SanDisk and Veoh Networks Launch Portable Web Player

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SanDisk and Veoh Networks announced a new portable video player today specifically for the SanDisk Cruzer flash drives. The new Veoh player will initially only be offered on Cruzer flash drives and allows users to browse, search, and enjoy millions of videos available through Veoh.com.

Available videos include TV shows, movies, web series, and independent content. Content on the drive is protected via a password in case the drive is lost or stolen. Users can use the U3 platform to schedule downloads of content at a later time or date. Read more

Posted on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:33:17 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Social Networking Sites ''good for businesses''

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LONDON (Reuters) - Good news for workers addicted to Facebook, Bebo and MySpace -- a British think-tank says bosses should not stop their staff using social networking sites because they could actually benefit their firms.
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Posted on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:16:55 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Apple iTunes gets new HD TV Series from major Networks

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Apple today announced that all four of the major networks are offering primetime programs in high definition on the iTunes Store, including favorites "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost" from ABC, "CSI" and "CSI: Miami" from CBS, "Bones" and "Prison Break" airing on FOX, and "Heroes" and "The Office" from NBC Universal.
The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online TV store with over 200 million TV episodes sold, including more than one million HD episodes purchased since the launch of HD programming on iTunes last month. Read more

Posted on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:43:38 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Iomega Launches StorCenter ix2 Network Storage

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Iomega has announced a new network storage solution for small business and home users. The device is called the StorCenter ix2 and it offers users up to 2TB of storage space. Features of the drive include storage and information management features, password protection, sharing software and wireless Bluetooth connectivity.

The storage device starts at a retail price of $299.99 for 1TB of storage and a 2TB version retails for $479.99. Two USB ports are built into the device to allow for printer sharing and direct uploading via a USB drive. External storage drives can also be added to increase capacity as needed. Read more

Posted on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Apple networked LCD HDTVs rumored

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Had enough of the Apple MacBook rumors? How about a fresh Apple rumor? Jason Calacanis told CNET UK that Apple is working on networked LCD HDTVs. The Apple LCD HDTV would be able to stream all your iTunes content from your Mac or PC. Basically the Apple TV box would be integrated in the TV sets.

There is no further meat to this rumor. I am not really seeing Apple jumping into the TV business. Yes they make nice big LCD monitors, but the market for TVs is very different. Read more

Posted on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:56:09 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

RealNetworks Pledges to Support WiiWare

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Last week I reported about the new WiiWare marketplace for downloadable games for the Wii console. Today RealNetworks has announced support for WiiWare with its first game for the marketplace called Boingz.

The game will be a WiiWare exclusive and puts the player in the shoes of stretchy and bendy creatures scattered around an alien world. The object of the game is to help players free their friends by solving puzzles over 30 different levels. The Boingz creatures are controlled by the Wii remote. Read more

Posted on Mon, 6 Oct 2008 11:58:14 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

LG Electronics Announces BD300 Network Blu-ray Player

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LG has a new network Blu-ray player called the BD300 that will be on store shelves this fall across the country. The player claims to be the world's first Blu-ray player that can stream movies and TV programs from Netflix instantly.

The BD300 will be available next month at Best Buy, Circuit City and other retailers for $399.95. The player will upscale standard DVDs to 1080p and supports BD Live and more. USB media plus is supported along with LG SimpLink. Read more

Posted on Thu, 4 Sep 2008 09:42:40 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Dish Network Announces Affordable DTV Converters

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Dish Network has announced more solutions for the pending digital transition early next year. One of the products is the TR-40 CRA entry level digital to analog converter that is now available nationwide. The convertor is qualified for the converter box coupon program and for a limited time it is priced at $40, making it free when the government coupon is applied.

The converter features an analog pass-through, set up wizard, electronic program guide along with auto tune timers for recording programs to connect a VCR. A remote control is included and the converter supports closed captions. Read more

Posted on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:14:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sprint Nextel in Talks to sell iDen Network: Report

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sprint Nextel is in talks to sell its iDen wireless network to either NII Holdings Inc or private equity investors, according to CNBC.
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Posted on Fri, 8 Aug 2008 11:15:33 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Lite-On Tech Partners with BridgeCo for Network Audio

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Lite-On Tech and BridgeCo announced today that they had formed a partnership to design and build network audio products for OEMs based on the JukeBlox technology. JukeBlox technology will be used to develop Internet radio and network music player products for companies around the world.

