Tag Archives: HDTV

Movies & TV

Google Chromecast's Geeky Easter Eggs

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Last week, Google unveiled its $35 AirPlay alternative, Chromecast, which allows users to wirelessly stream video content from PCs, Macs, and Android or iOS powered devices directly to their HDTV. Now, with the device shipping consumers, some eagle-eyed fans have discovered a few easter eggs that reference Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Mystery Science Theater.

Image Credit: iFixIt

Product teardown specialists iFixIt noticed that the Chromecast’s model number is H2G2-42 — the abbreviation commonly used for the popular fiction series, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The inclusion of 42, they posit, is in reference to the answer to life, the universe, and everything in the novels. The fan service continues with the bundled in power adapter, which bears the model number MST3K-US — the unmistakable shorthand for Mystery Science Theater 3000.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Movies

News, Politics, Government

Google's Chromecast Could Cause Surge In Subscribers For Netflix, Other Streaming Providers

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By Matt Hickey, Contributor

Today, (a day after accidentally leaking it to everyone,) announced the Chromecast, a multi-media dongle that plugs into any HDTV’s HDMI port, allowing those TVs to become second screens to Google-powered devices, like Android phones and PCs and Macs running the Chrome browser. At first blush this looks like a competitor to the AppleTV and other related devices, but it’s more than that: The Chromecast – which costs $35 — is now the cheapest and easiest way for the average consumer to become a “cord cutter” and dump their cable or satellite TV provider. …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Science & Technology

ChromeCast: Google's $35 Response to Apple's AirPlay

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chromecast

For some time now, Apple has offered AirPlay as a way to stream content to your HDTV through its set-top box, the $99 Apple TV. And while AirPlay is certainly convenient, the setup requires another piece of hardware on your TV stand. Today, Google has offered an alternative with ChromeCast, a small receiver which plugs right into an HDMI port.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Tech

Science & Technology

LG's Curved OLED TV Launches in the U.S. for $15k

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If you’ve been waiting patiently since CES to grab a first-of-its-kind HDTV, now’s your chance. During an event in Minnesota today, LG announced its 55-inch curved OLED would begin showing up in select U.S. Best Buy stores over the next several weeks. The $15,000 HDTV launched in Korea back in April, and LG executives feel the move gives the company an “early lead” on the OLED market in the United States. Moreover, Best Buy will also be the first major American retailer to carry OLED sets.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Tech

Computers

It's a WiDi shootout! Actiontec's ScreenBeam Pro vs. Netgear's Push2TV

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Intel’s WiDi technology promises a lot: The third and fourth generations can wirelessly stream up to 1080p video, including copy-protected content such as commercially pressed Blu-ray movies, to a receiver embedded in an HDTV, a video projector, or some other display—or to a stand-alone receiver with an HDMI output that you plug into a display. Two fourth-gen adapters, Actiontec’s ScreenBeam Pro and Netgear’s Push2TV, are each smaller than a deck of cards, with just a couple of ports. How hard could this be?

Pretty hard, as it turns out: Both devices proved enormously complicated to set up. The Lenovo ThinkPad Helix Ultrabook that I used for testing required multiple reboots, driver updates, and reinstallations of Intel’s software. Unless you’re prepared for the possibility of arduous troubleshooting, I wouldn’t bother with either adapter. But if wireless streaming is something you must have, and if your laptop supports WiDi, you might consider Netgear’s product, which was the more reliable of the two—once I got it up and running.

ROBERT CARDIN
Netgear’s Push2TV offers the option of drawing power from your laptop’s USB port.

Netgear’s Push2TV is the smaller of the two devices. Each one has a USB port and an HDMI output for connecting to your display. The Push2TV uses its USB port for its AC adapter, which means that you can power it from either your laptop or the provided AC adapter. The Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro has a full-size USB port, but it serves only to update the device’s firmware (you update the Push2TV’s firmware via a Wi-Fi connection). The ScreenBeam Pro relies on a separate connector for power and requires a AC adapter, which makes Netgear’s Push2TV the better travel companion.

Intel’s WiDi software does not support Macs, but it does support a specific list of WIndows 7 and 8 systems (see below for more details on compatibility). It automatically detects the WiDi adapter, sets up a peer-to-peer wireless connection, and initiates a pairing routine that’s similar to the process of pairing Bluetooth devices: The software prompts you to type in a numeric code that appears on the TV. Once you do, the software starts to stream the laptop’s video and audio to the TV. The pairing routine provides security for the connection, which is completely independent of your Wi-Fi network (apart from firmware updates for the Push2TV). You need to pair the laptop and receiver only once, and you can choose to have WiDi connect the two devices automatically when you launch the program.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport Celebrates Official Opening

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport Celebrates Official Opening

127-room Hyatt Place hotel located at Pensacola’s newly fashioned Uptown district

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYS: H) and Innisfree Hotels today announce the opening of Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport, a refreshing hotel option for business and leisure travelers alike offering forward-thinking, around-the-clock amenities and modern design.

“We’re proud to introduce the Hyatt Place brand to the Pensacola market,” said Rich Chism, director of development, Innisfree Hotels. “We believe travelers will appreciate the comfortable and functional amenities offered at Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport such as free Wi-Fi, made-to-order fresh food around the clock and the StayFit@Hyatt fitness center.”

The hotel opening marks the 18th Hyatt Place hotel in the state, and it is the first hotel to bring a new level of amenities to the airport.

“Having this premier hotel at our international airport is a distinct advantage for our business and leisure travelers,” said Airport Director Greg Donovan. “Our customers now have the option of staying overnight right on the airport campus with top-notch restaurants and retail outlets nearby. Having such amenities is exclusive to Pensacola International as no other airport in the region has the convenience of an on-site hotel or the high levels of service for which Hyatt is known.”

“I’m excited about the economic impact of this development,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “The beautiful new Hyatt Place hotel is a great addition to Pensacola and adds even more value for travelers choosing Pensacola International Airport. I want to thank Innisfree Hotels and their partners for working to create new jobs and new revenue for our city.”

Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport offers:

  • 127 spacious guestrooms, all of which feature a 42-inch HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed® and a sectional sofa sleeper
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access and wireless printing throughout the hotel
  • Complimentary a.m. Kitchen SkilletTM, featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, a variety of fresh fruits, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, breads, premium coffee and an assortment of juices
  • Flexible, high-tech meeting/function space accommodates up to 1,000 attendees
  • 24/7 Gallery Menu serving made-to-order snacks and entrees any time of

    Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Berkley East Convalescent Hospital Installs New In-Patient Room LCD Displays to Enhance Patient Expe

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Berkley East Convalescent Hospital Installs New In-Patient Room LCD Displays to Enhance Patient Experience

Case Study Highlights the Panasonic LRH30’s Easy Integration with Existing Infrastructure

SECAUCUS, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Panasonic, a manufacturer of healthcare technology solutions, today published a case study highlighting Berkley East Convalescent Hospital‘s installation of 100 new in-room patient displays to improve the patient experience and modernize the facility. Located in Santa Monica, CA, this private nursing home provides a variety of services for seniors and disabled adults, accepting more than 100 patient admissions a month.

In 2011, Berkley East management decided it was time to remodel the facility, including an upgrade to the patient-room televisions, replacing outdated CRT models. The hospital established a series of strategic objectives for the new in-room professional-grade HDTVs that would be purchased: They needed to meet UL60065 (Annex Q) safety requirements, include pillow speaker remote / audio nurse call system integration, be reliable and durable, feature a stylish design and excellent picture quality, be easily sanitized and include an excellent warranty program for on-site technical support.

The hospital ran a series of tests on three different in-room patient displays, including the ease of programming and system-wide cloning, auto-channel select, ease of overall controls via the remote, strength of electrical cords and pillow speaker connections, as well as screen brightness, contrast and color. After the evaluation, Berkeley East purchased 100 Panasonic 32-inch TH-32LRH30U LCD patient room displays.

“All major IT investments come with their share of risks and purchasing displays for our facility was no different,” said Galper. “We needed a reliable HDTV that minimized these risks by delivering quality, functionality and value. Failure to achieve these objectives would result in a quality of life issue for our residents and negative financial impact for the company. With its excellent HD picture quality, competitive price, UL60065 Annex Q Certification and ease of integration with our existing pillow speaker system, the Panasonic LRH Series LCD patient room display exceeded our expectations.”

