Always count on Sling to be cooking up a new batch of software right? This time around, it’s for Windows. SlingPlayer users can now grab the latest 2.0 update which adds support for a built-in programming guide, a live video buffer which basically works like a software DVR letting you pause, rewind, or fast-forward up to 60 minutes of video from your PC directly from SlingPlayer, and other cool features like integrated Sling accounts so you don’t have to constantly try and remember your Finder ID. All in all, good things, folks. You know we be Slingin’. No, they didn’t pay us to say that. Hit the link below to grab the new client.

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Come on Blockbuster, all the cool kids are doing it. Almost a year since announcing the acquisition of video download service Movielink, it looks like Blockbuster is finally getting ready to round out its portfolio with a download service of its own. No there still isn’t anything new with regards to the Blockbuster set top box many have been eagerly awaiting, but we’ll get there. In the meantime word on the street is that Blockbuster downloads should go live some time next month. A handful of Total Access members are currently beta testing the new service and so far it looks like everything is in order. Blockbuster will offer movie and TV show downloads for both rental and for purchase, though the number of available titles at the time of launch is still unknown. Whether or not the rental portion of the service will come with added fees attached is also still up in the air but we have to wage a guess that at least the upper-tier subscribers will have access at no charge. In light of the fact that Netflix and Microsoft’s partnership to stream content to Xbox 360 will be available soon enough, Blockbuster is going to have to do everything it can to make its new digital offering appealing.

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Tivo owners will be happy to learn that starting today and continuing over the next few weeks, TiVo will be rolling out a new version of their software. And as the post title and video above would suggest, version 9.4 of TiVo’s software brings with it a healthy dose of YouTube love. That’s right people, YouTube on your TiVo. No, YouTube videos aren’t going to look overly spectacular on your 60″ plasma screen, but at least you don’t have to get off the couch anymore every time you want to rewatch that Wii hula-hoop girl video. You’ll need a newer Series3 model to enjoy YouTube however, as the YouTube integration marks the first time that TiVo is using a codec other than MPEG-2 (they’re indeed using H.264) and older models don’t support additional codecs. As for other new goodies in the latest software version, at the end of the video above you can get a quick look at the new SDV Tuning Adapter support as well as the presence of TCP Remote support.

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As the economy continues to decline and unemployment rates continue to rise, now is a tough time for everyone. Particularly tough perhaps, if a big part of your business involves selling luxury items like HDTVs. In times of economic crisis people most often forgo big ticket items such as plasma and LCD TVs and opt to spend their money on, say, food and fuel. If you’re not one of the unlucky Americans hit hard by the current state of the union however, you might as well take advantage of some serious and wide-spread price dropping. The HDTV price cuts are manufacturer-instigated in most cases so the result will impact retailers across the country. While these new prices at major retailers still might not be the lowest you’ll find on the internet, it’s safe to assume eventually the price drops will be reflected in non-brick and mortar pricing as well. If things like a warranty and knowing for a fact that you won’t be screwed by some shady fly by night website, we say stick to the major shops and enjoy these cuts that bring most price points down to at least near-internet levels. Hit the read link to check out the full list of price drops, which includes 30 different HDTV models. The new pricing ranges from $100 off to $500 off; even up to $700 off taking a few new Best Buy sales into account.

[Via Unplggd]

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In the quest to reign the world of home entertainment streaming, partnering with Microsoft to provide your movie download service on Xbox 360 is definitely a good move. In fact, it’s a safe bet that a good percentage of potential set top box owners are already packing an Xbox 360 and for these guys you’re practically a shoo in. Netflix, of course, is the lucky winner here. Showcased at a Microsoft roundtable event held yesterday, Netflix’s Xbox 360 streaming service was actually quite impressive. Movies and TV episodes added to the Netflix queue (this still has to be done on a PC for now) become available on the Xbox 360 almost instantly and playback is controlled with the same familiar navigational elements used during DVD and video playback. As Netflix continues to expand its streamable library beyond the 10,000 movies and TV episodes already present, this partnership with Microsoft is going to help their service tremendously. Once it launches, the Netflix on Xbox 360 service will require a Gold level Xbox-Live subscription.

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Sony today rolled out three new additional lines of TVs under its high-end XBR Bravia brand. The XBR8 draws inspiration from the uber-luxurious XBR3 line, with 46″ and 55″ sets that sport Triluminos backlights, 120hz MotionFlow, and the Bravia Engine 2 processing machine. The mid-line XBR7 slots in with a huge 70″ set, in addition to a 40″-er, that both come complete with an WCG-CCFL backlight, in addition to the 120hz MotionFlow and the Bravia Engine 2 found on the XBR8s. Finally, the XBR6 brings up the “low end” with 40″, 46″, and 52″ screens. We have no word on pricing at the moment, but expect to see these hit store shelves sometime in the fall. Anyone drooling yet over the XBR8 55″ screen? Yeah, we thought you might be. Damn, didn’t we leak this already? Oh yeah. 

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If you’re a proud owner of a VUDU video-on-demand box or have been considering taking the plunge, today is your lucky day. The company has just announced the the availability of a wireless adapter, bringing its media box out of the wired stoneage and into the new millennium. The VUDU wireless adapter is a plug-and-play solution for integrating your VUDU box into your existing home wireless network. The adapter draws power from the VUDU itself, so there’s no need for an external power brick. $79 isn’t cheap, especially considering that the Wi-Fi capable Netflix box can be had for just $20 more. Then again, if VUDU is your poison of choice, this looks like a must-have accessory.

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Thanks to Texas Instruments and projectiondesign, your home projector may be getting a big boost in image quality and resolution. They’ve just announced the world’s first wide WUXGA projection chip. What does this mean, exactly? We’re glad you asked. WUXGA produces the highest possible projector resolution available, with a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, running at a 16:10 aspect ratio. In layman’s terms, this means that a projector armed with this new Texas Instruments chip could easily out-resolution your 1080p-capable TV or projector system, producing incredible image quality in the process. Excited yet? Yeah, we thought so. You’ll be able to snag a compatible projector system from Norwegian manufacturer projectiondesign soon, as the company plans on installing the new chips in their F30 and F10 projection systems. No word on price, but quality like this is rarely cheap.

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By some weird stroke of luck, cruelty, or fate the movie Hitman has shown up for free on iTunes. You can access the film by heading to the Movies section of the store, hitting the browse button, and navigating to the "thrillers" genre section. There, at the bottom of the list, is the movie Hitman. Why anyone would want to waste 1.5GBs of storage space on this obomination is beyond us, but if you’re the type that can’t turn down a free offer, no matter how appalling the product, then this one is for you. Could this be a sign of more free content to come? Probably not, as it appears to be more of a glitch than a feature, but you never know.

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It’s only Tuesday and this has already been quite a week for mobile software updates. Sling Media is continuing the trend with some solid new updates of its oh-so-great SlingPlayer Mobile application. The lucky platforms? Windows Mobile PocketPC, Windows Mobile Smartphone and Symbian S60. Here are some highlights:

• Added support for additional handsets (Nokia N95 8GB, Samsung i760, Treo 500v and more)
• Improved video streaming quality on select handsets (Sprint HTC Mogul for example)
• Added support for additional set-top box models and improved control on some currently supported models
• Added new channel favorite logos
• A few additional behind the scenes tweaks

Of course the upgrade is free for current SlingPlayer Mobile users so definitely hit the read link to fire up the latest builds. If you have a compatible smartphone and a Slingbox but haven’t made the leap yet, you’ll be happy to know there’s a generous 30-day trial; definitely worth checking out. Also of note, the BlackBerry and Symbian UIQ versions of the player are still under development and are slated for release later this year.

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What could possibly be better than your 52 inch Sony XBR5 TV? The XBR6, XBR7, and XBR8, of course! If there was any doubt about Sony’s seriousness with the XBR line, we can safely put that to rest right now. We’ve just got a hold of the product roadmap for this year, in addition to full spec sheets on the XBR6, XBR7 and the XBR8. The XBR6 and XBR7 lineup isn’t the most interesting compared to the current models, with modest upgrades like DLNA compliance, TV Guide IPG, "Enhanced" XMB interface, and now BRAVIA Sync capability. Also they sport four HDMI ports instead of three while still keeping both component inputs. There’s also a PC input as well, but it looks like the TVs shed the standard RCA inputs. Then again, will we really miss them?

