http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Multimedia Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2012 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Tue, 29 May 2012 01:06:39 GMT Tue, 29 May 2012 01:06:39 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/AMD-Trinity-Powers-Arctic-MC101-Media-Centers-269578.shtml You'd expect us to immediately start listing all the laptops based on the new accelerated processing units (APUs) from Advanced Micro Devices, but that's not what we're going to do.

Sure, we've already seen some notebooks here and there, but the landslide is only now about to start, assuming PC makers don't wait until the AMD Fusion De... (read more)]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 09:30:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/AMD-Trinity-Powers-Arctic-MC101-Media-Centers-269578.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/AMD-Trinity-Powers-Arctic-MC101-Media-Centers-269578.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/SAMSUNG-Intros-World-s-Thinnest-Optical-Disc-Drive-For-UltraBooks-and-Tables-266467.shtml Korean company Samsung Electronics has reportedly introduced today the new slim external DVD-Writer called SE-218BB. This optical disc drive (ODD) sets the industry standard for thin ultra portable DVD-Writer drives.

Built with Intel’s UltraBooks in mind, the SE-218BB will join a new generation of sl... (read more)]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:02:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/SAMSUNG-Intros-World-s-Thinnest-Optical-Disc-Drive-For-UltraBooks-and-Tables-266467.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/SAMSUNG-Intros-World-s-Thinnest-Optical-Disc-Drive-For-UltraBooks-and-Tables-266467.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Constantin Murariu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Pioneer-Intros-Two-New-Elite-AV-Receivers-262732.shtml Pioneer has many products in its portfolio, but it is clear enough that the company has a special liking for multimedia consumer electronics, like its two new AV receivers.

Pioneer Electronics Inc. has issued a long and detailed press release in which it describes all the perks of having an Elite-branded AV receiver.

There are... (read more)]]> Wed, 4 Apr 2012 19:21:02 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Pioneer-Intros-Two-New-Elite-AV-Receivers-262732.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Pioneer-Intros-Two-New-Elite-AV-Receivers-262732.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-Software-Will-Soon-Arrive-to-Pace-s-Set-Top-Boxes-254938.shtml Pace, one of the most important providers of set-top boxes for cable companies in the US, has just announced that it has entered a partnership with TiVo to port the software developed by the latter to its STBs and gateways.

Pace has already licensed TiVo's Hardware Porting Kit and will work with its partner to build a verified ... (read more)]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:17:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-Software-Will-Soon-Arrive-to-Pace-s-Set-Top-Boxes-254938.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-Software-Will-Soon-Arrive-to-Pace-s-Set-Top-Boxes-254938.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sorin Nita) http://news.softpedia.com/news/ASUS-O-Play-TV-Pro-Set-Top-Box-Released-252025.shtml Since ASUS wants to be known as a supplier of multimedia devices in addition to PCs and computer-related products, the company has announced the O!Play TV Pro.

This is a set-top box, STB for short, which intends to turn any HDTV (high-definition TV) into a smart TV, of sorts.

The built-in DVB-T digital tuner is the most basic of... (read more)]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:41:01 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/ASUS-O-Play-TV-Pro-Set-Top-Box-Released-252025.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/ASUS-O-Play-TV-Pro-Set-Top-Box-Released-252025.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Roku-Boxes-Start-Shipping-in-the-UK-Receives-BBC-iPlayer-Channel-252068.shtml After it announced in January this year the UK release of streaming media players, Roku has now started shipping these boxes towards its customers, complete with support for a new BBC iPlayer video channel.

iPlayer can be considered the UK equivalent of Netflix and allows its customers to catch up on recent BBC pr... (read more)]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:14:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Roku-Boxes-Start-Shipping-in-the-UK-Receives-BBC-iPlayer-Channel-252068.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Roku-Boxes-Start-Shipping-in-the-UK-Receives-BBC-iPlayer-Channel-252068.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sorin Nita) http://news.softpedia.com/news/FCC-Wants-All-Cable-Channels-Encrypted-Boxee-Protests-251689.shtml In a move that may very well be a bit too radical, even for this constantly hacked world, the FCC has proposed something that could make Boxee and its peers reach an impasse.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed that all cable channels, even the most basic ones, be encrypted.