Since the installation, the Panasonic LRH Series TH-32LRH30U LCD displays continue to improve the patient in-room experience and the reputation of Berkley East Convalescent Hospital.

The full Berkley East Convalescent Hospital case study can be downloaded from the Panasonic website.

For more information on Panasonic solutions for healthcare, please http://www.panasonic.com/business-solutions/healthcare-technology-solutions.asp. For more information on Panasonic professional displays, please visit http://www.panasonic.com/business/flat-panel-displays/index.asp or call 877-803-8492.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Computers

Best Deals & Coupons: $599 Toshiba U945 Ultrabook, $698 60 inch HDTV, more

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All of us down in the Deal Nerd labs have been working late the last couple nights, ignoring our imaginary girlfriends and wives, to bring you some smoking hot new deals. Leading the pack is this Toshiba Satellite U945-ST4N01 Ultrabook, a super-slim machine packed with features and an SSD for just $599.99 after $130 savings. Everyone can use a stronger WiFi signal, so be sure to check out the factory refurbished Linksys Wireless-N Range Extender marked down to an all-time low of $37.99. And definitely don’t miss this massive price drop on the Sharp LC-60E69U 60″ HDTV, coming in at a new low price of just $698 including free shipping, making it one of the lowest brand-name 60-inch HDTVs we’ve seen since Black Friday and making it the best HDTV under $1,000. Scroll down to see the fruits of our non-social lives born as the hottest deals across the web.

Top Deals

14″ Toshiba Satellite U945-ST4N01 Core i3 ULV Ultrabook w/6GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive & 32GB SSD for $599.99 with free shipping (normally $729.99).

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Sweden's Com Hem Chooses SeaChange's Adrenalin Software Platform for Video-on-Demand

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Sweden’s Com Hem Chooses SeaChange’s Adrenalin Software Platform for Video-on-Demand

ACTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– SeaChange International (NAS: SEAC) , a leading global multi-screen video software innovator, today announced that Sweden‘s largest cable television operator, Com Hem, has selected the SeaChange AdrenalinTMvideo platform for its new TiVo service. Due for rollout later this year, Com Hem‘s new offering will include broadcast TV channels, VOD (video-on-demand), catch-up TV and start-over for DVB-based (Digital Video Broadcasting) TiVo set-tops, LAN set-tops, smartphones and tablets.

Com Hem is the fastest growing TV distributor in Sweden. About 40 percent, or 1.75 million, of Sweden‘s households are connected to Com Hem‘s network. This gives them access to Sweden‘s widest range of TV channels, HDTV, and TV on Demand, as well as high speed broadband and fixed line services. Com Hem is the latest European operator to choose SeaChange’s next generation Adrenalin as a foundation for its VOD services. Adrenalin is based on an open service-oriented architecture which delivers a television experience that scales to serve millions of assets to any video device across multiple network types, either deployed in a network or in a hosted model. SeaChange’s customers across Europe serve an estimated 36 million subscribers on televisions, PCs, tablets and mobile phones.

Com Hem will use the Adrenalin video platform to integrate and manage a wide range of third-party components. These include TiVo’s client solution and other third-party vendors in the ecosystem. SeaChange will provide its Professional Services to handle integration, customization and deployment.

“Com Hem aims to offer subscribers the latest services in compelling bundles. With SeaChange’s technology and services we can do that. The open Adrenalin architecture means we can integrate our existing equipment and systems effortlessly. And because it’s easy to expand, the back office can grow as quickly as we do,” said Jens Persson, Manager R&D, Com Hem.

“We are delighted to support Com Hem in its rapid growth,” said Andrei Noppe, Senior Vice President and General Manager, EMEA and APAC, SeaChange. “Throughout Europe, customers come to SeaChange for our deep experience and expertise in on-demand service development. Our agreement with Com Hem marks continued expansion of SeaChange’s strong presence in the Nordic and Baltic region, with customers from Denmark to Estonia.”

