Archive for July, 2008

Don't buy a Netbook pleads PC industry

by Steve O'Hear

July 21st, 2008 | Posted in Mobile, Other | Comments18 Comments

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the Netbook, an emerging new product category of low-cost and ultra-portable notebooks. But it seems many in the PC industry aren’t.

Initially targeted at the education market or those wanting a third machine, Netbooks are resonating with a much broader market — and not just because of their lower price point compared to more traditional and higher specced sub-notebooks. Despite years of industry propaganda, consumers are wising up to the fact that they don’t have to step on to the processor upgrade treadmill. Instead, in an age where more and more of our applications and data resides in the cloud (on remote servers, rather than stored locally), a machine with Internet connectivity and one that is powerful enough to run a modern web browser – that’s a Netbook by the way – is often all that we need.

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Weekly wrapup, 14-18 July 2008 (E3 coverage and more)

by Steve O'Hear

July 19th, 2008 | Posted in last100 weekly wrapup | CommentsNo Comments

Here’s a summary of the week’s digital lifestyle action on last100. Note that you can subscribe to the weekly wrapups, either via the special weekly wrapup RSS feed or by email.

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E3 Coverage

This week’s last100 coverage was dominated by the E3 Media and Business conference, the annual event for the gaming industry. As the battle for the living room continues at a pace, both Microsoft and Sony made big announcements…

Netflix is finally coming to Xbox 360, which is getting a dashboard makeover and Mii-like avatars

Long rumored, finally here. Netflix is coming to the Xbox 360. Xbox 360 owners and Live Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers will be able to stream online movies to their consoles at no extra cost. Microsoft also announced that the Xbox 360’s dashboard will be getting a total overhaul this fall. New features will include fancy Mii-like 3D avatars popular on the Nintendo Wii game console and an improved emphasis on community with IM, video chat, and photo sharing.

Xbox Live Video Marketplace gets content from NBC, Universal and other E3 tidbits

Microsoft’s deal with Netflix and the Xbox 360’s impending makeover wasn’t the only news from the E3 Media & Business Summit Monday. A few other tidbits include Microsoft, Universal, and NBC; hard drives; and a new Wii controller.

Sony to open its PS3 and PSP video download service tonight

Sony unveiled its own movie/TV show on-demand download service for its PlayStation line of products at the E3 Media and Business Summit. Sony made a point to note that the service will feature more than Sony-produced content, including movies and TV shows from Fox, MGM, Lions Gate, Warner, Disney, Paramount, Turner, and Funimation.

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Remaining the good neighbor: Google improves Google.com for iPhone and iPod Touch users

by Daniel Langendorf

July 18th, 2008 | Posted in Mobile | CommentsNo Comments

Take a look at the picture to the right. Is this a preview of what Google apps will look like on the upcoming Android-powered, non-Google Gphones? All the Google apps nestled together in a nice, tidy bundle?

Of course this is the iPhone interface, but change out the icons at the bottom and with Google.com, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Docs, News, Notebook, Photos (Picasa), Google Talk, Maps, and YouTube already set up, this could be what the so-called Gphone might look like, no matter if it’s manufactured by Samsung, Motorola, LG, HTC, or Sony Ericsson.

As if not to completely disappear in the onslaught of iPhone 3G, MobileMe, App Store, and software update 2.0 news of the past week, Google snuck in its brand twice — once for the Google Mobile App (available for free at the App Store) and, more importantly for the Google faithful, significant improvements to Google.com for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

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No PlayStation 3 video store in the UK until sometime next year

by Steve O'Hear

July 18th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | CommentsNo Comments

Sony’s launch of its online video store for the PlayStation Network feels like playing catch-up as it is.  But for those PS3 owners in the UK or anywhere in Europe, the wait will continue.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head honcho, David Reeves, has confirmed that the PS3 video store won’t be available to European gamers until sometime next year, reports The Register. While Reeves wasn’t specific, he told attendees at a conference in Santa Monica earlier this week that video downloads through Sony’s online gaming service “will not come to the PAL markets this year”.

The problem is an all too familiar one: the company has to work through country-specific licensing deals with each major studio before any launch dates can be announced.

As we’ve noted in the past, there are many challenges that any company faces to deliver a European-wide online movie service. Not least are the disparate licensing agreements that exist across different countries in Europe, along with the staggered release ‘windows’ imposed by Hollywood which govern when and how new titles can be distributed in the various different formats.

Video: YouTube finally arrives on TiVo

by Steve O'Hear

July 17th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | CommentsNo Comments

Although announced back in March, it’s only today that TiVo users can finally access YouTube through their set-top boxes — and a minority of TiVo users at that. The new feature is made possible because of YouTube’s decision to re-encode its library of content to H.264 video, a format that only TiVo Series 3 and HD models can support. The result, says Streaming Media’s Dan Rayburn, is that of TiVo’s four million subscribers, only 750,000 get access to YouTube, and even then only if they have their set-top box connected to the Internet, which many don’t.

Nonetheless, for those that can get it, YouTube access will be a welcome addition to TiVo’s existing lineup. And typically, TiVo appear to have implemented it well. Don’t take our word for it though, and instead judge for yourselves by watching the video after the jump (courtesy of our friends over at Zatz Not Funny).

