Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Glide TV]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/gift-guide-glide-tv/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/gift-guide-glide-tv/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/gift-guide-glide-tv/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Glide TV (Homebody, Under $250)

More and more of us are watching video content from a notebook computer connected to our television sets, but efficiently interfacing with this content has proven to be something of a challenge. Keyboards and mice can be cumbersome and unwieldy (not to mention completely unusable when there's no flat surface to place them on). So what's an off-the-grid, digital content maven to do? The GlideTV Navigator ($150) makes searching for and through your content into a truly intuitive, almost fun, experience. It's expensive for a remote, for sure, but if money isn't a problem, then your couch potato won't be disappointed, as this is a superbly designed, highly functional remote for your living room Mac or PC, or even PlayStation 3. In fact, it's probably the most elegant solution to the decades-old problem of remote-controlling your media PC yet.

SwitchedGift Guide: Glide TV originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>glidetvhgghgg-250hgg-homebodyhouseholdremoteremotecontrolremotesMon, 02 Nov 2009 09:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Seagate FreeAgent Theater+]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/01/gift-guide-seagate-freeagent-theater/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/01/gift-guide-seagate-freeagent-theater/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/01/gift-guide-seagate-freeagent-theater/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ (Media Hound, under $250)

You've got a hard drive full of movies and television, but playing these digital files where they're meant to be played -- on your living room TV/receiver setup, rather than your computer -- can be tricky business. Though its interface is light years behind that of Apple TV, the FreeAgent Theater+ ($150) excels in flexibility: The device can play nearly any file you throw at it (WMV, AVI, MP4, MKV, and VOB, to name just a few). Also, 720p and 1080p files play back without a hitch, and the device even makes sense of complicated folder hierarchies and file names. Media hounds will be best served by putting all of their content on an accompanying Seagate FreeAgent hard drive (which plugs into the device), but for overall bang for the buck (especially for folks with loads of downloaded movies and TV), it's still a great value.

SwitchedGift Guide: Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hgghgg-250hgg-mediahoundSun, 01 Nov 2009 11:52:00 EST<![CDATA[10 LCD Monitors That Think Outside the Bezel]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/31/10-lcd-monitors-that-think-outside-the-bezel/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/31/10-lcd-monitors-that-think-outside-the-bezel/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/31/10-lcd-monitors-that-think-outside-the-bezel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Odds are your computer's monitor looks a lot like everyone else's. Well, we here at Switched like to break out of the status quo, and we've found 10 screens that do the same.

Continue reading 10 LCD Monitors That Think Outside the Bezel

Switched10 LCD Monitors That Think Outside the Bezel originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesbacktoschoolbtscomputermonitorsfeaturesLCDmonitorstopMon, 31 Aug 2009 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray Releases on June 2nd 2009]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/06/02/blu-ray-releases-on-june-2nd-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/06/02/blu-ray-releases-on-june-2nd-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/06/02/blu-ray-releases-on-june-2nd-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Defiance Blu-rayWhat an improvement from last week's unimpressive slate. Not only do we have a few day-and-dates like Defiance and' He's Just Not that into You', but we also have the greatest Blu-ray demo disc since 'Planet Earth' from the BBC in the way of' Nature's Most Amazing Events' -- yes they are very amazing, but we still prefer the original name 'Nature's Great Events'. But that's not all, as we are also getting the fourth season of 'Weeds' as well as a number of classic catalogs worth checking out like 'The Gradute' and 'Fletch'.
  • 'Defiance' (Paramount)
  • 'Revolutionary Road' (Paramount)
  • 'Nature's Most Amazing Events' (BBC)
  • 'He's Just Not That Into You' (Warner)
  • 'NFL: Road to Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers' (Warner)
  • 'Spring Breakdown' (Warner)
  • 'Weeds: Season Four' (Lionsgate)
  • 'Home' (Fox)
  • 'Air Force One' (Sony)
  • 'Anaconda' (Sony)
  • 'Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children' (Sony)
  • 'Glory' (Sony)
  • 'Bruce Almighty' (Universal)
  • 'Inside Man' (Universal)
  • 'Fletch' (Universal)
  • 'Dark Blue' (MGM)
  • 'Navy Seals' (MGM)
  • 'The Graduate' (MGM)
  • 'Out of Time' (MGM)
  • 'Road House' (MGM)
  • 'Rollerball' (MGM)
  • 'Walking Tall' (MGM)
  • 'Direct Contact' (First Look)
  • 'Elsewhere' (E1)