Lite-On and BridgeCo say that the technology they plan to use is in use in products already including Internet radios, mini audio systems, docking stations and more from multiple consumer brands. The JukeBlox technology is based on a BridgeCo three-core CPU, Linux-based SDK, and hardware reference platform. Read more

Posted on Wed, 6 Aug 2008 06:08:35 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

FCC orders Comcast to alter Network Management

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[Comcast CEO Brian Roberts speaks at his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada January 8, 2008. REUTERS/Rick Wilking]
Comcast CEO Roberts speaks at his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas
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Posted on Fri, 1 Aug 2008 19:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Dish Network Announces 1080p Broadcasts

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Dish Network made an interesting announcement today. After the successful launch of its Echo XI satellite Dish Network will soon be offering HD programming at full 1080p resolution. The 1080p service goes along with the roll out of the TurboHD program, which dish calls the industries first 100% all HD package.

Starting on August 1st Dish says that a proprietary update is being rolled out to all MPEG-4 HD DVR receivers that will enable the 1080p resolution. The update will make dish network the only set-top boxes capable of displaying 1080p programming. Read more

Posted on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:58:08 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

NTT DOCOMO and AT&T Inc. extend 3G Network throughout Hawaii

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What was announced in 2007 is now finished. NTT DoCoMo and AT&T announced today that the extension of a third-generation (3G) mobile network to all principal islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii has been completed.

Using AT&T's 3G network, which is based on W-CDMA technology, DOCOMO customers now have access to data and voice roaming services in the main populated areas of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kauai.

NTT DOCOMO began providing 3G roaming services on Oahu in October 2007 and then extended the services to other islands including Hawaii and Maui islands as the network was expanded. Read more

Posted on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Motorola to reorganize Home and Networks Unit

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PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Motorola Inc will create three businesses within its home and networks mobility business to focus on the sectors' growth potential, the cell phone maker said.
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Posted on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:08:20 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Private Social Network Facebook to go Web wide

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By Eric Auchard

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The leader of a youth movement that swept the world this past year by encouraging Web users to share bits of their lives with selected friends, spoke on Wednesday of spreading his service across the Web, even while apologizing for past excesses.
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Posted on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:17:15 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sears to Sell Dish Network DTVPal Converter Box

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Sears has announced that it will be selling Dish Networks DTVPal digital to analog converter box at all of its Sears stores nationwide. The DTVPal is eligible for the TV converter Box Coupon Program and Sears is approved to participate in the coupon program.

The converter retails for $59.99 and after the $40 coupon from the government consumers will pay $19.99 for the converter. Dish says that the DTVPal has an easy to follow set up wizard and an electronic program guide with seven days of programming listed. The converter also has a remote that allows control of the TV volume. Read more

Posted on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:09:56 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

AT&T Lays Claim to Nation’s Fastest 3G Network

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AT&T is claiming that it has the fastest nationwide 3G network. I’m sure this claim is a way to help entice shoppers to buy the iPhone 3G that launched today. AT&T says that it bases the claim on a variety of tests conducted by third-party researchers and that AT&T had the fastest network by a significant margin.

AT&T says that it has 3G service in 300 cities and expects to expand the service to 350 cities by the end of the year. The catch with that is my city is one of the 3G “covered” areas and the service is so patchy as to be pretty much useless. I can’t even get 3G in my home, but drive a mile down the road and you can get a weak signal. Read more

Posted on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:02 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Walt Mossberg Gets Weekly Segment with FOX Business Network

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Fox Business Network has announced that The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg will be getting his own weekly technology segment on the network. The debut for the segment will be on Wednesday, July 9th at 11:30 ET.

Mossberg will appear with co-anchors Dagen McDowell and Brian Sullivan and will discuss his “Personal Technology” column and other technology news. Mossberg currently has his fingers on three columns for The Wall Street Journal. Read more

Posted on Wed, 9 Jul 2008 13:11:34 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

ABI Research Says Home Area Networks of the Future will Allow Customized Energy

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According to ABI Research future home area networks will allow users to customize the energy usage of their home. The networks will utilize smart metering that communicates electric, gas or water usage over a network.

The home area network will tie into smart metering devices like intelligent thermostats and other load centers like the washer and dryer. The four technologies that can make these new home area networks possible are ZigBee, Z-Wave and 61oWPAN along with HomePlug command and Control (HPCC). Read more

Posted on Wed, 9 Jul 2008 10:37:10 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Networks line up to woo Jay Leno

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By James Hibberd and Paul Gough

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Don't pity Jay Leno.

The host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" is losing his home of 17 years in 2009, but Leno finds himself in an enviable position. Still packing the ratings punch that delivers the lion's share of NBC's estimated $300 million in annual late-night revenue, the 58-year-old comic is being wooed by a host of suitors. ABC, Fox, Sony and even CNN have been reported trying to lure Leno, and he won't come cheap: NBC pays him $27 million per year.
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Posted on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:33:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony targets networked Electronics, LCD TV Crown

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By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Aiko Hayashi

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said it would make a strong push into networked electronics and video download services and aim for the top spot in LCD TVs as the firm seeks to make the most of its hardware and software assets for growth.
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Posted on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:29:04 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr