TiVo the makers of well the TiVo box has now come with their Series 4 TiVo that is suppose to change the game for TiVo and the set-top box market. Does TiVo bring there A game in the series 4? Check the review, pics and video inside.

Hardware & Design

The new TiVo Premiere comes with a new light and smaller design that the previous TiVo boxes of the past.  This design makes it much nicer to put it newer TV stand that are coming more slim and compact. The ports on the back are pretty much the same as the previous TiVo HD box  with HDMI, coaxial, component, composite video connections. Also two USB ports, eSATA port for external storage, Ethernet port for a wired connection and a CableCard slot which you will need to get from your cable provider to get this to work and inside there is a 320GB hard drive to round up the hardware features.

TiVo New Flash Based UI

Now before you even get started the setup process does take quite awhile so be prepared to have 30-45 minutes of waiting time to get things setup.   Now the new menu system is a flash based UI menu system with HD visual in most of the screens.  The UI is based off of the “swivel” UI that was shown in the last TiVo series update. Going to a specific show will give you more information about that show and will give you suggestions and more content related to each show and even down to the actor as well and also the top part next to the picture and picture will dynamically changed according to the content that you are looking for.

Searching is a lot easier than before as it uses full swivel search and as you type in a name your searching for the suggestion will come up and will show content related to what you are searching for as well.  Search is nice but keyboard is really needed to feel that searching can be a lot easier.

TiVo on the Web

TiVo in the past has covered most of your home media but not much when it came to web content. Now with Series 4 and the TiVo Premier you have YouTube, Netflix, Blockbuster, Podcasting, streaming radio support build-in. Although some things need a separate account a separate service charge the TiVo does handle it and gives it to you in one box.

Most of the services work well but what is lacking is HD content from theme. Most of of the podcast and YouTube content is not in HD which you can easily get on your PC is disappointing and should be changed in a software update.  It is nice that is accessible but we should be getting the full HD experience with this new TiVo

Overall

Overall the new TiVo Premiere is one of the best set-top boxes that you can get. I would recommend over almost all cable provider boxes. The UI is faster than the last one and the interface is in HD but there are a lot of menus that are not fully in HD which can fully take out of the experience and TiVo should really consider changing the whole UI to be fully HD and flash based for the nice streamlined look.  If you are in the market for a set-top box the TiVo Premiere is going to be the best bang for your buck currently.

Microsoft has the Netflix HD exclusive and now Sony fires back with scoring a Hulu Plus exclusivity until the end of this year read on for more.

Select PlayStation Plus members will be able to currently download the Hulu App and for an extra $10 per month they can watch Hulu Plus right on their PS3. For non PlayStation plus members you will just need to wait until after the preview period before you can get your hands on it as well.  Nice to see that this isn’t going to be strictly for PlayStation Plus members like Netflix is only for Xbox Live Gold members. Hopefully Microsoft will get a clue and allow those few and even new casual gamers with a silver membership to gain access to Netflix on their Xbox 360 without a gold account. It would definitely benefit those that already have a Netflix membership before they got a Xbox 360.  Good move on PS3 here.

Full Press Release

PlayStation®3 System the First and Only Console to Offer Hulu Plus™ in 2010
Hulu Plus™ preview available today on PlayStation 3 to select PlayStation®Plus members; Release of Hulu Plus available to all PlayStation 3 owners in the United States in the coming months
FOSTER CITY, Calif., July 14 /PRNewswire/ – Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) and Hulu™, an online video service offering an expanded selection of television shows and movies, announced that the Hulu Plus™ preview will begin today on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system in the United States with the consumer release of Hulu Plus available to all PS3 owners set to occur in the coming months. PS3 is the first and only console with dedicated gaming functionality that will offer Hulu Plus in 2010. Hulu Plus will deliver a library of high-definition (HD) content including full seasons of popular TV shows and blockbuster movies from nearly 150 leading content companies. Content on Hulu Plus is complementary to the more than 23,000 movies and TV episodes already available on the PlayStation®Store.
"We are delighted to offer the Hulu Plus preview starting today on PlayStation 3 and that PlayStation 3 will be the only console to offer Hulu Plus in 2010," said Jack Tretton, president and chief executive officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. "The combination of Hulu’s premium video library and PlayStation®Network’s expanding game and video catalogue further cements PlayStation 3 as the industry’s best entertainment device for all of your content experiences from games, TV shows and movies to live sports, original content and 3D."
Starting today, a select group of PlayStation®Plus subscribers will gain access to a preview version of Hulu Plus for an additional $9.99 per month. All PlayStation Plus subscribers may download the free Hulu Plus application and, within it, request an invitation to the exclusive preview.
General availability of Hulu Plus in the United States is expected in the coming months on the PS3 computer entertainment system and additional Sony Electronics Internet-connected entertainment devices, including select BRAVIA® TVs and Blu-ray™ Disc players.

 

Source: Sony’s US PlayStation Blog

More Coverage at Engadget.com

YouTube is upping their video quality game as they announced at Vidcon today that 4K resolution will be available for those with the high end cameras and the ultra fast high speed bandwidth and a pretty beefy computer.

Cameras that support 4K resolution like the RED Digital Camera will be able to support this so it will be few and far between who will be able to take advantage of this but its nice to see Youtube making the effort. They have a playlist available at the link below to check out 4K.

Youtube 4K Playlist

So the long anticipated subscription service from Hulu has finally been announced.  Hulu Plus. Details and video inside!

Hulu Plus will be available soon and currently under invite only status for $9.99 per month and will give you access to every episode of current TV shows from ABC, NBC, Fox and access to past library of over 2,000 episodes from classic TV shows of the past. You will also get shows in HD if available in 720p.