SwitchedBlu-ray Releases on June 2nd 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu-rayDefiancehd releasesHdReleaseshdtvSuper BowlSuperBowltopWeedsTue, 02 Jun 2009 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray Releases on May 26th 2009]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/blu-ray-releases-on-may-26th-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/blu-ray-releases-on-may-26th-2009/http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/blu-ray-releases-on-may-26th-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

Children of MenAll catalogs, all the time this week as we slow down for the summer theater season. Not a big deal if you're a Blu-ray fan as there are plenty of great classics to check out for the first time on Blu-ray. Most notable is that Universal is still playing catch-up and obviously still has a few recent titles that were released on HD DVD, but have still not been released on Blu-ray. Warner has a few classics too, we can't even remember the last time we watched True Romance, but no doubt we're due. Expect much of the same for the next month or so, with a few big TV shows in between.
  • Children of Men (Universal)
  • Cinderella Man (Universal)
  • Field of Dreams (Universal)
  • Seabiscuit (Universal)
  • Spy Game (Universal)
  • Falling Down (Warner)
  • True Romance (Warner)
  • Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Warner)
  • New in Town (Lionsgate)
  • Powder Blue (Image)
  • The Sky Crawlers (Sony)

SwitchedBlu-ray Releases on May 26th 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 26 May 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu-rayblu-ray-releasesnewblu-rayTue, 26 May 2009 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[With New User Tracking Service, TiVo Guns for Nielsen]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/04/20/with-new-user-tracking-service-tivo-guns-for-nielsen/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/20/with-new-user-tracking-service-tivo-guns-for-nielsen/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/20/with-new-user-tracking-service-tivo-guns-for-nielsen/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Today, TiVo will begin selling more than the opportunity to watch your favorite shows when it's more convenient. According to USA Today, the company is trying to hawk viewer information to TV stations and advertisers alike with its fledgling 'Stop/Watch Local Markets' program, hoping to give tracking giant Nielsen a run for its money.

Able to monitor viewers' behavior by the second, TiVo will not only be able to report what viewers are watching at any given moment, but also when the largest number are tuned in and when they fast-forward through recorded programs. While Nielsen's rating system does not offer the same information, the longtime ratings titan does boast a much larger demographic that aims to represent all U.S. TV-watching households. With its scope admittedly limited to households with DVRs, TiVo's analysis within the Stop/Watch Local Markets program would be limited to the company's 3.3 million subscribers, a number that has decreased by 25-percent over the past two years. Fortunately for TiVo's remaining subscribers who would rather not be lumped into these statistics, TiVo does offer the opportunity to abstain from the program on its Web site.

Continue reading With New User Tracking Service, TiVo Guns for Nielsen

SwitchedWith New User Tracking Service, TiVo Guns for Nielsen originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdvrnielsentivotoptv ratingsTvRatingsMon, 20 Apr 2009 15:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Consider Room Size When Choosing an HDTV]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/consider-room-size-when-choosing-an-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/consider-room-size-when-choosing-an-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/consider-room-size-when-choosing-an-hdtv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Bigger isn't always better with HDTVs; a too-big screen in a small room looks ridiculous and will make non-HD content look fuzzy. On the other hand, you don't want to go too small or else you won't get the benefits of HD. There are a lot of formulas for optimum HDTV size-to-room size ratios, but one rule of thumb says to measure the distance between where you'll sit and where the TV in inches, then divide that number by 2.5. The result will be the number of diagonal inches your ideal screen should have. For the minimum and maximum sizes, divide by 3 and 1.5, respectively.

Click here for more daily tech tips.

