Tech Blog - Page 2

One of the things I've heard most people excited about with Kinect is not so much its potential for games--which I suppose is surprising in a way--but its potential as a human computer interface. References to Minority Report are a bit cliché (and let's be honest: that film blew) but I suppose we're a bit closer as Netflix for Xbox 360 now allows users with a Kinect to select and control movies and TV using motion controls.

My how technology has changed in 50 years. Earlier today I noticed the Google Doodle pointing to resources about Yuri Gagarin's (and mankind's) first orbit of the Earth.

And then a few moments ago a friend,  @mynameiskate, pointed me at the YouTube logo -- modified too -- and links to First Orbit a free feature-length movie about Gagarin's flight...

Wireless is freedom.

The ability to take my laptop or iPad from room to room in my house and curl up on a couch or in a chair and get some work done, read some content or play a game is eternally liberating.

 Wireless headphones are a luxury that every constant traveler needs to grab.

Both Sony and Panasonic were holding dealer shows in the Toronto area over the last couple of days, and prominent in both of them were 3D technologies and Internet-connected platforms that were initially unveiled at CES in January. Now they’re ready for primetime, and Canadians interested in a Sony or Panasonic HDTV will have them included.

If you are a Facebook user and if you have Telus Optik TV at home, here's a neat little announcement from Telus. Telus Optik TV users can now view Facebook from their TVs! So now you can get your Facebook crave while watching TV, you can Like or Dislike shows that you're watching and more.

I've had a chance to test drive TDK's new offering in the "in-ear" headphone segment.

It's been a while coming so it's good to see that this union can finally be consumated on Valentine's Day: Boxee Box (and other Boxee devices) are now software upgradeable to include NETFLIX support here in Canada. 

It's a feature that users have been enthuiastically awaiting over the past few months. The launch date has slipped twice based on what the Boxee development team has termed "DRM issues" (honestly, is DRM good for anything other than being a pain in the rear ends of customers who actually want to pay for things?!)

Also included with this firmware update are a few more goodies:

It’s finally the Sunday that football fans and if you’re not prepped and ready yet, there’s still time. There are a few things that you need for the big day that’ll change your game from a plain old bowl to something that’s super.

Chances are you’ve got HD, but do you have the best panel to watch it on? Samsung’s making a splash again this year as the “Official HDTV of the NFL”, and for good reason. The C8000 series of LED LCD displays has been a consistent performer for them, with high ratings from tech pundits and customers alike

VHS. Cassette decks. Record players. Video stores.

If the nail hadnt been drilled down all the way with the likes of Netflix and On Demand services from cable companies, the release of the Apple TV further hammers the point home that when it comes to getting entertainment into your home on your tv, you no longer need to drive to the video store to make it happen.

Have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy watching Blu-ray movies? Yeah, a lot. And although until recently my Blu-ray watching was relegated to my office (the PS3 was the only Blu-ray player in the house), I still liked getting Blu-ray movies and watching them on my "paltry" 26" HD TV in my office. Well, except I liked one thing more than watching Blu-rays on my TV—watching the digital versions on my iPad, iPhone, and MacBook Pro. So I pay the extra money for the Blu-ray and digital copy combo...why? Let me tell you.

I’m not looking for any pats on the back here, but I called this one prior to the show. I probably should’ve blogged about that prior to the show, but web-connected TVs have stolen the limelight from 3D TVs at CES this year. And with good reason, since it’s a much more compelling story at the moment.

The gap between the PC and the TV can be felt on a variety of levels, but the most prominent and noticeable thing is that most TVs feel Dumb with a capital D. Even with modern refinements, many living room displays feel shackled by unintuitive, slow menus, commanded by a very clunky Infrared remote.

LG has stepped up to the plate with an effort to make TV smarter. Not just their TV, but any TV with an HDMI input. By introducing Smart TV LG has taken a stab at gentrifying the user experience for HDTV owners with better controls, cool features, and some great content. Smart TV will be included in some of LG's new lineup, but can be added to other TVs, including those from other brands, by way of a Smart TV box and remote. I don't say this often of televisions but I am impressed.

We got a new Blu-ray home theatre system over the weekend. Oh the power, the sound, the picture, the Internet...

Wait, what?

Yes, the Internet. Our new Blue-ray player has an ethernet port so I can connect it to the Internet. Which got me thinking about what the future of a connected home should or could look like. Watching the news and pull up additional information on the side of the screen. Wait, except TVs aren't always the best for reading lots of text off of. Okay, right, use an iPad app. Yeah we can do that already.

Which has now spurred the thoughts that maybe the question should really be isn't which device should be Internet aware (I think they all should be), but which device should be controlling them all.

If you’re a hockey fan in Alberta or BC and you’re thinking about stepping up to Optik TV from TELUS  you’ll probably be pretty happy to hear that they’re throwing in the NHL Centre ICE package for the rest of the season. Considering that the mid-season package is usually worth about $150, that’s pretty darned sweet.

If you’re on the west coast and you’re into IPTV there’s a whole bunch of good news headed your way. TELUS has announced some pretty cool stuff over the last few weeks  that customers will be pretty happy with.