Category: Technology

Apple TV $229 AND with MORE Features

At Macworld Apple announced several new features to the Apple TV and a new price ($229 for 40gb, $329 for 160gb), all making for a package that’s actually appealing.

Users can now rent over movies straight from iTunes. Over 1,000 titles will be offered by the end of February. Of that 100 titles will be offered in high definition with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Costs will be $3.99 for new releases, $2.99 for library titles, and $4.99 for high definition titles. Costumers will have 30 days to activate the title and 24 hours after that to watch it.

Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer for enjoyment on their computer, all
current generation iPods or iPhone.

“With the new Apple TV and iTunes Movie Rentals, movie lovers can rent DVD-quality or stunning HD movies from their couch with just a click of a button,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “No more driving to the video store or waiting for DVDs to arrive in the mail.”

Other new features include viewing photos from their computers, Flickr and .Mac Web Galleries on their widescreen TV as slideshows or screen savers, and anytime photos are updated on Flickr or .Mac, they are automatically updated on Apple TV.

Apple TV NOT Needed with HomeDock HD

Dock your iPod and view its content in high-definition on your TV, sweet. HomeDock HD Upconverts iPod Video to 720p or 1080i via HDMI. Control the content via an RF remote and you’re good to go. The HomeDock HD will be released in Q2 2008 for the price of $249.99.

HomeDock HD

As of right now you’ll save $50, but the question at this point in time is will the price of Apple TV reduce or add more features that makes the HomeDock HD not that great of a bargain? We’ll disclose this information later today.

[Update] It’s official the Apple TV is now $229. Looks like the HomeDock HD is going to have a tougher time in the market.

NBC Videos Get a new player, it’s not Hulu

NBC has updated its video site with a brand-new player. These videos differ from it’s Hulu.com website as they are news oriented rather than fictitious shows.

Apparently NBC has truly learned how to go web 2.0! It’s allow third party websites to be able to embed their videos onto their own pages. Ok that’s not really an original idea or that exciting, but the player itself is responsive and the video quality is great. Of course there are ads and there is no way for video embedders to earn a percent off of the views they bring to these clips.

NBC definitely has the content that people want to watch, but if they could build a network like the AP’s The News Room – bloggers would be all over this service. If a website is bringing in viewers to your content, they should receive some sort of credit for doing so. The future for online video is going to be perfect for both content producers and syndicators, if syndicators are able to receive royalties for bringing views to ad supported videos created by the content producer.

We here at StuffWeLike will at some point have this capability for our media player The Pipeline so it’ll be interesting to see how that affects the usage of it.

CES 2008: Altec Lansing unveils iPhone compatible audio system

Altec Lansing T612 audio system

Much like the iPod and its many, many incarnations we can now expect to see hordes of accessories for Apple’s latest tool of world domination. The iPhone, which is possibly more famous for being an iPod with a phone than the other way around now has its own audio system.

The Altec Lansing T612 universal dock will happily play any music stored on the iPhone and even stops playing should you receive an incoming call. When you’ve finished chatting away, simply dock it back in to resume listening pleasure.

According to the manufacturer, the system promises excellent bass reproduction and rich sounds thanks to powerful neodymium speakers and bass enhancement technology. Good news for Hip Hop heads then.

A close up of the systems controls

Of course it’s not only iPhone compatible. It will also play and charge all new generation iPods as well as older models thanks to an auxillary-in jack for not-so early adopters. Also in the box is a remote with the standard features such as pause, play, track back, track forward and volume controls.

The Altec Lansing T612 will available next month for $199.95.

Even after CES we’re sure this is not the last we’ve heard of iPhone docks. We’ve seen iPod docks in a range of different places from beds, coffee tables and even toilet roll holders. So expect iPhone docks to pop up everywhere too.

Source

CES 2008: Voltaic Solar Bag saves Earth, but not your money

Voltaic’s Generator bag

Out in the gadget wilderness there are all sorts of energy saving solar-powered concoctions designed to save the Earth like some kind of inanimate superhero, with each claiming to be more super than the last. It’s no surprise then that CES 2008 brings with it its own contenders for the next batch of gadgets to appease the likes of Al Gore.

The Voltaic Generator bag (pictured) promises to produce 14.7 watts of energy from the giant solar panel on the front of the bag, that’s enough to charge a laptop from a whole days worth of sunlight. According to Voltaic, no other bag can do this.

Every wannabe superhero comes equipped with accessories, where would Batman and James Bond be without theirs? The bag includes adaptors for phones as well as a car charger and is compatible with USB devices.

And just in case you find yourself in one of the less sunnier climes like this London-based blogger there is a battery inside should you run out of solar energy.

Of course not everyone can be superhero. Priced at a whopping $599 that’s still the case. Why are environmentally-friendly gadgets always so expensive?