SwitchedConsider Room Size When Choosing an HDTV originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvtechtipFri, 27 Mar 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Set to Offer HD Television Episodes for $2.99 Each]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/23/amazon-set-to-offer-hd-television-episodes-for-2-99-each/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/23/amazon-set-to-offer-hd-television-episodes-for-2-99-each/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/23/amazon-set-to-offer-hd-television-episodes-for-2-99-each/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

http://newteevee.com/2009/03/21/amazon-to-sell-hd-tv-shows-for-299-each/We're big fans of Amazon's amazonmp3; the online superstore's music download service offers DRM-free digital music downloads at prices that are usually at least $.10 per track cheaper than the main competition, Apple's iTunes. Amazon also offers video on demand (or VOD) services for movies and television episodes, but now the service looks ready to expand to high definition offerings sometime in the very near future.

This move is an answer to Apple's recent addition of HD content to iTunes, announced just last week. According to NewTeeVee, Amazon will be pricing its HD content at $2.99, exactly the same price Apple is charging for HD, which can be viewed on computers and on HDTVs via Apple TV.

While not viewable on Apple TV devices, videos purchased on Amazon can be downloaded and viewed directly on TiVo devices and inexpensive devices like the Roku box (supposedly). This gives Amazon a leg up over Apple: While the content itself may not be any cheaper, it should be a lot easier to watch where you want it, on your HDTV. No confirmation from Amazon just yet, but look for an update early this week. [From: NewTeeVee]

Related Links:

SwitchedAmazon Set to Offer HD Television Episodes for $2.99 Each originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon.comamazonmp3downloadshdhdtvhigh definitionHighDefinitionitunesMon, 23 Mar 2009 10:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix Headed for the Wii?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/23/netflix-headed-for-the-wii/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/23/netflix-headed-for-the-wii/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/23/netflix-headed-for-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There's a new survey from Netflix making the rounds, asking customers if they'd like to watch Netflix on the Wii. The service would apparently require a $9.99 "Netflix Instant Streaming Disc," which users could pop into the system when they wanted to watch -- far be it from Nintendo to offer a firmware update. While many of the folks we know are already getting Netflix on their Xboxen, the Wii would obviously let Netflix hit a lot more households with those Instant Watch goodies, if this ever comes to pass. As for Sony, it's still denying any plans for Netflix on the PS3, but perhaps this would help change its mind (and won't involve another $10 DVD -- we only have so many Hamiltons to go around).

SwitchedNetflix Headed for the Wii? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>movie streamingMovieStreamingnetflixnetflix instant streaming discNetflixInstantStreamingDiscnintendostreamingwiiMon, 23 Mar 2009 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Fox Removing Special Features from Rental DVD and Blu-ray Movies]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/06/fox-removing-special-features-from-rental-dvd-and-blu-ray-movies/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/06/fox-removing-special-features-from-rental-dvd-and-blu-ray-movies/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/06/fox-removing-special-features-from-rental-dvd-and-blu-ray-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fox Removing Special Features from Rental DVD and Blu-ray MoviesIn the VHS days, rental versions of movies were usually saddled with preview after preview that you'd have to fast-forward through before getting to the main event -- a small penalty for not having to pay full-price to watch it. With the advent of the DVD, and now high-def Blu-ray discs, you're usually just a button-press away from the film itself. Increasingly, however, the real attraction of disc-based movies has become the special features -- deleted scenes, director commentary, blooper reels -- that are currently present on both retail and rental discs. Now, though, Fox wants to put a new penalty for renters in place, by stripping out those special features and restricting them only to the full-price versions that you buy.

For example, Fox's retail DVD copy of recent Oscar darling 'Slumdog Millionaire' will feature the usual selection of deleted scenes, making-of documentaries, and commentaries from those who worked on the film. The rental version, however, will only have the film itself and trailers for other upcoming Fox DVDs -- hardly a fair swap. 'Slumdog' will be the guinea pig for this business experiment along with 'Marley and Me,' also being released on March 31. Different films will feature different sets of features, and it remains to be seen whether this will have the impact Fox must surely be hoping for (more movies bought, fewer rented), but we're fairly certain most Netflix subscribers won't be too pleased to hear this news. [From: Boing Boing Badgets]

Related Links:

