Digital Tech News - Digital Technology & Consumer Electronics

Slingbox Personal Broadcaster Now Available - Review

Once in a while a truly unique, innovative concept comes to the world of consumer electronics and home entertainment. Here's an amazing example: The Slingbox Personal Broadcaster. If you plug the box into a TiVo, cable box, or satellite receiver it will convert the analog stream into digital chunks and detect the size of the remote handheld screen you will use to watch the broadcast. Sling Media calls this "place shifting."  That means you can watch your TV and video content ''Anywhere-Anytime."

Steve Jobs Podcast Interview - Talks Apple iTunes and Podcasting

In an ABC News Podcast, Apple CEO Steve Jobs talks about the recent release of iTunes 4.9 and support for Podcasts. The interesting thing for me was the fact that ABC News and other major broadcast networks have added podcasts to their media mix.  I've been following podcasting and listening to podcasts since last September, and it has been amazing to witness the evolution of podcasting into a mainstream communication tool.

Steve Jobs Podcast Interview by ABC News Jake Tapper
Excerpt:

JT: How big do you expect podcasting to get? How do you, say, envision this technology being used in three years, four years?

SJ: Well, you know, it's amazing. I think one of the most precious resources we all have these days is free time. And that's one of the great things about an iPod is you can use it while you're doing other stuff. So you can use it while you're exercising. You can use it while you're taking the subway to work— driving to work, et cetera. And what podcasting does is it lets me pick out those precise things I'm interested in.

more | ABC News Podcast

ABC News Shuffle — brain candy for your iPod

Google Earth Launched - Review

Google news again?  That's right, another Google announcement, but Google Earth is something really special!  As I mentioned before, I've been using this tool for a while, and there's nothing like it...yet. Google Earth enables users to fly from space to street level views to find geographic information and explore places around the world.  Go try it (it's a free download) but keep in mind that Google Earth is a broadband, 3D application that not all computers can run.

"Google Earth utilizes broadband streaming technology and 3D graphics, much like a videogame, enabling users to interactively explore the world -- either their own neighborhood or the far corners of the globe," said John Hanke, general manager, Keyhole, Google Inc.

Minimum configuration:    

* Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP    
* CPU speed: Intel® Pentium® PIII 500 MHz    
* System memory (RAM): 128MB    
* 200MB hard-disk space    
* 3D graphics card: 3D-capable video card with 16MB VRAM    
* 1024x768, 32-bit true color screen    
* Network speed: 128 kbps ("Broadband/Cable Internet")

Google Earth will also be available for Apple MAC users in the near future.

Read the Google Earth Review | PC Magazine

New iPods Support Podcasts, Photos and Artwork

Apple has introduced a new line of iPods that feature color displays with the ability to view album artwork, photos and play slideshows in stunning color. The simplified iPod lineup features a 20GB model, holding up to 5,000 songs priced at just $299 and a 60GB model, holding up to 15,000 songs priced at $399. Also starting today, iPods will offer an easy to use Podcast menu, including bookmarking within a Podcast and the ability to display Podcast artwork in color.

After months of wondering when Apple would finally support Podcasting, today they answered in a BIG way, with Podcasts in the iTunes Music Store, and the new "podcast ready" ipods.  Good job...Jobs.

Apple iTunes 4.9 Released!

Apple has released iTunes 4.9 for Mac and Windows today, which will introduce millions of people to Podcasting.  You do know that MOST people don't know what podcasting is right?  That's about to change... world-wide. The new iTunes 4.9 upgrade download features a Podcast Directory that will allow you to subscribe, manage, and listen to thousands of free podcasts found in the iTunes Music Store. Listen on your computer or sync with your iPod or other mp3 player.

Phillip Torrone over at MAKE has a preview, screenshots, and some tips on using the podcast feature.

- more on Apple & iTunes Podcasting

Google Video Viewer Download

Google Inc. has rolled out Google Video Viewer, a free software download that will allow you to watch video clips found on Google's new video search service. The Google Video Viewer only streams videos from Google's search, so it won't compete with major online video players like Real Networks, Quicktime, or Windows Media Player.

Google has been collecting video content for the past few months, so they still have lots to do on the quality content end, but once the word gets out, expect tons of new video submissions from individuals, companies, and hopefully more creative video producers. You can  upload  your own video already now, and Google has said that they will eventually allow users to sell their own video content soon.