About Com Hem

Com Hem is the leading supplier of pay television, high-speed broadband and fixed telephony in Sweden. Approximately 40%, 1.75 million, of …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Axis Announces Indoor Vandal-Resistant PTZ Domes for Overview Surveillance of Public Areas

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Axis Announces Indoor Vandal-Resistant PTZ Domes for Overview Surveillance of Public Areas


Vandal-resistant AXIS M50-V cameras provide an affordable and robust solution ideal for indoor surveillance to efficiently identify potential threats

CHELMSFORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, today announces indoor, vandal-resistant, ceiling-mounted pan/tilt/zoom dome cameras. AXIS M50-V PTZ Dome Network Cameras are affordably priced for remote and discreet monitoring of indoor areas, such as schools, train stations, boarding areas and warehouses. The discreet and affordable solution makes it possible to improve security and effectively manage one or more locations with remote monitoring capabilities.

The compact, lightweight and easy-to-install AXIS M50-V features a robust casing that provides protection against vandalism. The IP66- and IK10-rated cameras are resistant to water, dust and vandalism (see video). Additionally, the network cable is protected in the ceiling mount to enhance tamper protection. Both models provide a number of advantages and benefits for monitoring and securing public areas, including automatic alerts for motion detection, camera tampering or when someone enters a restricted area.

“AXIS M50-V cameras combine affordability and functionality in a discreet, vandal-resistant PTZ,” said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager, Axis Communications Inc. “The ability to offer these features in one camera will be instrumental in helping to secure environments, like those in retail and transportation, that may often face changing layouts, vandalism or environmental factors such as dust and water, while still benefiting from flexible, overview surveillance.”

AXIS M5013-V and AXIS M5014-V add high-quality and vandal-resistant versions to the compact and affordable AXIS M50 Series. Like the entire AXIS M50 Series, AXIS M50-V features either SVGA or HDTV-standard 720p resolution. The vandal-resistant PTZ domes can also deliver multiple, individually configurable H.264 and Motion JPEG video streams simultaneously.

Further features of the AXIS M50-V include:

  • AXIS M5013-V provides full frame rate SVGA 800×600 pixel resolution, while AXIS M5014-V delivers 720p HDTV video with 1280×720 pixel resolution, progressive scan, HDTV color fidelity, full frame rate and a 16:9 format.
  • The cameras are powered using Power over Ethernet (PoE IEEE 802.3af), which simplifies installation since a standard network cable will carry power, video and PTZ controls.
  • Built-in memory card …read more
    Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

MaxLinear Technology Enables Hybrid Satellite-Terrestrial Set-Top Boxes in Latin America

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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MaxLinear Technology Enables Hybrid Satellite-Terrestrial Set-Top Boxes in Latin America

  • MxL683 single-chip silicon tuner-demodulator enables HD local channel reception; reduces satellite operator re-transmission and delivery costs

CARLSBAD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– MaxLinear Inc. (NYS: MXL) , a leading provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, today announced that leading OEMs have selected its MxL683 silicon tuner-demodulator device for new, hybrid satellite + terrestrial set-top boxes (STB) for the Latin America pay TV market.

Pay TV operators in Latin America are increasingly adding ISDB-T 13-segment broadcast receivers into existing satellite STB platforms to capture the growing number of high quality, high definition television (HDTV) channels that are broadcast free-to-air in many cities.

The infrastructure and licensing costs associated with combining and re-transmitting these channels over the existing satellite network can be prohibitively expensive. By integrating the ISDB-T receiver in the STB, satellite operators can free up valuable satellite bandwidth for additional pay TV channels and still offer packages with the “must have” local HD content.

“MxL683 has the best performance of any ISDB-T demod tested to date,” stated Dr. Gunnar Bedicks, Head of Research, Digital TV Laboratory at Mackenzie Presbyterian University. The Mackenzie DTV Lab is considered to be the leading authority on ISDB-T receiver testing in Brazil.

“As the market demand heats up in Latin America, we are pleased to deliver world-class solutions that help the satellite pay TV operators drive the adoption of HD services,” said Brian Sprague, Vice President of Marketing & General Manager at MaxLinear. “The MxL683 has significantly reduced the engineering effort required by our customers to develop hybrid STB solutions.”

Technical Highlights

The MxL683 is a highly integrated, single-chip ISDB-T compliant receiver with best-in-class RF tuner and demodulator performance. The MxL683 offers the highest level of integration and the lowest power consumption of any ISDB-T solution in the market. Unlike other competitive devices, MxL683 has been extensively field-tested and optimized to ensure robust over-the-air TV reception in the difficult terrestrial reception environments commonly found throughout Brazil and other Latin American countries.

In particular, the MxL683 delivers excellent linearity and adjacent channel performance, even in the presence of strong interference signals from satellite harmonics, 4G/LTE mobile, multimedia over coax (MoCA) and …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Axis Announces Affordable Wireless Network Camera with HDTV Quality and Push-Button Wi-Fi Protected

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Axis Announces Affordable Wireless Network Camera with HDTV Quality and Push-Button Wi-Fi Protected Setup


Sub-$200 IP camera with One-Click Camera Connection for hosted video and NAS integration is ideal for small stores, offices and residential surveillance

CHELMSFORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, today announces the small and cost-efficient AXIS M1004-W Network Camera with advanced wireless connection capabilities, 720p HDTV video quality and Axis’ unique One-Click Camera Connection technology. With support for Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), easy hosted video connection and edge recording to a network attached storage (NAS) device, AXIS M1004-W is an ideal match for small retail, office and residential surveillance users searching for a simple-to-install, flexible and affordable indoor IP camera solution.

Support for WPS protocol simplifies the process of configuring logical security on wireless networks with a push-button for automatic WLAN pairing. This helps installers or integrators save installation time and easily set-up high network security in Wi-Fi areas, especially where it is not possible to install Ethernet cables.

AXIS M1004-W Network Camera also features support for AXIS Video Hosting System with One-Click Camera Connection, making the cameras ideal for a hosted video solution. In addition, it includes an I/O port (one input, one output) for connecting devices such as sensors and external relays to activate lights or open/close doors upon video motion.

“AXIS M1004-W is an easy to install [wireless] camera and is affordably priced, adding more flexibility and choice to the well-established AXIS M10 Series,” says Erik Frännlid, Axis’ director of product management. “The camera supports a push-button for easy WLAN pairing, assuring user-friendliness and high network security while enabling HDTV video to be streamed reliably over a wireless network. Small businesses and residential users will have an affordable and easy-to-use surveillance solution with AXIS M1004-W.”

Features of AXIS M1004-W include:

Computers

How Apple's iWatch could revolutionize mobile security

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Infoworld
An imagined iWatch

Expectations for Apple to release an iWatch reached a new pitch yesterday as Bloomberg reported that such a device could have much higher profit margins than the company’s iPad line up and its rumored HDTV.

Apple has filed 79 patents that relate to wearable technology and are generally expected to be part of its iWatch effort. Reports also indicate that the company has a team of 100 people working on the iWatch project that includes engineers, design experts, and marketing professionals.

Reports about the iWatch indicate that it would be tethered to an iPhone or iPad that would provide a stream of content and alerts to the wearer, including email, caller ID, calendar info, and updates of pre-selected information like weather reports or stock quotes. All of these ideas are present in existing smartwatches coming to market, including the Pebble watch that can pair with an iPhone or Android phone. Many are also anticipated uses for Google Glass, which is expected to ship by the end of the year, just like the iWatch.

All of these capabilities, while not designed for the business market, have some direct business potential. The updates that can be displayed on an iWatch are often the updates that professionals across many industries check repeatedly throughout the day. Having that information update in an unobtrusive way on a wearable device would allow workers to check notifications in real time without disrupting a meeting—or even a casual conversation—by pulling out their phone and unlocking it.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

Meet 60GHz Wi-Fi, the insanely fast future of wireless networking

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Get ready for a ridiculous boost in wireless networking speed. Two camps are competing to deliver wireless components that are at least seven times faster than today’s gigabit (IEEE 802.11ac) routers. By harnessing spectrum in the unlicensed 60GHz frequency band, these devices will be capable of offering more bandwidth than hardwired USB 3.0 connections.

The contest conjures memories of the VHS-Betamax wars, with one exception: One side has been shipping products for more than a year, and the other side isn’t expected to deliver certified products until sometime next year. Although the two technologies could coexist, I think only one will ultimately prevail.