SwitchedFox Removing Special Features from Rental DVD and Blu-ray Movies originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockbusterblu-raydvddvd rentalsDvdRentalseconomyentertainmentfoxmoviesnetflixslumdog millionaireSlumdogMillionairespecial featuresSpecialFeaturesvideo rentalsVideoRentalsFri, 06 Mar 2009 09:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Launches on Roku Player]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/03/amazon-launches-on-roku-player/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/03/amazon-launches-on-roku-player/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/03/amazon-launches-on-roku-player/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Amazon Video on Demand has been in private beta on the Roku Video Player for about a month now, but now everyone can stream rentals and purchases to their TVs. The free Roku update enabling the service will roll out this week, and once it's installed, you'll be able to browse, rent, and purchase any of Amazon's 40,000 movies and TV shows. The interface is an extension of the familiar Netflix interface, slightly re-jiggered for selecting content directly from the box instead of the web, and payments are authorized with a five-digit PIN so the kids can't go on crazy buying sprees. Not a bad little bump for the $99 box, but until Amazon gets HD and surround audio we don't know if it'll be enough to take on the competition. Full release after the break.

Continue reading Amazon Launches on Roku Player

SwitchedAmazon Launches on Roku Player originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonmedia streamerMediaStreamerrokuvideo on demandVideoOnDemandvodTue, 03 Mar 2009 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Everyone's Going to the Movies Again]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/02/everyones-going-to-the-movies-again/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/02/everyones-going-to-the-movies-again/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/02/everyones-going-to-the-movies-again/#commentsFiled under: ,



You know that legend about how, when the economy is bad, people still want to escape to the movies by spending $11 for a ticket and $5 for a bucket of popcorn? Well, it's holding true right now.

According to analysts with the company Media by Numbers, movie ticket sales are up 17.5-percent this year to $1.7 billion, while attendance has leaped by almost 16-percent. The New York Times notes that, if this pace continues throughout the rest of the year, it would represent the single biggest surge in US movie-going in at least 20 years.

"It's not rocket science," said Martin Kaplan, the director of the Norman Lear Center for the Study of Entertainment and Society at the University of Southern California (how's that for a title?), to the New York Times. "People want to forget their troubles, and they want to be with other people."

Guess that sort of depends on the person. We're heartily enjoying Netflix Watch Instantly, ourselves. [From: The New York Times Via: WalletPop]

Related Links:

SwitchedEveryone's Going to the Movies Again originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyfilmfinancial crisisFinancialCrisishollywoodmoviesrecessiontrendsMon, 02 Mar 2009 18:29:00 EST<![CDATA[HD 101: Why There Are Black Bars on HDTVs]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/20/hd-101-why-there-are-black-bars-on-hdtvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/20/hd-101-why-there-are-black-bars-on-hdtvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/20/hd-101-why-there-are-black-bars-on-hdtvs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It never fails, one of the first thing just about every new HDTV owners asks is; why are there black bars on my new widescreen TV? And this is the reason why just about every HD discussion forum has a sticked thread at the top of the forums explaining why this still happens. So in this addition of HD 101, we figured we'd have our go at trying to give a simple answer to an age old question. The most basic explanation is because the image you want to watch isn't the same shape as the your TV. Of course that seems too obvious and now you're thinking; but why not, they're both widescreen? But rather then getting into the why are there so many shapes -- called aspect ratios from here on out -- we'll show you the various formats and the different ways they might be displayed on your HDTV.

Continue reading HD 101: Why There Are Black Bars on HDTVs

SwitchedHD 101: Why There Are Black Bars on HDTVs originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.34:11.78:11.85:116x92.35:14x3aspect ratioAspectRatioHD 101Hd101stretch-o-visionFri, 20 Feb 2009 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer to Stop Making TVs By 2010]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/12/pioneer-to-stop-making-tvs-by-2010/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/12/pioneer-to-stop-making-tvs-by-2010/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/12/pioneer-to-stop-making-tvs-by-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bad news Kuro fans, the rumors were true and Pioneer is leaving the TV manufacturing business. On the upside, the restructuring deadline is March 2010, so a predicted net 130 billion yen ($1.44 billion) loss shouldn't be enough to get between you and the plasma HDTV of your dreams.