Here’s where the XBR8 gets really exciting though — TRILUMINOS RGB LED backlight! Yes! That’s what we’re talkin’ about, folks. In addition to the LED backlighting, Sony has thrown in their "Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO", the new BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO, and all of the other features the XBR6 and XBR7 have. Excited yet? We’re foaming at the mouth. Now you may ask, BG, when can we buy one? Here’s where the roadmap comes into play:

There are a bunch of XBR models coming soon, and that also includes a 32" model as well as a 37" one, too. It looks like we’ll see the KDL-32XBR6 around the middle of May and the KDL-37XBR6 around the middle of July. Also, the KDL-46XBR8 will be launching in August. In September and October, the rest of the other models are set to be released. These include the KDL-40XBR6, KDL-46XBR6, KDL-52XBR6, KDL-40XBR7, KDL-70XBR7, and finally the KDL-52XBR8. Hit the jump for the full spec sheets and roadmap!

Thanks, Al!

A series of patent filings from October 2006 were recently uncovering, revealing a logical next step for Apple’s increasingly popular Apple TV service. The patents essentially cover the integration of TiVo-like DVR features into the set top box that would provide guide, recording and playback-control functionality to the user. DVR integration would certainly go a long way towards taking Apple’s product from a geek toy to big player in the home entertainment game. In a note to clients, American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu speculated that the addition of DVR functionality could boost Apple TV revenue from a paltry $100-125 million per year well into the billions. Wu believes that additional manufacturing costs brought on by added DVR functionality would be insignificant at $12-$15 per unit, and added appeal and value would be immense. "We (as well as many others) have been clamoring for DVR and/or TV tuner capabilities since the introduction of Apple TV 1.0 in January 2007 and even Apple TV 2.0 with movie rentals in January 2008. We are pleased to see Apple listening to customers similar to what it has done with iPhone, with adding native access to Exchange server." Going off on a brief tangent, Wu also mentioned that according to his sources, a Blu-ray deal between Apple and Sony is near completion. Wu’s note closes with a reaffirmation of AAPL’s buy rating and a target of $175. We might hold on a bit longer but you get the idea; Apple is certainly showing no signs of slowing down as it continues to find new ways into pockets well outside of its cult-like following of old.

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Hating on Monster seems to be the latest craze but if you’re a music lover and a tech lover, then there’s no denying that the iSoniCast is a cool piece of gear. Monster’s latest gadget is sleek and well-designed, convenient and surprisingly cheap as well. iSoniCast is a wireless audio bridge that allows you to wirelessly stream tunes from your iPod to your home audio system. Making use of the 2.4 GHz spectrum, it touts 4 Mbps (no, not 4 Gbps as one of the bullets on the product page states) of throughput to facilitate clear and uninterrupted playback with minimal interference. In fact, the unit makes use of intelligent frequency hoping to ensure that frequency crossing is kept at a bear minimum. iSoniCast easily hooks up to any home audio system using RCA connectors and the look should go nicely with your existing gear. Perhaps the best part about Monster’s design is that it uses the iPod itself to control playback. No need to worry about adding yet another remote to your junk drawer and no need to head over to your system in order to select a new track or playlist. Even if you pass on Monster’s overpriced cables, at $100 the iSoniCast is definitely worth a look.

[Via Monster PR]

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As news trickles across the web that Apple may have fallen a bit short of their movie rental targets, word of a new player in the online movie store game is surfacing once again. Rumors of Sony’s entry into online movie downloads has been floating around for over a year now, but apparently Sony is now very close to launching its offering geared towards the PlayStation 3 console. Sony reportedly showcased a preview of its upcoming movie download shop at the Destination PlayStation conference last week in Scottsdale, Arizona. The movie download service will integrate with Sony’s current online PlayStation Store, which is due for an overhaul in the Spring. Details as to the launch date, DRM implementation and pricing structure for movies are still unknown, but word on the street is that the US will get first crack at the service. Initially, all offerings will be Sony Pictures titles but Sony is no doubt in talks with additional studios to expand its catalog as quickly as possible after launch. Those who observed the preview are claiming that Sony has a gem on their hands. It’s a good thing too; they’ve been at it long enough.