The WirelessHD Consortium, led by chip maker Silicon Image, is the team behind the products selling today. The Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig), led by chip makers Marvell and Wilocity, won’t kick off its certification program until 2014, but that hasn’t stopped one manufacturer from shipping an uncertified WiGig device early.

Don’t worry—you didn’t just waste $200 on a new router. In its early stages, 60GHz technology will be present only in point-to-point networks, such as hardware for streaming media from a PC to an HDTV, or wirelessly connecting your laptop to a desktop docking station.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown Celebrates Official Opening

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Hyatt Place Austin Downtown Celebrates Official Opening

296-room Hyatt Place hotel located in the heart of downtown Austin

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYS: H) and White Lodging Services today announce the opening of Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, just steps from the Austin Convention Center and the city’s famous Sixth Street.

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Photo Credit: Neil Goldman

“With thousands of music, film and digital enthusiasts arriving to our great city from around the world, there couldn’t be a more exciting time to be a part of this new opening in downtown Austin,” said Brad Haas, general manager, Hyatt Place Austin Downtown. “We can’t wait to welcome guests to the new hotel and show them the authentic hospitality and purposeful service for which Hyatt Place is known.”

In addition to its proximity to the convention center, Hyatt Place Austin Downtown is just minutes away from the University of Texas and major companies including AMD, Whole Foods and Silicon Labs. Additionally, the hotel is close to more 50 restaurants and only 15 minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown offers:

  • 296 spacious guestrooms, all of which feature a 42-inch HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed® and a sectional sofa sleeper
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel
  • Complimentary a.m. Kitchen SkilletTM, featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, a variety of fresh fruits, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, breads, premium coffee and an assortment of juices
  • 1,800 square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting and function space
  • 24/7 Guest Kitchen serving made-to-order snacks and entrees
  • Intimate Bakery Café featuring specialty coffees, premium beers and wines and cocktails

“It’s a wonderful feeling to grow with a city,” said Bryan Hayes, chief operating officer, White Lodging. “Today marks the opening of White Lodging‘s 22nd Austin hotel. We’re thrilled to be able to be part of the fabric of such a unique city.”

HYATT PLACE …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Philadelphia Area College Basketball Fans Can Score This Month with the Second Annual Dunkin' Philly

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Philadelphia Area College Basketball Fans Can Score This Month with the Second Annual Dunkin’ Philly Madness Sweepstakes


Dunkin’ Donuts regional sweepstakes asks area college fans to show their school pride and enter for a chance to win daily prizes; Dunkin’ Donuts will donate $1 to Coaches vs. Cancer Philadelphia for every sweepstakes entry March 4
 th -April 8 th

PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)– As college hoops action heats up, Dunkin’ Donuts in Greater Philadelphia is rewarding the region’s most passionate and loyal fans during the month of March through the Second Annual Dunkin’ Philly Madness Sweepstakes.

Now through April 8, fans can visit the “Dunkin’ Philly Madness Sweeps” tab on the Dunkin’ Donuts Greater Philadelphia Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/DunkinPhilly to vote for their favorite area college basketball team and enter for a chance to win daily prizes such as school prize packs, college season tickets, a 42-inch HDTV, video game systems and more. On the final day of the college basketball season one lucky winner will be selected to receive a $5,000 American Express Gift Card. Visit  http://bit.ly/DDPHLMad for official rules, additional terms and conditions.

“The Philadelphia region has some of the most passionate and loyal fans in the country and there is no better time than during the month of March to recognize the college fan with the Dunkin’ Philly Madness Sweepstakes,” said Lou Conte, Field Marketing Manager, Dunkin’ Brands. “As official partner of eight programs in the region, basketball truly runs on Dunkin’ Donuts in Greater Philadelphia.”

Additionally through April 8 th , Dunkin’ Donuts in Greater Philadelphia will donate $1 to American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer ® of Philadelphia for each Dunkin’ Philly Madness Sweepstakes entry. Dunkin’ Donuts is the Presenting Sponsor of the 15 th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer® of Philadelphia Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast on Monday, March 18 th at the Palestra.

Dunkin’ Donuts is an official partner of the University of Delaware, Drexel University, La Salle University, Lehigh University, University of Pennsylvania, St. Joseph’s University, Temple University and Villanova University.

