PrimeDTV Unveils PHD-HM5 Networked Media Player

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PrimeDTV has announced its latest product called the PHD-HM5. The device is a networked home media player. Amazon named the device one of the ten hottest electronic products for 2009. The player can support almost all video formats in up to 1080p resolution.

The player supports digital music and high-resolution slideshows with digital pictures. The device can also be directly connected to a camcorder or camera to allow users to watch video or view pictures directly on the big screen. Read more

Posted on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Electronic Arts Acquires Social Network Games Maker Playfish

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Today Electronic Arts announced it has acquired Playfish, a creator of social network games. Playfish will operate within EA Interactive, a division of EA focused on the web and on wireless.

EA has acquired Playfish for approximately US$275 million in cash and approximately $US25 million in equity retention arrangements.
In addition, the sellers are entitled to additional variable cash consideration, up to a maximum of US$100 million, contingent upon the achievement of certain performance milestones through December 31, 2011.
Read more

Posted on Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:38:13 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony Networked TV and Blu-ray Owners Get Exclusive Movie Access Before Release

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Today Sony announced that owners of Sony networked BRAVIA HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players will be able to get an exclusive in-home offer to rent the Sony Pictures animated hit, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, four weeks before it is available at retail.
Starting today, customers who purchase a networked BRAVIA HDTV or Blu-ray Disc player and register the device between Nov. 9, 2009 and Jan. 4, 2010, will receive a free 24-hour rental of the movie in high definition (a value of $24.95).
Read more

Posted on Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:59:29 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Apple iPhone 4G Already Testing On Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network?

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Verizon Wireless already said earlier this year that they see the Apple iPhone on their 4G network in 2010. A rumor about Verizon and Apple already testing a new iPhone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network sneaked its way through the Motorala Droid coverage over the weekend. MacTouchUser points to a report on Fone Frenzy that says that Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam has been at the Apple headquarters several times and that indeed Apple is testing a CDMA iPhone on the Verizon 4G LTE network. Read more

Posted on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony BDP-N460 Networked Blu-ray Player Available For Pre-Order

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LG and others already offer networked Blu-ray players like the LG BD 370. Sony announced in September their networked Blu-ray player model dubbed Sony BDP-N460.
The Sony BDP-N460 is available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $249.99 and is supposed to ship this month.

The internet service of the BDP-N460 supports YouTube, Slacker, also Netflix. Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Iomega Unveils StorCenter ix2-200 Network Storage Device

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Iomega has unveiled its latest network attached storage device called the StorCenter ix2-200. The device offers content sharing and advanced media features to protect data in small and home offices. The NAS device is available in 2TB capacity for $369.99 with a 1TB version coming soon for $269.99 and a 4TB version is on the way for $699.99.

The devices are all compact units designed to sit on the desktop and have a 1GHz CPU inside. Dual 3.5-inch SATA HDD slots are on the rear of the storage appliance. A single RJ-45 port is on the rear of the device and it has three USB 2.0 ports for connecting printers and other devices. Read more

Posted on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:30:24 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sony Shows Off Their Network Of Game Developer Studios

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Sony has launched a new site that shows of its game developer studios. The Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios [SCE WWS] is an attempt to show off the broad range and rather famous game studios under the Sony umbrella.

SCE WWS span the globe representing fourteen internal game development studios and a wide network of First Party commissioned external studios responsible hot PlayStation franchises including Killzone, MotorStorm, SingStar, LittleBigPlanet, Uncharted, Gran Turismo, LocoRoco and God of War. Read more

Posted on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:32:20 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Vue Personal Video Network Ships

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I have wanted to install some cameras around my home so I can keep an eye on the kids and their friends without having to walk up and down the stairs a million times per day. I also want to know if the person knocking on my door is trying to sell me something or deliver a package of goodies before I open it.

The problem is that camera systems are typically expensive and hard to install. The Vue Personal Video Network is now shipping and it is neither expensive nor hard to install, which is great for me. The starter kit includes the base station and two cameras. The cams are wireless, and battery powered. The batteries promise to last a full year of normal use. Read more

Posted on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

LG's N2R1 Network Storage Device: Your Little White Box

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Data is everything these days. We don't store huge collections of photographs, video tapes, cassettes, and paper notes anymore. Digital is the wisest and easiest way to go. Unfortunately, it too can be vulnerable at times. That's why network storage devices are so important to have. If you're in the market for one right now, you might want to check out the N2R1 from LG. From what Gizmodo says, it looks pretty solid.

The N2R1 stores either 1TB or 2TB of information. It's a WiFi storage device, which means you trade the hassle of having to physically hook it up to your computer for the hassle of long WiFi wait times. LG's new storage device is Windows, Linux, and Mac compatible, has a drive-swapping option, and comes with a DVD/RW.

Read more

Posted on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:06:38 CDT | by Robert Evans

Motorola Debut Hits Boost Mobile Network

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Motorola and Boost mobile have announced that the Debut i856 handset has debuted on the Boost Mobile network. The handset is the first PTT slider phone on the Boost network. The handset is available today for $169.99 with no contracts or hidden fees.

The handset features a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired headphones and has Bluetooth supporting wireless stereo streaming. The device can be fitted with an optional 8GB microSD card for storage. It also has an integrated camera with video camera function with 1.3MP resolution. Read more

Posted on Thu, 3 Sep 2009 10:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

New Bill Will Give President 'Emergency Control' Over Private Networks

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The federal government doesn't really understand the Internet very well. If that hasn't always been obvious to you, former Senator Ted Stevens' infamous, “series of tubes” comment made it abundantly clear. That said, it can't be denied that our nation's wireless infrastructure represents a crucial facet of our economy, and our culture. It makes sense that the government would want to protect it.

