Gadget Lounge
Digital Technology for Digital Living.

January 16, 2008

Apple TV Take 2: Movie Rentals, No Computer Required

Steve Jobs announced an update to the Apple TV at Macworld San Francisco this week as well as iTunes Movie Rentals, which were already rumored to be part of his Macworld keynote speech.

Jobs admitted that Apple’s online video plan had been a disappointment and that users didn’t take to watching online video the way Apple had expected. When Jobs first announced the Apple TV last January, Apple’s initial video plan was too complicated for many people. Getting a movie or TV show onto your Apple TV required customers to buy the video from the iTunes Store, download it to their computer, then sync/stream the file using an Apple TV.

Although Apple has already sold 7 million movies, Jobs said: “That’s more than everyone else put together, but it did not meet our expectations.”

Apple plans on overhauling their strategy by making 2 major changes:

  1. Adding a new online movie rental service
  2. Updating the Apple TV’s software so that viewers can stream movies direct from the internet sans (that’s Latin for without) computer.

Jobs thinks that viewers would prefer to rent movies, not buy them. As a result, the new Apple TV software will allow users to rent first run films from every major movie studio including Fox, WB, Paramount, Universal and Sony in HD. Jobs called it “A better way to provide movies to our customers.” Blockbuster and Netflix can’t be happy right now.

1000 films ready for rental will be available on iTunes starting in February. Going forward, movies will be available to rent 30 days after they are released on DVD. Broadband users won’t have to wait for these giant movie files to download. Moments after you rent the film using your Apple TV, it will be watchable immediately via streaming. How much are movie rentals? $2.99 to rent older titles, $3.99 for new releases. Add one more $1 to those prices if you want to rent the movie in HD.

Thomas Lesinski, president of Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment, joined Jobs on stage at Macworld and called the rental service a “defining moment” for the distribution of digital video content. “This is really going to take things to the next level,” he said.

The new Apple TV software features will be included in a free Apple TV update scheduled to be released in February. You can update your Apple TV by selecting “Update Software” from the Settings menu.

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methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Video

January 15, 2008

Steve Jobs Announces the MacBook Air at MacWorld

I hope you didn’t buy a new Apple laptop recently. Steve Jobs announced the MacBook Air at Macworld today.

The MacBook Air is the “World’s Thinnest Notebook” - even thinner than the Sony TZ, which is 0.8 to 1.2 inches thick. It’s so thin it fits in a manila envelope. Seriously. See the image below! Apple’s goal was to make a high performance 3 pound laptop, with a full size keyboard, and large display.




The MacBook Air is so thin, it only has 4 ports: USB 2.0, Micro-DVI, headphone jack and a MagSafe 45w power adapter plug.

So what did Apple leave out? An optical drive. If you really want one, Apple is selling an optional external USB powered SuperDrive for $99. So how do you install software or get files off of CD/DVD? Apple has a new piece of software called Remote Disc which can be installed on any Mac or PC on your wireless network and will let you borrow that machine’s optical drive.

MacBook Air features:

  • Magnetic latch
  • 5 hour battery
  • multi-touch gesture trackpad
  • 13.3-inch widescreen
  • LED-backlit display
  • built-in iSight for videoconferencing
  • full-size keyboard
  • 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
  • 2GB RAM standard
  • 80GB drive (1.8-inch hard drive. Same as in iPods.)
  • 64GB SSD option
  • 802.11n standard WiFi (N is the most advanced wireless on the market).
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

You can pre-order the MacBook Air today. Apple starts shipping them in 2 weeks.

In addition to the MacBook Air, Steve Jobs also made the following announcements at MacWorld today:

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methodshop | Comments (0) | Portable

January 10, 2008

The Ultimate Torch | The Gadget Show

The Gadget Show - Torches

Jon takes to a dark and dank warehouse to check out the best torches on the market.

Only Jon could make TORCHES sound so much fun ;-) The MagLite is a vw Beetle !! ;-)


Gadgetman | Comments (0) | General

January 09, 2008

Motorola MOTO Z10 and ROKR E8 Preview at CES

New From Motorola - launching Q1 2008 - The MOTO Z10, a complete, pocket-sized, mobile film studio

Motorola debuting new products at CES 2008

Motorola is kicking off 2008 with a big splash at CES. The MOTOPURE H12 and T815 have been selected as Finalists for the Bluetooth SIG Best of CES Awards, and the RAZR2 V9 and MOTOROKR T505 have received honorable mentions.

Also debuting at CES are the next generation of award-worthy devices, including the MOTO Z10, ROKR E8, and a host of other revolutionary Bluetooth headsets, wireless speakers, and more.