Grokster Loses Supremely

The U.S. Supreme Court made a unanimous decision that will affect the future of peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, and may have major implications for the delivery of digital music, movies and software. The ruling was against file-sharing networks Grokster, and StreamCast Networks (Morpheus)

"We hold that one who distributes a device with the object of promoting its use to infringe copyright, as shown by clear expression or other affirmative steps taken to foster infringement, is liable for the resulting acts of infringement by third parties," Justice David Souter wrote.

That means Internet file-sharing services will be held responsible if they intend for their customers to use software primarily to swap music and movies illegally.

The Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer (MGM)  vs. Grokster case has been a hot topic, as many in the entertainment industry blame file-sharing networks for the loss of billions of dollars in lost revenue. MGM was joined by 27 other entertainment companies in the suit against Grokster and StreamCast.

With an estimated 200 million people around the world using peer-to-peer file-sharing software, it may be too late to stop illegal downloading and sharing of multimedia content completely.

LucasFilm - Letterman Digital Arts Center

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas has moved his LucasFilm Ltd. company and work force to the Letterman Digital Arts Center, a 23-acre, 860,000-square-foot production campus in San Francisco's Presidio.  The Letterman Digital Arts Center is devoted to the production of digital cinema and videogames and the creative exploration and innovation of new digital tools that allow artists to bring anything they can imagine to life. The complex has a very sophisticated computer network that also includes 600 miles of fiber-optic cable, 4,000 processors and 100 terabytes of data storage.

In addition to its motion-picture and television production operations, LucasFilm's global businesses include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound; LucasArts Entertainment; Lucas Licensing and Lucas Online. Lucasfilm's feature films have won 19 Oscars and its television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards. ILM has been awarded 14 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and received 16 Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards.

This will be the entertainment industry's most sophisticated digital arts and entertainment centre but what I want to know is, "when will the next Indiana Jones film be released?"  George Lucas is currently preparing the new film project. I can't wait! Look for the new "Star Wars, Battlefront II," videogame later this year, and certainly lots of innovative games, movies, and entertainment in the future.

Longhorn RSS Announced at Gnomedex 5.0

At this week's Gnomedex 5.0 Conference in Seattle, WA, Microsoft Corp. said that Longhorn, the next version of Windows operating system will have RSS built-in. A new version of Internet Explorer, IE7, was shown using the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) function. By clicking on an icon, a user can subscribe to an RSS data feed as easily as adding a Web site bookmark to the favorites list.

What I like about this is how it will make subscribing to multi-media entertainment easier in the future. You'll be able to have your "lists" of updated media content ready and waiting. Music, books, Games?, and of course podcasts and vlogs. "We really believe that RSS is key to how people will be using the Internet in the future," said Megan Kidd, a Windows product manager. Microsoft wants everyone to "Browse, Search, Subscribe" in the future, but not everyone was happy about the news.

You can watch a video about Microsoft's Longhorn IE7 RSS plans  as presented by the Longhorn Browsing and RSS team on Channel 9, if you were not one of the 400 attendees who got the scoop at GnomeDex. 

read more | Venturus.com

Technorati | Gnomedex 2005

UWB HDTV On The Way

Wireless home entertainment is getting kicked-up big time with the first Ultrawideband (UWB)-enabled LCD High Definition Television (HDTV).  Haier Corp (Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer) and Freescale Semiconductor have come together to bring this UWB HDTV to market, first in China, then to U.S. consumers by 2006.

Freescale's UWB technology is capable of transferring multiple high definition (HD) or MPEG2 movie streams - up to 110Mbit/s - at distances up to 20m, enabling significant freedom in the placement of home theatre equipment. Current wireless video solutions do not have the bandwidth to accommodate HD or MPEG2 streams, which require a minimum of 20Mbit/s each.

The digital media server is the size of a standard digital video device (DVD) player but includes personal video player (PVR) functionality, a DVD playback capability and a tuner, as well as the Freescale UWB solution to wirelessly stream media to the HDTV. The digital media server can be placed as far away as 20m from the actual HDTV, providing considerable freedom in home theatre configuration.

The two companies have plans for even more gear in the future, so get ready to kick back in your livingroom, and stream your High Definition multi-media content.

via | 80211-news