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Computers

How to build your own Steam Box today

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Manufacturers have tried to put PCs in our living room for years, with mixed success. One of the most recent example is Alienware’s X51, which looks great in a home-theater rack, but delivers underwhelming performance when you use it to play high-end games with all their graphic settings cranked up.

But this January, the “PC as a gaming console” construct took a new twist. Valve Software, the developer of the Half-Life game series and Steam digital distribution network, confirmed long-running rumors that it’s working on a “Steam box”—a prebuilt PC that plugs into an HDTV, and runs the entire lengthy list of games available on Valve’s network. But there won’t just be one Steam Box on the market. Instead, the Steam Box will become its own hardware category, filled with prefab PCs from multiple manufacturers and endorsed by Valve.

At CES 2013 in January, we saw the first of many Steam Box PCs to come when modular PC manufacturer Xi3 debuted the Piston, a prototype PC designed with input (and financial investment) from Valve.

Built to fit inside a home entertainment center, the Piston looks cool; but with its expected AMD APU, it probably won’t be able to run demanding PC games on a big HDTV without serious performance problems.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Science & Technology

HBO Go Reportedly Coming to Apple TV

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While mum is still very much the word with regards to Apple’s rumored HDTV, the company’s current set-top box, the Apple TV, could soon see the arrival of the HBO Go, Bloomberg reports. According to two unnamed sources “familiar with the plans,” Apple is currently negotiating with the network’s parent company, Time Warner Inc., to bring the streaming app to its platform. If successful, the company reportedly hopes to integrate the service into its $99 streaming device by mid-2013. HBO Go would fall alongside the Apple TV‘s current array of apps, which include iTunes movie and TV rentals, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vimeo, YouTube, MLB.TV, NBA, NHL, and WSJ Live.

Continue reading…

Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Tech

Computers

Ceton Echo review: Extend Windows Media Center from your PC to your TV

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The universe of Windows Media Center Extenders—a class of networking hardware that enables you to connect the PC in your den to the TV in your living room—rapidly shrunk to just one device after Microsoft rendered its Xbox gaming console capable of the trick. Now Ceton is trying to carve out a niche in this space with its Echo—a component barely larger than a Roku box.

The only means of connecting the Echo to your TV is via HDMI (Ceton provides a cable in the box). You’ll also need to run an Ethernet cable from your router to device, as the Echo doesn’t support Wi-Fi. The FAQ on Ceton’s website claims that the quality of service available with wireless networking hardware isn’t sufficiently robust to deliver a satisfactory HDTV experience, which is a curious supposition considering that other media-streaming devices (such as the Roku XS and the Slingbox 500) handle HD video over Wi-Fi just fine. If Ethernet isn’t convenient, Ceton suggests powerline or MoCA (Multimedia over Coax) networking as alternatives.

The Echo must be paired with a Windows 7 PC equipped with a TV tuner (the Xbox 360 being the only Windows Media Center Extender currently compatible with Windows 8). I used a machine equipped with Ceton’s InfiniTV 4 USB tuner and a CableCARD, which was connected in turn to a digital cable TV service. The combo forms a robust DVR that can record even premium channels such as HBO and Showtime. If you abhor paying for TV, the Echo will work also work with any TV tuner—or without one if you simply want access to your media libraries.

After a few more simple setup steps, the Echo lived up to its name, producing a full-on Windows Media Center experience on my TV, same as if I was sitting in front of my PC—or if I’d used an Xbox. Thus I could watch, pause, and record TV shows; listen to my music library; view my photos; play my videos; stream Netflix; and so on. It can’t stream DVDs, but that’s a Windows limitation.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Science & Technology

Tim Cook on Apple HDTV: "There's A Lot We Can Do"

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During today’s Q1 quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on the company’s efforts in the TV space, including sales of its Apple TV set-top box and rumors of a forthcoming HDTV.

Cook said the company has seen significant growth in sales of its “hobby project,” the Apple TV. In Q1, the company sold 2 million units of the compact set-top box, up from 1.3 million in Q4. While this a marked sales rate increase over the device’s more formative years, it pales in comparison to the iPhone and iPad, which accounted for more than 69 million units in Q1 alone. But Cook suggests Apple’s stake in the home entertainment business is still burgeoning.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Tech