Motorola focuses on creating the most stylish and intuitive mobile devices that empower consumers in every aspect of their lives. The new MOTO Z10 is a complete, pocket-sized, mobile film studio. This stylish kick slider makes it easy to capture high-quality video, edit clips, create transitions between scenes and add title slides and a soundtrack. Then, budding filmmakers can upload their creation to share with friends and family through any number of Web sites such as YouTube, Google, Yahoo! and ShoZu.

MOTO Z10 looks as sleek and stylish on the outside as it is feature-packed inside. The ergonomic design is built with premium quality materials, including spun stainless steel, polished metallic finish and soft-feel textures. The MOTO Z10 is expected to be available in Q1 2008.

Also new from Motorola, the ROKR E8 offers an uncompromised music and phone experience, featuring revolutionary new digital morphing technology that transforms the device from a music player to a phone with just one touch of a button. Also equipped with a camera, the ROKR E8 features a smooth, glass like surface that contains Motorola’s first Haptics Touch Pad, so when you press down on the imaginary buttons, it feels like pressing a real button, not a touch screen. Seamless construction, high-quality materials, scratch-resistant display, unique finishes and soft touch back make the ROKR E8 both beautiful to look at and extremely durable and reliable. The ROKR E8 is expected to be available in Q1 2008.

The ROKR E8 is a top pick by CNET editors as one of the hottest gadgets for 2008, narrowed down to just 30 products. You have a chance to cast your vote for the product that you think will be the most-talked about. Vote online here (http://ces.cnet.com/ces/peoples-voice/?tag=bubbl_2 ) or send a text message with the nominee number to CNET1 (26381). Hurry! Voting ends at noon on January 9, 2008.

Visit www.motorola.com/mediacenter for more information on these and other great devices from Motorola.

If you’re attending CES, please be sure to visit the Motorola Booth for information and product demos. The Motorola Booth is #8545, Central Hall.


Gadgetman | Comments (0) | Mobile Phone

January 08, 2008

Mp3 Players | The Gadget Show Critical List

The Gadget Show Critical List: Mp3 Players

On this Critical List, the team look at ultra-portable mp3 players, including the Samsung K5, the iPod Shuffle and the SwiMp3


Gadgetman | Comments (0) | General

Audi TT v Nissan 350Z

Audi TT v Nissan 350Z - What’s quickest round our track?


Gadgetman | Comments (0) | General

Paramount Drops HD-DVD

UPDATE:Paramount spokeswoman Brenda Ciccone made this statement in response to reports that Paramount is abandoning the HD-DVD format: “Paramount’s current plan is to continue to support the HD-DVD format.” The statement didn’t specify if Paramount would also produce Blu-ray DVDs in addition to HD-DVDs. It will be interesting to see how this story pans out.

I just gave the bad new to one of the guys in the Toshiba booth at CES. He wasn’t happy. Their HD-DVD focused booth looks a little silly now.

According to the Financial Times, Paramount is going to drop their support for Toshiba’s HD-DVD after Warner Brothers pulled out of the HD-DVD camp last Sunday night. This will most likely put the final nail in the coffin of the HD-DVD format and end the biggest home entertainment format war since Betamax vs. VHS.

Why the sudden switch? Why did Paramount go over to Sony’s Blu-ray so quickly? Insiders are saying that a clause in Paramount’s contract allowed the company to drop HD-DVD in the event that Warner Bros decided to back Blu-ray.

Continue Reading>>


methodshop | Comments (0) | DVD

January 05, 2008

Toyota Tundra | One for the Petrol Heads

Toyota Tundra “Pulley” and “Making of”

One for the Petrol Heads (or Diesel Heads)

This is an awesome vehicle - I want one!

The mission:
Illustrate the Toyota Tundra CrewMax’s extreme towing capacity by Draw Bar Pulling a 6420 lb. shipping container up and over the wall of the Sierra Rock Quarry in Placerville, CA


Gadgetman | Comments (0) | General

January 02, 2008

iTunes Movie Rentals - Rumors Say They Are Coming Soon

According to reports, Apple is close to announcing plans to make Fox and Disney movies available as online rentals via iTunes (US). Apple CEO Steve Jobs is likely saving the official announcement for his Macworld Expo keynote on Jan. 14.

Customers would pay a fee to download titles viewable on computers, iPods and presumably Apple TV devices that would expire after a short window of time. Netflix, Amazon.com and Blockbuster’s Movielink are competitors in this space.

Wal-Mart, however, has thrown in the towel. Wal-Mart.com quietly pulled the plug on its video download service late last month as Hewlett Packard decided to discontinue the back-office technology that powered it. The service, popular with studios because it offered variable pricing, struggled with compatibility issues. Wal-Mart downloads could not be burned to DVDs or watched on video iPods.

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methodshop | Comments (0) | General