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No more downloads, Amazon moves its online video store to the cloud

by Steve O'Hear

July 17th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | Comments2 Comments

With the gradual roll out of Amazon’s new video service, starting today, the company hopes to have fixed everything that was holding back adoption of its original “UnBox” video download store.

Gone are the lengthy downloads or the need to install special software, and instead, “Amazon On Demand” utilizes streaming so that content begins playing almost immediately all within a standard web browser. Additionally, the relaunched service is now Windows and Mac-friendly, and will also be available through Internet-connected televisions, starting with Sony Bravia TVs that are compatible with the company’s rather costly Bravia Internet Video Link device.

“For the first time, this is drop dead simple,” Bill Carr, Amazon’s vice president for digital media, tells the New York Times. “Our goal is to create an immersive experience where people can’t help but get caught up in how exciting it is to simply watch a movie right from Amazon.com with a click of the button.”

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Read this, then go watch "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"

by Daniel Langendorf

July 16th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | Comments2 Comments

Stop what you are doing. No, wait. Finish this, then go over to “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” and watch the first and second installments of Joss Whedon’s latest project. Hurry. Time is running out.

Whedon, the man behind the TV shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” and “Firefly,” has produced one of the most unique Web shows to date and, in the process, is conducting his own experiment regarding online distribution.

Instead of producing another “LonelyGirl 15,” “Kate Modern,” or “Prom Queen,” Whedon and friends developed a three “act” “show” that plays this week only. It’s not a three-minute episode, available once a day, for a month or two.

ACT ONE became available for streaming on Tuesday, July 15.

ACT TWO will be available for streaming Thursday, July 17.

ACT THREE will go up Saturday, July 19.

Each act lasts about 15 minutes, with the whole “show” clocking in at just over 42 minutes. The show uses the Hulu video player and the quality is excellent.

All acts will be available until midnight, Sunday, July 20, after which they will “vanish into the night, like a phantom (but not THE phantom — that’s still playing, Like, everywhere,” Whedon said in his letter, “A Letter from Joss Whedon.”

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Nintendo seemingly plays it "safe" with "Wii Music" and other casual games

by Daniel Langendorf

July 15th, 2008 | Posted in Other | Comments2 Comments

wii music

By now we should expect this from Nintendo. The maker of the Wii and DS Lite underwhelmed at the annual E3 conference only to overwhelm during the following year of sales.

Gaming and tech pundits always seem to expect PlayStation and Xbox 360 games and cutting-edge hardware innovation from Nintendo at E3, which delivers this in its own casual, fun, mainstream sort of way.

Nintendo did it again Tuesday. The maker of the world’s best selling games console, the Wii, and the leading portable game device, the DS Lite, introduced even more products aimed at a wider audience, if that’s even possible. Nintendo’s announcements included a multiplayer community game “Animal Crossing: City Folk,” “Wii Sports Resort” (a sequel to the hit “Wii Sports”), and “Wii Music.”

“Animal Crossing: City Folk” is a game that features a new USB peripheral called Wii Speak, a microphone/camera that integrates into the sensor bar that usually sits atop TV sets. It will allow rooms of people to speak to each other while they do things — redecorate, hang out, fish. It may seem like standard “Animal Crossing” fare, but the ability to send messages and pictures to the Wii message board, cell phones, and computers is a nice community/social touch.

“Wii Music” plays off the popularity of games such as “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” but in the usual Nintendo casual manner-of-play. “Wii Music” will let players simulate more than 60 instruments by moving their bodies with Wii remotes and pressing buttons. The game makes sure you play the right notes.

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Sony to open its PS3 and PSP video download service tonight (updated)

by Daniel Langendorf

July 15th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | Comments6 Comments

playstation video image

It’s all the rage: movie and TV show on-demand download services via the Web. Now we can add Sony to the ever-expanding list.

Sony unveiled its own movie/TV show on-demand download service for its PlayStation line of products today at the E3 Media and Business Summit. Sony made a point to note that the service will feature more than Sony-produced content, including movies and TV shows from Fox, MGM, Lions Gate, Warner, Disney, Paramount, Turner, and Funimation.

The U.S-only service, found through the PlayStation Network, will be live this evening. It’s been long-rumored that Sony was going to open an online video download service.

Standard-definition and high-definition rentals and purchases are available. Standard rentals start at $2.99, with high definition rentals at $5.99. TV shows can be purchased at $1.99 an episode, while movies can be purchased from $9.99 to $14.99.

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Win a Vudu set-top box!

by Steve O'Hear

July 15th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | CommentsComments Off on Win a Vudu set-top box!

Once again, this isn’t a last100 give-away but our good friend Dan Rayburn over at Streaming Media is up to his old tricks, this time giving away a Vudu set-top box (see our early review).

To qualify to win the unit, all you have to do is leave one comment on Dan’s original post with a working e-mail address. He’ll pick one person a week from today using a random number picker website and ship it out to the winner at no cost. (Sorry, U.S. residents only) The unit comes with all of the original materials, box, remote and cables.

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