The supposed purpos... (read more)]]> Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:51:01 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/FCC-Wants-All-Cable-Channels-Encrypted-Boxee-Protests-251689.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/FCC-Wants-All-Cable-Channels-Encrypted-Boxee-Protests-251689.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-HD-DVR-from-DIRECTV-Now-Available-251788.shtml TiVo Inc. has been saying that there would come a time when its service would be integrated (again) with DIRECTV and, sure enough, the plans have finally become reality.

Long story short, the TiVo HD DVR from DIRECTV is available in the United States, as evident from this page on the DIRECTV website.

"We are pleased to answer the... (read more)]]> Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:55:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-HD-DVR-from-DIRECTV-Now-Available-251788.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-HD-DVR-from-DIRECTV-Now-Available-251788.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-Sony-and-Vizio-to-Present-Google-TV-Products-at-CES-2012-244866.shtml Google has been working hard to increase the adoption rate of its Google TV platform and at this year’s CES the company together with LG, Marvell , MediaTek , Samsung, Sony and Vizio will present a wide selection of products running this software.

Google has announced its partners in a post on the Google TV official bl... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:55:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-Sony-and-Vizio-to-Present-Google-TV-Products-at-CES-2012-244866.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-Sony-and-Vizio-to-Present-Google-TV-Products-at-CES-2012-244866.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sorin Nita) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-TV-Is-Officially-Ditching-Intel-for-ARM-244677.shtml The rumors regarding Google’s plans to ditch Intel’s processors in favor of ARM-based chips for its Google TV platform have turned out to be true as the search giant has just sent out a press release to announce this change.

For its next generation Google TV devices, the Menlo Park, California company has chosen to go with M... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Jan 2012 14:16:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-TV-Is-Officially-Ditching-Intel-for-ARM-244677.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-TV-Is-Officially-Ditching-Intel-for-ARM-244677.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sorin Nita) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Previews-CES-Bound-Multimedia-Products-244357.shtml Samsung has begun officially announcing the devices it will have on display during the 2012 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show.

Even though CES hasn't started and won't start for another week, companies are eagerly setting the stage.

Among other things, this means that Samsung saw no reason to refrain from announcin... (read more)]]> Wed, 4 Jan 2012 20:41:02 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Previews-CES-Bound-Multimedia-Products-244357.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Previews-CES-Bound-Multimedia-Products-244357.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Genesis-Logic-Webcam-Processor-Streams-1080p-Video-243666.shtml Application processors don't often make the news on their own, but Genesis Logic just built one that deserves a special mention.

Webcams aren't exactly famous for the quality of the photos and video streams they can capture.

This doesn't mean that camera sensors with genuinely high capabilities don't exist, though.
<... (read more)]]> Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:42:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Genesis-Logic-Webcam-Processor-Streams-1080p-Video-243666.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Genesis-Logic-Webcam-Processor-Streams-1080p-Video-243666.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Logitech-Revue-Dead-on-Arrival-Google-TV-Set-Top-Box-Firmware-Corrupted-243243.shtml Logitech, like any other company, knows it has to avoid any faux-pas, whether big or small, but it failed to go through this year's holidays without making a blunder.

Everyone makes mistakes once in a while and it was Logitech's bad luck that it ended up committing its own during Christmas.

Then ... (read more)]]> Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:53:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Logitech-Revue-Dead-on-Arrival-Google-TV-Set-Top-Box-Firmware-Corrupted-243243.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Logitech-Revue-Dead-on-Arrival-Google-TV-Set-Top-Box-Firmware-Corrupted-243243.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Boxee-Releases-Last-PC-Update-Version-1-5-243124.shtml People in possession of a personal computer may or may not use the Boxee video streaming services regularly, but those who do may be in for a surprise.

The surprise is not necessarily pleasant but not exactly bad either.

The good news is that the Windows, Mac and Ubuntu apps just received the latest update, version 1.5.
read more)]]> Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:41:01 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Boxee-Releases-Last-PC-Update-Version-1-5-243124.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Boxee-Releases-Last-PC-Update-Version-1-5-243124.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Any-HDTV-Can-Become-an-All-in-One-Monitor-Thanks-to-Warpia-241536.shtml All-in-one monitors are all well and good, but for those that aren't keen on changing their good old HDTV, Warpia invented the ConnectHD SWP400VC.

Granted, all-in-one monitor may be laying it a bit thick, since the PC will still be required for this to work.