Unfortunately, when you don't really understand how something works, it's difficult to know how to go about keeping it safe. That's why U.S. Senate bill S.773 has so many net neutrality advocates and corporations up in arms. As CNET explains the bill gives the President the power to “declare a cybersecurity emergency” even in regards to “non-governmental” networks. In essence, if the President feels there is a security threat he can exercise power over private, civilian networks.

Read more

Posted on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:12:19 CDT | by Robert Evans

MTV Games and Harmonix Offer a Way for Bands to Get Music on Rock Band Network

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Harmonix and MTV Games announced the Rock Band Network that gives musicians and record labels the ability to author their own original recordings into files that can be played and sold as Rock Band tracks. The tracks will be sold through the new Rock Band Network Music Store.

The Rock Band Network is set to launch in late August 2009 in the U.S. and will offer a toolset and detailed documentation on how to start the process of turning music into Rock Band files. Players will be able to demo samples of the songs before they purchase and the tracks will debut exclusively on the Xbox 360 for 30 days. Read more

Posted on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sprint Named Most Reliable 3G Network by PC World

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Sprint has been named as the most reliable 3G network in a recent PC World network shootout. PC World tested networks in March and April of this year in 13 major markets across the country including Boston, Baltimore, New York, Orlando, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, and San Jose.

The networks tested belonged to Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T. PC world reports that Sprint bested AT&T for reliability and that Sprint was more reliable than Verizon in the tested areas. A strong connection was available 90.5% of the time. Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Jul 2009 07:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Belkin Announces Gigabit Powerline Networking Gear

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Belkin has announced a new powerline networking starter kit that promises gigabit speeds over the wiring already installed inside the walls of your home. The kit is called the Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit.

The gigabit kit promises speeds of up to 1000Mbps making it great for gaming and streaming HD video from video on demand services. Setting the network up is as easy as plugging the adapter into a wall outlet and the RJ45 cable from the adapter into a device on your network. Read more

Posted on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Player ogled

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We completed our look at 10 hot netbooks, now we open a new series to take a closer look at 10 cool Blu-ray players. The first one we look at is the LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Player.
The LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player comes with additional features like Netflix HD, YouTube, CinemaNow and DVD 1080p Up-conversion.

Description:
The LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player comes with express reaction startup with high speed-opening tray and ready to play features.
The LG BD 370 features Digital coaxial audio, optical audio, 1x Composite video, 1x Component video, 1x HDMI, Up to 480i of Composite output, Up to 1080i of Component output, Digital analog video conversion of 108MHz/10bit etc.
Read more

Posted on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Final Fantasy 7: Out today on the PlayStation Network

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Moments ago, Sony announced that more than 50 classic PlayStation 1 games were being put up for download on the PlayStation Network. One of those new games is out today; Final Fantasy 7 is back.

FF7 is one of the most successful role-playing games in history, and original copies of the PS1 game routinely sell online for more than their old retail price. Now fans of the legendary Square classic can play their favorite game once more.

Read more

Posted on Tue, 2 Jun 2009 14:00:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

Fusion-io and Samsung Team for Network-attached Solid State Storage for Servers

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Fusion-io and Samsung have teamed up to bring new next generation solid-state storage solutions to datacenters. The two companies are using complementary technology to take Samsung's NAND chips offering the largest memory capacity and longest lifespans available and extend them using Fusion-io's iomemory controller.

The special memory controller from Fusion-io allows the Samsung long life memory to last even longer. Together the two companies will offer network attached storage solutions with high storage capacities, long life spans, and lots of performance to servers in datacenters. Read more

Posted on Wed, 20 May 2009 08:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Dish Network Offers DVR Access from Anywhere

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Dish Network has launched a new feature for DVR owners that have broadband connections. The new service is called Dish Remote Access and allows users to access and manage their DVR content from anywhere in the world.

The service allows users to access a search functionality that looks for content throughout a 9-day program guide and can search for programs via keywords, genre, channel, and sports. Once the program the customer wants is found it can be recorded from anywhere. Read more

Posted on Mon, 11 May 2009 11:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

SGN Opens Network to Other iPhone App Makers!

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Palo Alto based SGN today released that they will be opening their gaming network up to other developers. SGN is already the largest app developer for the iPhone and accounts for 30% of the phone's app downloads. Punch Entertainment, famous for 'Reign of Swords', and Smallmedium, known for the eMees Avatar Creator, have already signed onto SGN's network.

Since the app market first opened up, SGN has been on the cutting edge of developmental trends. They have designed several original games, including Agency Wars and iBowl, and pioneered an exciting new method of marketing their products.

Read more

Posted on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:15:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Confirmed for Xbox Live, PlayStation Network

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Long-standing rumors of fighting-game favorite Marvel vs. Capcom 2 coming to Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network were confirmed today on the Capcom Unity blog, with a demo scheduled for release on the PlayStation Network later this week.

The post claims that this will be the “definitive” version of MVC2, based on the Dreamcast code base. Other features include online play with leaderboards and stat tracking, HD upscaling options, widescreen support, custom soundtracks, and no unlocking required to play all 56 characters.

No release date was provided, only a note that the game would drop “this summer.” No pricing information was released.

Read more

Posted on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:30:00 CDT | by James Douglas

T-Mobile suffered major Network Outage in Germany

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Carrier T-Mobile suffered a major network outage in Germany yesterday afternoon. Millions of customers could not use their cell phones for about 3 hours. T-Mobile is the exclusive Apple partner for the iPhone in Germany.
The outage affected SMS and voice. T-Mobile issued (pdf German) an explanation and apology for the outage yesterday night blaming a software error in the Home Location Register servers. Read more

Posted on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:42:43 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr