver, and the smart way that we will move content to the HTPC so it’s displayed on our television.

But what about the rest? The pieces that, although not major, are still required to have a - you know - functioning HTPC? Well, that’s where this article comes in. We are going to be giving you a quick rundown of the smaller components that you will need in order to get this thing built, before we do our wrap-up in our next article.

Click to continue reading HTPC Building Series: Laying out all the components

Read More | Series: Building an HTPC on a Budget

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

HTPC Building Series: The ATI TV Wonder 650

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, PC / Laptop

Check out our HTPC on a Budget series and join us in building a great HTPC for under $1,000.

We’re starting to wind down the layout of all the parts that are going into our Home Theater PC. First, let’s recap some of the main components that we’ve thrown into this project this far:

• The process of selecting the hardware for the HTPC
• A closer look at our chosen motherboard, the MSI MS-7411
• A look at how we will drive 7.1 sound from the HTPC
• The way that we will move content to the HTPC so it’s displayed on our television

We’ve come a long way to far. In this article, though, I wanted to talk about the TV card that we’ve chosen. Since we are doing this on a budget, we are hoping for a nice balance of good performance at an inexpensive price. This is why we’ve chosen the AMD TV Wonder 650. Amazon has it for 43% off of the retail price. This card supports both over the air HD broadcasts, as well as ClearQAM cable TV.

Click to continue reading HTPC Building Series: The ATI TV Wonder 650

Read More | Series: Building an HTPC on a Budget

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

HTPC Building Series: Driving multimedia content to the HTPC

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, PC / Laptop

Check out our HTPC on a Budget series and join us in building a great HTPC for under $1,000.

Continuing our quest to build the ultimate, while inexpensive, home theater PC, the one thing you need to consider when talking about media is how you are going to actually get the media to the computer. After covering the main mission, carefully going through our selection of hardware, giving you a first hand look at the MSI motherboard we chose (and explaining exactly why we chose that one,) and then bringing you up to speed on how we are going to drive 7.1 surround sound from this thing, you were probably thinking that the brunt of the thinking was done, right? Well, while that may be the case, there are still some important considerations that need to be taken into account.

Click to continue reading HTPC Building Series: Driving multimedia content to the HTPC

Read More | Series: Building an HTPC on a Budget

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

FCC Frets Over Analog Cable Dilemma

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment, Movies

We have more news on the death of analog TV in 2009. As we mentioned previously, cable companies will either have to convert their digital signal for analog receiving customers or provide them with a “down converter.” The FCC has approved rules to ensure that everyone is taken care of after the transition. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association say that they can have already pledged to do so voluntarily. Spokesperson Brian Dietz claims they will do this without charging extra or forcing subscribers to up to a pricier digital service. We would just as soon stay out of the fracas as long as we can still get our MTV.

Read More | Post-Bulletin

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Slingbox Tuner Turns PCs Into Portable TVs

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Misc. Tech

For those of you who just can’t wait for another gadget to shift time, Sling Media’s Slingbox Tuner allows you to control and watch basic cable, including on-demand and and pay-per-view, on your PC or mobile device anywhere you can access the Internet. The Slingbox is also available in an AV model for your digital cable, satellite, or DVR system. Go for the Pro Slingbox and hook up with your entire HD home entertainment system (up to 4 devices), although you will lose your high-definition once you hit the Net.  The Slingbox Tuner and AV models are available online and in retail stores at an MSRP of $189, while the Pro (pictured) goes for $250.

Read More | Sling Media Press Release

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

iLoads Transfer Audio and Video Without Computer

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Movies, Music, Portable Audio / Video

Wingspan’s iLoad has a very simple mission. Connect your iPod to any media source, such as cable TV, satellite box, cell network, or CD player. iLoad will transfer musical content, as well as data, directly to your iPod at high speed without the use of a PC or the Internet.

Wait, there’s more. Here comes the iLoad+, an add-on that will download audio and video to your iPod, USB storage device, or flash disc. Pre-order at the iLoad site and you will receive free priority shipping (a $20.00 savings) and a free 3-year extended warranty (a $29.95 value.) iLoad is priced at $249, while the iLoad+ will set you back an additional $100. Shipping begins in early November.

Read More | Wingspan iLoad Press Release

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

TiVo Inc. Sees Sharp Increase In Revenue

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Broadband, Corporate News, Home Entertainment

Tivo Inc. announces a 30% increase in service and technology revenues for its quarter that ended July 31. CEO Tom Rogers claims that this increase was partially due to distribution of TiVo through Radio Shack and the recent signing of a deployment agreement with Cox Cable. Revenues are reported at $52.9 million, compared to $40.7 million for the same period last year.

“We remain highly focused on our key points of differentiation between TiVo and generic DVRs. Those points of differentiation are becoming hugely significant and form the basis of being able to market TiVo’s many benefits as a world apart from simply having a hard drive in a cable or satellite box,” said Rogers.

With 30,000 new TiVo subscriptions, the recently launched KidZone, its new Series 3 unit, and sugar plum thoughts of the Christmas season to come, it’s easy to assume that the only direction TiVo will be traveling is up.

Read More | Tivo Press Release

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story