[Via electric pig]

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If you are like us, you just can’t go without your TiVo. It puts every and any set-top box from your local cable company to shame. The Series3 price tag was a little hard to swallow for some folks, so the TiVo HD picked up some of that lower-cost slack. Well, it’s getting a little cheaper. That’s if you don’t mind a refurb. It’s only $199 if you swing for the one year TiVo service when you check out of their online store. It ends April 2nd, so we’d suggest heading over there with the quickness.

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It might look like a Nokia 5700 that has been tortured on a medieval stretch rack, but the SR1500 from tvCompass is actually a Digital Media Remote. Short of a cellular antenna, this jack of all trades actually packs most of the functionality of a mid-level mobile phone into a universal remote. Powered by a Windows OS, the SR1500 touts a 2.2" VGA display, 802.11b/g WiFi, an xHTML microbrowser, a WAP browser, real-time internet information services, a music player with DRM support and plenty more. It’s even open to third party development with WAP, compact framework, RSS/XML, J2ME and Flash support. But can it can control your home theater equipment? Even the most avid gear enthusiasts should be satisfied with the SR1500’s ability to control over 24 devices. Macros, learning capabilities, and even motion sensor functionality also provide some pretty decent control flexibility. You can view the automatically updated electronic program guide right on the device’s display, so the days of shrinking your TV picture to make room for the bulky program guide are over. Pricing and availability details aren’t yet available, but if tvCompass can find a way to keep the price point within the realm of reason, sign us up. Man, it sure is ugly as sin though…

[Via Crave]

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We kind of told you this yesterday, but we’ve just received exclusive confirmation from Sling directly. Sling Media has not received any sort of iPhone SDK and while we’ve been told they are exploring options, nothing is confirmed. Here’s what company spokesman Dave Zatz had to say: "The iPhone is an exciting platform and we’re anxious to check out the SDK when it’s made available." So don’t get your hopes up just yet. That might all change after MacWorld, though.

Even though for the moment the Blu-ray / HD-DVD war looks like it coming to an end, it might be smart to cut your losses and dip your feet in both ends of the pool. The LG BH200 Super-Blu player is a hybrid device that allows you to play both HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs from the comfort of your home theatre system. It’s a sleek box, though a bit on the large side, but it does feature support for LG’s proprietary QDEO video processing Codec, 1080i upscaling of existing DVD content, and much more. We’re not in love with the thick design, but if you’re looking to bridge the Hi-Def gap without grabbing two boxes, this is worth a good look. Check out the rest of the shots in the gallery!

Click on over to our CES: LG BH200 Super-Blu player!

Well, CES is definitely making companies bring out the guns! Then again, did we really think they weren’t? Sling Media’s recent product announcements are pretty good too. We’ve been waiting for the SlingCatcher for god knows how long? It’s basically a set top box that receives the video instead of the SlingBox where it transmits. What this does is "catch" that transmitted feed and bring it to your TV. Kind of cool, right? You go on a trip, have your SlingBox all setup at home, go to that remote location, plug in the SlingCatcher and you’re off! No more watching Ugly Betty on a crappy 17" monitor. SlingCatcher also has the ability to grab content from a USB thumb drive, or even a USB hard drive, so you’re never without you’re illegally-downloaded Divxs. But what if you don’t have any Internet connectivity by the plasma TV? There’s a 802.11g wireless option for it, so you’ll be straight. One more thing about the SlingCatcher until we move on…it’s the first SlingMedia device to have a remote. So pull up a chair, grab a cold one, and lean back. What good is new hardware without updated software though? SlingPlayer 2.0 for PC will make use of the newly announced SlingCatcher and allow you to "Clip+Sling" content — grab clips so to speak — and then share them instantly online. We’ve also finally got a program guide built right into the software, and even a 60-minute buffer which will allow local play, pause, rewind and fast forward controls. Existing SlingBox customers will be able to grab the new software this quarter for no additional cost. Last on the list would be the SlingModem. Don’t look that stunned, we knew they were going to start integrating the beloved Sling features with other hardware sooner or later. The SlingModem is actually fully functional and CableLabs certified. They’re currently in talks with all the MSOs in the US and even worldwide to get the ball rolling and get this thing out there! Hit the break for the juicy snaps of all the madness!