ConnectHD SWP400VC is a special module that only needs t... (read more)]]> Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:21:01 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Any-HDTV-Can-Become-an-All-in-One-Monitor-Thanks-to-Warpia-241536.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Any-HDTV-Can-Become-an-All-in-One-Monitor-Thanks-to-Warpia-241536.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/IOGEAR-Wireless-3D-Digital-Kit-Streams-Across-Two-Rooms-233408.shtml The world is turning into one of wireless connectivity, so IOGEAR decided this was a good time for the Wireless 3D Digital Kit (GW3DHDKIT) to make its appearance.

Composed of a transmitter and receiver, it can link to two HDMI devices at once and stream their content to even displays from other rooms.

Housed in a... (read more)]]> Wed, 9 Nov 2011 21:51:01 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/IOGEAR-Wireless-3D-Digital-Kit-Streams-Across-Two-Rooms-233408.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/IOGEAR-Wireless-3D-Digital-Kit-Streams-Across-Two-Rooms-233408.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-and-Vuzix-Work-Together-on-3D-Sun-Glasses-229853.shtml Glasses are still the one big 'problem' that many people have with 3D and, since glasses-free panel research is still not quite there yet, Nokia and Vuzix went for the next best thing.

Nokia and Vuzix want to remove the main problem of 3D glasses, namely the unflattering looks.

In seeking to make them aesthetically pleas... (read more)]]> Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-and-Vuzix-Work-Together-on-3D-Sun-Glasses-229853.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-and-Vuzix-Work-Together-on-3D-Sun-Glasses-229853.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Logitech-Says-Revue-Google-TV-2-0-Update-Is-Mere-Weeks-Away-229146.shtml A couple of months ago, Logitech promised us that it's working together with Google to bring the second version of the Google TV platform to its Revue set-top box, and it now seems like this update is just a few weeks away.

Initially, Logitech said that the Google TV 2.0 update will go live by the end of the summer, but sinc... (read more)]]> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:11:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Logitech-Says-Revue-Google-TV-2-0-Update-Is-Mere-Weeks-Away-229146.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Logitech-Says-Revue-Google-TV-2-0-Update-Is-Mere-Weeks-Away-229146.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sorin Nita) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Trio-of-Pioneer-Blu-ray-Players-Launched-227070.shtml Blu-ray players are more or less the most advanced form of media players to date, especially when they have HDDs as well, and while Pioneer's newest creations don't have this built-in storage, they do have everything else.

Pioneer seems to be doing something similar to what it did back in September, when it created the BDP-140, the El... (read more)]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:31:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Trio-of-Pioneer-Blu-ray-Players-Launched-227070.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Trio-of-Pioneer-Blu-ray-Players-Launched-227070.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-Premiere-Elite-DVR-Now-Official-226669.shtml Multimedia is one of those things that the common household usually can't do without, especially when big families are factored in, and TiVo is eager to have its new DVR fulfill all the expectations of prospective customers.

There are many things that the new digital video recorder (DVR) from TiVo brags about, both through the company's pres... (read more)]]> Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:50:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-Premiere-Elite-DVR-Now-Official-226669.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/TiVo-Premiere-Elite-DVR-Now-Official-226669.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Toshiba-Regza-Blu-ray-DBR-M190-Has-a-5-TB-HDD-225386.shtml Blu-ray players have been developed before, but Toshiba definitely went beyond the confines of the blueprints when it built the Regza Blu-ray DBR-M190.

In trying to keep ahead of solid state drives and maintain their spot on the mainstream, hard disk drives have been boosting platter capacities almost frantically.

At prese... (read more)]]> Tue, 4 Oct 2011 12:13:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Toshiba-Regza-Blu-ray-DBR-M190-Has-a-5-TB-HDD-225386.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Toshiba-Regza-Blu-ray-DBR-M190-Has-a-5-TB-HDD-225386.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sony-Stops-Giving-3D-Glasses-to-Movie-Goers-224964.shtml Film studios usually provide free glasses to people that attend 3D films, but Sony decided it isn't worth it to fill this bill anymore, so it began notifying theaters that it will stop doing so in May, 2012.

'Free' glasses are what any moviegoer can expect to receive and use for the duration of any 3D film they buy tickets to.
<... (read more)]]> Mon, 3 Oct 2011 08:07:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sony-Stops-Giving-3D-Glasses-to-Movie-Goers-224964.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sony-Stops-Giving-3D-Glasses-to-Movie-Goers-224964.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/DVD-Players-Go-Extinct-In-Four-Years-Blu-Ray-Rises-224652.shtml There have been multiple occasions where analysts looked into the future of optical media and the latest such occurrence has In-Stat as the one responsible, the prediction being one that isn't too favorable to the DVD.