The company's U.S. and U.K. plants are shutting down by April and February of this year, respectively, and product development for TVs beyond what's currently on the market is ending, seeing no prospects for improving profitability even after combining plasma efforts with Panasonic and LCDs with Sharp. Overall, there will be 10,000 less full time and temporary Pioneer employees than there were at the end of last year, while pay and bonuses for execs have been cut.

The future for Pioneer? Mostly car audio, including in-car Blu-ray players and networked electronics, while its home electronics business focus on audio, DJ equipment and cable TV boxes, with a focus on using its expertise in improving sound. All other ugly details are contained in the press release, mourning the passing of another plasma supplier is in the comments.

[Via Bloomberg and AV Watch, thanks Carl H.]

SwitchedPioneer to Stop Making TVs By 2010 originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscar audioCarAudiokurolayoffspioneerplasmarestructuringThu, 12 Feb 2009 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Recession-busting $150 Blu-ray Players Coming This Year]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/03/recession-busting-150-blu-ray-players-coming-this-year/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/03/recession-busting-150-blu-ray-players-coming-this-year/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/03/recession-busting-150-blu-ray-players-coming-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If digital distribution is going to be held off for another year, Blu-ray players are going to need to achieve some serious market penetration at a rather difficult time. VIZIO's $200 VBR100 should help when it releases in a few months, but could be quickly undercut by a predicted flood of $150 drives said to be inbound from a number of other industry players, including Lite-On. These "white-box" drives will probably be short on features, but so too were the cheap DVD players that killed off the VCR, and nobody thought twice about that. If all goes according to plan look for stacks of inexpensive drives to start appearing at whatever retailers are still in business later this year.

SwitchedRecession-busting $150 Blu-ray Players Coming This Year originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu-raybluraylite-onliteonwhite boxwhite-boxWhiteBoxTue, 03 Feb 2009 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Many Netflix Customers Opting for Streaming Flicks]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/many-netflix-customers-opting-for-streaming-flicks/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/many-netflix-customers-opting-for-streaming-flicks/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/many-netflix-customers-opting-for-streaming-flicks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Netflix sees subscribers opting for streaming over mailing, global surplus in red envelopes predicted

We already covered the numbers of Netflix's impressive earnings this past Monday, but there was another story lurking in there, too: a potential sign of the coming apocalypse for physical media. According to ArsTechnica, Netflix is reporting that many of its customers are substituting streamed movies for mailed ones, taxing the USPS less and their broadband connections more. CEO Reed Hastings is playing coy about whether this is a strong trend or just the curious behavior of early adopters. Since his company gets paid either way, he probably doesn't care, but you can be sure those companies who are still firmly attached to profits from plastic discs are going to be watching this pattern rather closely. (As if Sony needed any more bad news.) [From: ArsTechnica]


Relevant Links:

SwitchedMany Netflix Customers Opting for Streaming Flicks originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>netflixnetflix streamingNetflixStreamingphysical mediaPhysicalMediarokustreamingWed, 28 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't Waste Money on Pricey Cables (Tip of the Day)]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/dont-waste-money-on-pricey-cables-tip-of-the-day/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/dont-waste-money-on-pricey-cables-tip-of-the-day/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/dont-waste-money-on-pricey-cables-tip-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

cheap hdmi cables

No matter what the salesman tells you, don't waste money on pricey HDMI or DVI cables. Unlike analog cables, digital ones pretty much either work or they don't, and unless you're running more than a dozen feet, you'll never see a difference. Check online for steep discounts, such as monocable.com

SwitchedDon't Waste Money on Pricey Cables (Tip of the Day) originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cableshdmitechtipFri, 23 Jan 2009 18:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Netgear Unveils Internet TV Players]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/netgear-unveils-internet-tv-player/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/netgear-unveils-internet-tv-player/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/netgear-unveils-internet-tv-player/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've now got a content provider giving support to Netgear's Digital Entertainer Elite, and that honor goes to CinemaNow. At today's overly-enthusiastic press conference -- seriously, they threw apples, footballs, and a beer can at certain points -- the company showed off the pay-per-view service on both the aforementioned media streamer as well as the new, much smaller Internet TV Player that's coming this summer for $199. It's very lightweight and has an HDMI output alongside two USB 2.0 ports. It's got YouTube support as well as North American, Europe, and Asia Internet TV.