You will also be able to Hulu Plus on the road with with an Apple, iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.  Samsung, Sony and Vizio Tvs and Blu-Ray players will support it and now gaming console are getting in the mix with support for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 coming as well.

All in all it looks like we are headed into a new era of digital content with Hulu Plus and for $9.99/month is a unexpected very low price to get premium Hulu service. The only question not answered is of ads will still run on the paid services. With a price that low I expect some but probably a lot less that the free version.

Gear Live reports that Microsoft is going to be making this announcement at E3 and it would follow the same lines as Netflix on the 360. No one is sure yet if it will be the whole Hulu catalog or a condensed version of it. Hopefully we don’t have any Sony snag like what happened with Netflix on the 360.  I’m also assuming since you will have to pay for it you may get some premium benefits compared to what you get free on the hulu website. E3 kicks off in nearly two weeks so we should hear soon.

Via Gear Live

BWOne.com is back and coming back strong with a brand new Giveaway! We are giving away some great prizes and gearing up for our trip to E3 Expo coming soon.  Click inside for the details on how to enter.

E3 expo is coming and we are gearing our way up to it with a brand new giveaway check the video and the rules below on the contest.

• Must be a US Resident of any of the 50 states
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Type "I want to win June 2010!" in 1 or all 4 of the videos of the prizes we are giving away
• 1 entry per draw, 4 chances to win and 4 big winners
• Ground Shipping
• Winners will be announced live via UStream (Come if you can but still enter to win!)
• GOOD LUCK!

Contest videos

ENTER HERE BooredAtWork Contest

ENTER HERE BooredAtWork Contest

Right here on Zune.net website it shows a link to a Zune HD 64GB model. However when you click on the link it brings you to “Page not found.” With the recent price drops of the Zune HD 16 and 32 and this obvious teaser tells us that a 64GB Zune HD is on its way.  I would estimate the announcement to come around in April with a release date in the same month.  So you heave media hunger users that need every single KB of that 64GB storage spaces start getting your wallets ready.

Link to Zune HD site

Klipsch has taken the modern idea of a home audio system and simplified it with a revolutionary idea of taking the wires out and the traditional speaker box and putting them in one unit that fits in a standard light bulb socket which brings the idea of surround sound to a new level.  Klipsch President Paul Jacobs says “if you can screw a light bulb in, you are 75% there in setting up our system.”

The system can fit into a standard lamp or a 5-6 inch can light spot and uses LED for lighting which lasts forever. You can hook up to 8 of these in your house as simple as that and the audio quality is fantastic. Its a ture wireless system and set not to interfere with any other wireless frequencies in your house. Check out the full video below and the full stats. The are available to order now at www.klipsch.com.

The Klipsch LightSpeakers are a true innovation in home audio and will bring home audio entertainment to a new level.

Stats:

• FREQUENCY RESPONSE
  90Hz-20kHz +/- 3dB
• SYSTEM COMPONENTS
  Two LightSpeakers, wireless transmitter, RF remote control, 2 AAA batteries, 1 transmitter power supply, 1 – 3.5 mm mini jack to stereo RCA cable, 2 lenses, 4 trim rings (2 small / 2 large), owner’s manual, and quick set-up guide
• MAXIMUM ACOUSTIC OUTPUT
  93 dB
• DRIVE COMPONENTS
  2.5″ Micro Cellulose Polymer cone with integrated high frequency disperser
• AMPLIFIER
  20 watt digital amplifier with Digital Signal Processing
• Transmitter
  2.4 GHz wireless transmission of 2 sources to 2 independent zones
• Transmitter Controls
  Zone 1, Zone 2, Source 1, Source 2, Volume up/down, Mute, Light Dimming up/down, Light on/off, Power on/off
• Transmitter Inputs
  1 right/left line level or 3.5 mm stereo line level for each source DC input
• LED Light
  10 watt long life LED, 40,000 hours rated (replace up to a 65 watt incandescent), fully dimmable and controlled from either the remote or the light buttons on the transmitter
• overall width
  5.1” (130.0 mm) diameter – without flange
• DEPTH
  7.1” (181.0 mm) – with socket and lens
• DIMENSIONS
  Transmitter 5.9” (151.0 mm) W x 7.0” (177.0 mm) L x 2.4” (60.0 mm) H
  Remote: 2” (52.0 mm) W x 5.1” (130.0 mm) L x 1.2” (30.0mm)
• WEIGHT
  2.51 lbs (1.14 kg)

Today Apple finally announced its long rumored tablet device the iPad. The iPad is half inch thin 1.5 lbs device with a capacitive touch screen and Apples own 1Ghz chip called the A4. Read on for the spec list and pics.

The iPad comes with a 9.7inch capacitive touch screen and  1 Ghz customized processor from Apple called the A4. it will come in 16, 32 and 64GB sizes will include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and and a accelerometer, GPS and compass. It’s also able to run all of the iPhone apps and the iPhone SDK will be updated for the iPad.  

Apple has also made a new deal with AT&T with this device and will be available contract free and plans start at $14.99 per month for 250MB and $30.00/month for unlimited.

Prices start at $499

This is big news in tablet and e-reader world. Apple has taken its iPhone philosophy in combining several products into one and put it in the iPhone. Let’s see if they will have the same success.

Stay tuned for video coverage and analysis on this announcement from BWOne.com and Booredatwork.com later this evening!!!

List of Specs:

• 9.7inch capacitive touch screen
• 1Ghz “A4” Apple customized processor
• 16, 32, and 64GB sizes
• 1.5 lbs
• .50in thin
• 10 hours of battery life and 30 days standby
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• 3G Via AT&T

Pics via Engadget & Gizmodo

Via Engadget & Gizmodo