First broadband over power lines working spec released

First broadband over power lines working spec released: "It's been a long slow go for broadband over power lines, but it looks like things are finally picking up steam -- an IEEE working group has completed main development of the standard and released the first draft of technical specs. Of course, there's still the arduous finalization process to go through, but now that BPL is an actual functioning standard we're hoping to see a new class of 100Mbps internet providers pop up and bring some much-needed competition to cable and DSL.
Filed under: Networking

First broadband over power lines working spec released originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

LG to Embed Vudu’s On-Demand Movie Service Into TVs

LG to Embed Vudu’s On-Demand Movie Service Into TVs: "
Streaming media provider Vudu has partnered with LG to include its software into upcoming LG high-definition TVs. The move will get rid of the intermediary set-top box and allows consumers to directly watch on-demand content from the internet on their TVs.

“Smart TV’s are part of an exciting new industry trend,” says Alain Rossmann, CEO of Vudu. “Vudu is partnering with leading consumer electronics vendors to embed the new Vudu service directly into the TV, eliminating the expense and hassle of purchasing, installing or connecting another device to the TV.”

The new Vudu service delivered through LG TVs allows consumers to discover and watch high definition movies on-demand. The service will be available on upcoming models of LG’s broadband TVs later this fall.

Licensing Vudu’s software to consumer electronics makers such as LG though is a strategy that allows Vudu to go out of the box and focus on delivering the service. It’s a strategy similar to what GPS-navigation devices maker Dash had adopted. Dash started out by producing standalone GPS boxes with its software that offered services such as local search. But the company soon abandoned the hardware-based GPS systems and instead focused on licensing its applications and services to run on other products. BlackBerry maker Research In Motion acquired Dash earlier this year.

In the last two years, streaming media boxes that bring online movies, TV shows and content to the TV have become popular with consumers, though they are still a small fraction of audience that rents movies. Apple launched its Apple TV in 2007. Meanwhile, Roku, a company that started by offering $100 boxes in partnership with Netflix included access to content from Amazon.com earlier this year. Netflix rival BlockBuster also has a streaming video box available.

Vudu says its service differs from rivals in that it can offer movies in 1080p definition and high resolution Dolby Digital surround sound. Vudu also offers features such as instant fast forwards, rewind and instant start for all its movies. Customers can instantly buy or rent from the company’s library of movies with no monthly fees.

See Also:

• Vudu Movie Streamer Plummets to $150


• Vudu Summons Pandora as a Web-based App


• Vudu Application Brings Remote Rentals to iPhone


• Vudu Software Update


• Vudu Software Update Adds More HD Content

World’s Biggest Portable TV Is 13 Meters Long

World’s Biggest Portable TV Is 13 Meters Long: "
In this case, the definition of “portable” has been stretched slightly. The iConic 100 LED screen has more in common with a billboard than a television, with a surface area of 100m². The screen is actually high-def and can play back 720p video.

From there, the numbers get even bigger. The display is 12.8 meters long and 7.2 meters tall. That’s a 578-inch screen, if my math is correct, and the TV takes a half hour to set up once it has arrived. And how, you are no doubt asking, could this be called portable? That’s the trick. The Iconic comes on wheels. Giant, flatbed trailer wheels which hook up to a truck, making it technically “portable”, despite weighing 33,000Kg. It even comes with a generator so you don’t have to find a socket to plug it in.

So, is this the world’s largest portable TV? Actually, no. There’s no built-in tuner, so really it’s just a big ol’ screen.

Product page [Adi. Thanks, ]

Leica S2: $26,000 Body-Only

Leica S2: $26,000 Body-Only: "


Leica’s long-time-coming S2 DSLR is about to hit the stores in the UK for a bank account-emptying £16,000, or around $26,000. And that’s not even the top-end version. To get a sapphire-glass LCD screen and some gussied-up “Platinum Service”, you’ll have to drop another £3,100, or almost $5,100. To put that in some perspective, you could buy a Leica M8 and a lens for around the same price as the upgrade alone.

The camera looks sweet, though: 37.5 million pixels sit atop a huge 30×45mm sensor, a whopping 56% bigger than a full-frame sensor or rectangle of 35mm film. This is unashamedly a big, fat medium format camera, and it looks like a battleship, although it is actually smaller than a lot of pro 35mm DSLRs. The entire S range will launch in October, and you can see the full line-up of lenses and prices over at DP review. To give you a taster, the cheapest thing on the list is the battery charger, which will cost a ridiculous $420.

Leica reveal S-system pricing and launch date [DP Review]

See Also:

• Leica S2 Reinvents 35mm: More Megapixels, More Millimeters, More …


• $11000 Leica Lens Sees in the Dark

Kodak Flips-Out With 1080p Pocket Camera

Kodak Flips-Out With 1080p Pocket Camera: "
Watch out, Flip, Kodak’s in town, and he’s a’gunnin’ for ya. Kodak’s new Zi8 pocket video camera comes in at $20 less than Flip’s Ultra HD and manages to beat it in almost every way. The Kodak shoots 1080p, the Flip just 720p. The Kodak has built-in image stabilization (electronic, not physical), a microphone socket and an SD card slot for adding up to 32GB of memory (although it ships without a card in the box and just 128MB internal memory). The Flip doesn’t. The Kodak even has ther Flip’s trademark flip-out USB plug and snaps five megapixel stills.

In short, if you were thinking of buying a Flip Ultra HD, you should be taking a long look at the Kodak instead. Heck, Kodak even hired a designer this time and made the camera look nice, something the company hasn’t done for a while. $180, available September.

Product page [Kodak]

New Flip Ultra and UltraHD Now Official

Pure Digital Flip Mino HD

Kodak Zi6

Flip HD and Kodak ZI 6 Sample Video - Video - Wired

Apple Doubles Time Capsule Capacity

Apple Doubles Time Capsule Capacity: "


Apple’s Time Capsule is a fantastic idea. Even if you don’t use the rather gimmicky and feature-lacking Time Machine backup service, a networked hard drive that “just works” is incredibly handy. But, as with most Apple accessories, they’re expensive. Up until today, $500 for a 1TB drive and a router in the same box was rather steep, especially as there are plenty of cheaper, non-Apple solutions.

Apple has partially fixed this, and both Time Capsules have doubled in storage for no price increase. Now a 1TB model will cost you $300, and a 2TB box $500. That’s still rather a lot, but if you were buying a one terabyte unit anyway, you just saved $200.

Product page [Apple]

AT&T and Apple Ban Google Voice App: Is It Illegal?

AT&T and Apple Ban Google Voice App: Is It Illegal?: "
Apple’s rejection of applications from the iPhone App Store is at times baffling, and at others, potentially anti-competitive. Dow Jones reports tonight that the FCC is looking into one such ban – the recent rejection of the Google Voice app from the store.

The report says that three letters were sent out late Friday – to Google, AT&T and Apple – seeking answers as to whether AT&T was involved in the rejection, and whether Apple had approved any other Google apps. The letters also reference two pending investigations into wireless open access and exclusive deals between carriers and handset manufacturers (eg. Apple and AT&T).

BusinessWeek’s Arik Hesseldahl grabbed the full letters from the FCC website and posted them to Scribd: they’re embedded below.

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Letter to Apple

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FCC letter to Apple

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Letter to AT&T

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FCC Letter to AT&T

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Letter to Google

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FCC Letter to Google

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Reviews: Google