The upscaled video looked good, although nothing that's gonna replace your HDTV anytime soon. One very nice feature is support for torrents that you can trigger remotely for download to the player (presumably on an attached disk drive here, as there's no internal storage from what we can tell). No word on codec support, but if they're touting torrents, we're hoping for at least some DivX / XviD and MKV love. The much larger and heavier granddaddy Elite, whose specs we've already heard care of the FCC, is coming February for $399. A fun little feature touted in the presser allows you to pause a video on one TV and watch it on another -- provided you've got a separate Elite unit connected to each. The bad news? Neither device supports Hulu or Netflix, although a rep told us that they're kinda sorta looking into adding the latter sometime in the future.

Head on over to Engadget for more.

SwitchedNetgear Unveils Internet TV Players originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2009ces 2009 hands-onces-2009-topCes2009Ces2009Hands-oncinema nowCinemaNowdigital-entertainer-elitedivxinternet tvinternet tv playerInternetTvInternetTvPlayermeda streamerMedaStreamermkvnetgearwebxvidWed, 07 Jan 2009 17:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Kodak's Rugged Zx1 Mini Camcorder Shoots High-Def Video]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/kodaks-rugged-zx1-handheld-camcorder-shoots-720p-video/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/kodaks-rugged-zx1-handheld-camcorder-shoots-720p-video/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/kodaks-rugged-zx1-handheld-camcorder-shoots-720p-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Kodak's 720p Zi6 has only been out for six months, but already we're seeing what's likely its beefed-up predecessor. The mighty Zx1 is debuting here at CES, and with it comes a 2-inch LCD monitor, easy upload to YouTube, 720p HD video capture at 60fps, an IP43-certified weather-resistant design and an SD / SDHC card slot that can understand media up to 32GB in size.

All told, users can capture up to ten hours of high-def video, and the bundled HDMI cable makes showing off recent grabs as easy as pie. The Zx1 will arrive in five colors (pink, blue, yellow, red and black) and will include pre-charged AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries alongside a charger. We'll bet Creative and Pure Digital have a little something of their own to show off before this one lands in April for $149.95. Full release is (where else?) after the break.

Continue reading Kodak's Rugged Zx1 Mini Camcorder Shoots High-Def Video

SwitchedKodak's Rugged Zx1 Mini Camcorder Shoots High-Def Video originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>720pcamcordercesces 2009Ces2009hd camcorderHdCamcorderkodakpocket camcorderPocketCamcorderyoutubeZX1Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[LG to Introduce Netflix-enabled HDTVs]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/lg-gets-official-with-netflix-enabled-broadband-hdtvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/lg-gets-official-with-netflix-enabled-broadband-hdtvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/lg-gets-official-with-netflix-enabled-broadband-hdtvs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Yup, it's official. LG will be showcasing the world's first Netflix-enabled HDTVs at CES this week. The so-called Broadband HDTVs will arrive in plasma and LCD flavors, though exact screen sizes and model names have yet to be disclosed. They'll arrive with Netflix streaming software baked right in, meaning that no external set-top-box will be required to suck down Watch Instantly material. Best of all, it sounds like HD Netflix content will also be supported, and with the accompanying remote, viewers will be able to "read synopses, rate movies and fast-forward / rewind the video stream." No word on pricing, but the family of sets should be shipping this Spring. Hop on past the break for a look at the full release.

Continue reading LG to Introduce Netflix-enabled HDTVs

SwitchedLG to Introduce Netflix-enabled HDTVs originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Broadbad HDTVBroadbadHdtvCESCES 2009ces-2009-topCes2009connected hdtvConnectedHdtvhd netflixHdNetflixhdtvlcdlcd hdtvLcdHdtvLGnetflixplasmaMon, 05 Jan 2009 09:46:00 EST