As the glue in a well-equipped home theater, the audio video receiver (AVR) is a natural hub where audio and video processing can be consolidated into a single device alongside other functions like over the top (OTT) IP services. Onkyo has embraced this ideal with the 135 watts per channel TX-NR818, which offers decoding support for all of the modern […]
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There are a number of reasons why XBMC has risen to prominence and established itself as a premier media center frontend, including its rich codec support, platform versatility, and integrated media libraries, but perhaps the biggest reason is its exstensibility. There are hundreds of skins and add-ons available for XBMC to add new features, tap into new content, and […]
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Microsoft broke a lot of hearts when they announced that Windows Media Center was not going to be included with Windows 8. It was frustrating enough that WMC development was languishing, but turning it into an optional add-on, and only for Windows 8 Pro at that, seemed to be Microsoft’s passive-aggressive way of letting HTPC fans know that WMC was […]
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Roku is pushing out an update for current-generation Roku LT, Roku HD, and Roku 2 boxes that will bring a new cross-app search capability. Roku Search isn’t quite universal search as it is limited to Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, HBO GO, VUDU and Crackle, but it will allow users to search for movies, TV shows, actors, and directors across […]
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Sharp is introducing some interesting new technology for a select set of their TVs this year. Sharp will be releasing five Aquos Quattron 3D XL TV sets with a new anti-glare technology dubbed Moth Eye this fall. The new tech evidently uses tiny irregularities in the surface of the LCD panel to reduce glare from external light sources and improve black […]
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With the release of Windows 8, we are going to see a steady stream of streaming media apps make a splash on Windows 8 and the Windows Store. Netflix got in early, and this week brought a Hulu Plus app and new versions of CyberLink PowerDVD. The Hulu Plus app takes full advantage of the Metro/Modern/Windows 8 UI with touch […]
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Samsung and LG both made a splash at CES 2012 with 55″ OLED TVs that they planned on bringing to market by the end of this year. Unfortunately, it sounds like both companies might be pushing off these new sets until late in 2013. Evidently the two companies have been squabbling over engineers and run into production issues that […]
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The Xbox 360 has added yet another streaming sports service to its repertoire with the introduction this week of the NBA Game Time app. With the Game Time app, folks who subscribe to both Xbox Live Gold and NBA League Pass Broadband will be able stream regular season NBA games through their Xbox, complete with integrated Kinect-powered voice and gesture […]
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Last week, the Consumer Electronics Association announced its plan to label the next generation of high definiton televisions as Ultra HD, along with some baseline specifications to qualify for the label. Sony, for one, isn’t planning on toeing the line. Sony has announced that they plan to continue using the 4K moniker by labeling their future products as 4K UHD. […]
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Finding a good low profile heat sink and fan (HSF) that isn’t also incredibly wide is a lot harder than it should be, especially for AMD’s FM1/2 socket. Fortunately this will be much easier now that Noctua has announced its NH-L9 HSF for that platform (NH-L9a) and Intel’s LGA 1155 socket (NH-L9i). It’s hard not to like Noctua’s cooling solutions, […]
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