HDTVs may not be too widespread now, but they will definitely account for more and more of the worldwide market... (read more)]]> Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:42:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/DVD-Players-Go-Extinct-In-Four-Years-Blu-Ray-Rises-224652.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/DVD-Players-Go-Extinct-In-Four-Years-Blu-Ray-Rises-224652.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-HTC-Media-Player-Looks-Like-a-Phone-but-Isn-t-222437.shtml HTC may be best known for its many phones, but its stake in the media player market is also considerable, possibly set to grow some more if a certain report is anything to go by.

Over the past couple of years, many consumer products were created by this or that company in collaboration with beats by Dr. Dre.

In HTC's case,... (read more)]]> Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:09:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-HTC-Media-Player-Looks-Like-a-Phone-but-Isn-t-222437.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-HTC-Media-Player-Looks-Like-a-Phone-but-Isn-t-222437.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Set-Top-Box-from-Kaon-Media-Runs-Android-221225.shtml Not long ago, we saw how the pay-TV market is still very much alive and kicking, and it looks like Trident and Kaon Media are determined to keep promoting such services, and others, what with the latter's new set-top box.

As some users may or may not know, the IBC 2011 trade show is an event that is taking place in Amsterdam as we speak... (read more)]]> Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:28:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Set-Top-Box-from-Kaon-Media-Runs-Android-221225.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Set-Top-Box-from-Kaon-Media-Runs-Android-221225.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/US-Pay-TV-Market-Holds-Fast-in-Q2-2011-221134.shtml One might have expected the advent of web-based multimedia to more sharply impact TV services, but it looks like the overall industry is still going strong, according to analysts.

Users have heard much about how the tablet segment has been threatening the overall notebook market.

By all accounts, the fact that slates began to eat awa... (read more)]]> Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:32:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/US-Pay-TV-Market-Holds-Fast-in-Q2-2011-221134.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/US-Pay-TV-Market-Holds-Fast-in-Q2-2011-221134.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Three-New-Pioneer-Blu-ray-Players-Unveiled-221091.shtml Pioneer is showing its own assets on the multimedia front, although its own new products are going to show their worth in the US instead of Europe, where ASUS released its own, newest device.

Though the PC market seems to be getting the most attention when it comes to consumer technology, consumer electronics aren't any less important.
read more)]]> Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:00:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Three-New-Pioneer-Blu-ray-Players-Unveiled-221091.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Three-New-Pioneer-Blu-ray-Players-Unveiled-221091.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Europe-Welcomes-ASUS-O-Play-Mini-Plus-Media-Player-221079.shtml ASUS is showing its hand on more than one market segment, as a certain consumer electronic, not just laptops, are making their way to stores, or at least are expected to do so at some point during this month.

ASUS is most definitely not sitting by and letting the first half of September go by without substantial input on its par... (read more)]]> Fri, 9 Sep 2011 14:31:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Europe-Welcomes-ASUS-O-Play-Mini-Plus-Media-Player-221079.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Europe-Welcomes-ASUS-O-Play-Mini-Plus-Media-Player-221079.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Belkin-Unleashes-New-Home-Theater-Equipment-220819.shtml When getting their homes outfitted with multimedia elements, users can go for complete solutions like HTPCs, or they can invest in multiple, smaller things, like the ones from Belkin, so as to distribute things better across the house and get away with less costs, should they not want too great an array of features.

Home theater person... (read more)]]> Thu, 8 Sep 2011 11:21:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Belkin-Unleashes-New-Home-Theater-Equipment-220819.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/Belkin-Unleashes-New-Home-Theater-Equipment-220819.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/IFA-2011-Hands-On-With-Sony-Blu-ray-Player-220321.shtml The segment of media players and other multimedia devices is one that grew substantially over the past few years, economic recession or no, and Sony just made its most recent move in this field.

The 2011 IFA trade show already got us much to talk and write about, as obvious from how we set up a special section for all the news coming fr... (read more)]]> Tue, 6 Sep 2011 07:09:00 GMT Softpedia News - Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/IFA-2011-Hands-On-With-Sony-Blu-ray-Player-220321.shtml Multimedia http://news.softpedia.com/news/IFA-2011-Hands-On-With-Sony-Blu-ray-Player-220321.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop)