Technomaly » TV

Will the Next Apple TV Cost $99 Bucks?

J. Matthew Zoss — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:00:58 +0000

Engadget is reporting a rumor about the next version of Apple TV this morning, and it’s a big one. The gadget site has received a tip that’s been “confirmed by a source very close to Apple” about the next version of Apple TV. The next version of the device will be a complete reinvention, but it’ll look pretty familiar to Apple fans – the next version of Apple TV is based on the iPhone 4 architecture.

Described as an “iPhone without a screen,” the new version of the Apple TV will have the same internals as the upcoming iPhone revision, including an A4 CPU and a 16GB of flash storage. That’s a sizable decrease in storage space from the last Apple TV model, but that’s because the device will focus on cloud-based storage of videos with instant-on 1080p HD streaming. But the kicker to it all is that the device will supposedly carry a mere $99 price tag.

A one-hundred dollar device that brings streaming HD video content to your TV, as well as iPhone-like app support? If true, this is going to be huge.

Will a Rogue Satellite Disrupt the “Lost” Finale?

J. Matthew Zoss — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:00:50 +0000

How are you feeling about the final season of “Lost?” If you’re unhappy with its direction, you may not be the only one. In fact, it seems like the very universe itself is feeling unhappy with the direction of the show: an out-of-control satellite is heading straight for another satellite that controls Cable television for much of the US. Should the two satellites collide, there is likely to be a cable disruption on May 23, the very day of the “Lost” finale.

A TV communications satellite is drifting out of control miles above the Earth, threatening to wander into another satellite’s orbit and interfere with cable programming across the United States, the satellites’ owners said Tuesday.

Communications company Intelsat said it lost control of the Galaxy 15 satellite on April 8, possibly because the satellite’s systems were knocked out by a solar storm. Intelsat cannot remotely steer the satellite to remain in its orbit, so Galaxy 15 is creeping toward the adjacent path of another TV communications satellite that serves U.S. cable companies. Galaxy 15 continues to receive and transmit satellite signals, and they will probably interfere with the second satellite, known as AMC 11, if Galaxy 15 drifts into its orbit as expected around May 23, according to AMC 11’s owner, SES World Skies.

AMC 11 receives digital programming from cable television channels and transmits it to all U.S. cable networks from its orbit 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above the equator, SES World Skies said. It operates on the same frequencies as Galaxy 15.

“That fact means that there is likely to be some kind of interference,” SES World Skies spokesman Yves Feltes told The Associated Press. “Our aim is to bring any interference down to zero.”

No word on what this potential outage means for those planning to watch the show on broadcast television, Hulu, or those who have other things to do with their lives.

Story and awesome image via Warming Glow

Green TVs Getting Greener

J. Matthew Zoss — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:24:07 +0000

If you’ve bought an HDTV in the last few years, chances are that it’s sporting the Engery Star logo that certifies it as a energy efficient device. However, it looks like future HDTVs will be even more efficient. The new Energy Star 4.0 ratings are now in effect. All TVs manufactured as of May 1 must meet stricter regulations to earn the Energy Star status and in 2012 the even tougher 5.0 rules come into effect, which will drop the maximum consumption by an additional 40 percent.

For now, the 4.0 rules drop energy consumption by 40% from the 3.0 rules (so the upcoming 5.0 rules will require TVs that are 80% from the 3.0 rules, obviously). Under the new rules, a 50-inch set can consume 153 watts max (compared to 318 in the 3.0 world) and a display that’s “off” can use no more than one watt. The nature-loving Na’vi will be proud as you watch Avatar on your energy-efficient screen.

Source: Engadget

Paid Subscriptions Coming to Hulu

J. Matthew Zoss — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:12:27 +0000

Online streaming television content has changed the way many of us watch TV, and no site has had more of an impact than Hulu. The streaming TV hub currently offers content from several networks for free, with the primary restriction being a steady cycling of new and old programming. According to sources “with knowledge of the plans,” Hulu will soon be unveiling Hulu Plus, a paid subscription service that will allow greater access to older shows for a $9.99 monthly fee.

Personally, I’d be more than willing to pay $10 a month to access older content, provided that said monthly fee allowed me access to complete archives of shows I enjoy. Currently, most shows on Hulu make the five most recent episodes available. Upping that nominally to the 10 most recent shows wouldn’t be worth it, but I might even drop my Netflix account if you made complete seasons available. And would it kill you to get some Law and Order episodes up on the site? I need to keep up on New York City’s war on crime!

Image and Story Source: Lifehacker

First Android TV Drops In September

Asterios Kokkinos — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:00:31 +0000

Last month we reported on the first Android car and the web-enabled fridge, so it’s our fine honor here at Technomaly to tell you about yet another fun techno-hybrid: the Google Android Television.

Sweedish firm People of Lava has beaten the others to the punch, manufacturing a television dubbed The Scandinavia. The set will come in 42, 47 and 55 inch models, and will cost between $2,000 and $2,5000 for the smallest size. The 42 inch model drops in September, with the others following shortly.

As for the Android features? Well, it’ll do the standard internet surfing and be able to provide Facebook, Youtube and Hulu access – watching Hulu on your television is, of course, a geeky thrill. But the neat thing is that People of Lava are creating their own Android App store, which means you’ll be able to buy apps and content designed specifically for the Android TV. Pretty cool!

Source & Photo Source: FastCompany

One Earth is the TV Show That You Play

J. Matthew Zoss — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:03:42 +0000

There have been plenty of video games based on TV shows. There have been a handful of TV shows based on video games. Never before has someone attempted a project that’s both a TV show and a video game at the same time. NBC’s SyFy network is teaming up with game developer Trion World Network to create “One Earth,” a video game and television series with a symbiotic relationship. Trion is developing the One World MMORPG (that’s Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game for you non-gamers), and what happens in the world of the game will influence the direction of the show, which will air on SyFy.

Obviously, this is a really ambitious project and I can see a lot of things that could potentially go wrong. But it’s also one of the most interesting and direct efforts the television industry has made in reaching out to the gaming audience. I’m very curious to see how this one works out. For more information, check out the video below. Warning: prepare for one of the most annoying narrator voices ever.

One Earth

Mirror + TV = Watching Yourself Watching TV

Nick Upton — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:25:50 +0000

It’s one of the few TVs that isn’t 3-D that many people bothered looking at at the Consumer Electronics Show.

It’s nothing special on the TV part, but the fact that the whole thing slides back and forth makes it a really visually apealing addition to a home entertainment system. Slide it over to reveal the DVDs, slide it back to play Wii, etc.