Welcome to the age where your remote could very well be the most sophisticated piece of technology in your home theater setup and beyond. The upcoming vPad by VidaBox slaps a 1024 x 786 resolution 10.4-inch touchscreen onto a remote with 802.11b & g support that’s less than 1 1/2-inches thick! The vPad allows you to control your home theater gear and multi-room audio setup, adjust your lighting scheme and even control your thermostat all from one wireless controller. The battery on the vPad is good for about 2 1/2 hours of usage and the included dock charges the sleek remote while displaying it in style to your envious friends. You can even monitor your home security cameras right on the vPad’s high resolution display so you’re ready to go all "Say chello to my lil’ frand" on anyone jealous of your setup. It’s designed to compliment VidaBox’s full line of controllers but will also work with your existing web-controllable home automation and/or multi-zone audio serving hardware, if you’ve already got it like that. If you already have a Crestron unit, though, you’re not missing out

[Via Engadget]

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You thought you were pretty slick when you bought that 42" plasma TV a couple of years ago, huh? Yeah, it was expensive, but you were the envy of every Monday night-football-watching-friend everywhere. But see, then those friends went out and bought a better model that was way less expensive than yours. Now you’re left with the problem of having only one HDMI port on the screen, and you’re not hip enough to use a receiver. What’s a man to do? Luckily, Belkin has come out with a 2-in-1 HDMI switch that allows you to have two devices plugged right in. It will also prevent you from looking like a monkey juggling HDMI cables behind the TV every time you want to get your Blu-ray on. It’s only $54.99 and comes with a remote so you never have to get out of bed and disturb the cats. Never disturb the sleeping cats.

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Media center PCs are definitely chic. And, for those that don’t have huge hardware requirements in their PC use, new options that are more visually appealing are moving to the forefront. Enter the new HTPC concept from Omaura, called the TT line. This line further pushes the "looks first" policy that seems to take most of their products by storm. No pricing (or even plans to actually make the product) has been announced, but if you take a click through their website, like many trendy things, it doesn’t look like it will be cheap. If money isn’t the kind of thing that concerns you, this could be the perfect marriage of sleek looks and I-don’t-want-to-get-up-and-walk-into-the-other-room computer laziness.

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Known for their projector screens, Da-Lite has just announced…a projector screen. It’s a new 184-inch model, and comes complete with the usual roll-up screen, and the perfect aspect ration to display your high def video in all its glory. They actually have a front, and rear "projection" model, but don’t jump the gun and think you’re getting an actual TV here. What’s actually pretty revolutionary is he fact that is sports "micro-perforated" fabric which actually allows rear mounted speakers to bump sound waves right through it. There’s currently no pricing info we can offer you, but we should expect to see if hit retail sometime after CES next year.

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Here’s the thing…you can’t truly appreciate that $250,000 Runco projector with out some bad ass speakers, right? High-end manufacturer Paradigm has just announced their new line of luxury speaker systems to please some of the most discerning amongst us. They range in price form $5,100 to $23,600. The thing about these speakers, is that they supposedly provide a "realistic listening experience." Go figure. The low-end Vista system sports front and read bookshelf-style speakers, and the Impact system adds free-standing floor speakers. The close-to-the-top-of-the-line-yet-not-quite-there-yet Prestige system adds Paradigm’s signature Anthem Statement A/D and A/V processing and amplification package. Finally, the crème de la crème is the Elitist system, and that adds a 12" subwoofer and a set of some of the best free standing floor speakers you’ll find this side of the Mississippi. Supposedly.

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We know that some people have moral reservations about Wal-Mart and everything, but this one is just too good to pass up. Today only, the mega-retailer is selling a Toshiba HD-DVD player for the unbelievably low price of $98.87. The Toshiba HD-A2 isn’t the most impressive player on the market, not by a long shot, but for under $100, we don’t want to hear any complaints. None. The stores will have limited numbers, so make sure to call ahead before making the trip. Unless Blu-ray can step their budget game up movies like this could prove to push HD-DVD over the top. HD-DVD anyone?

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All right ballers…now you can lace your crib with nothing but plasmas on the cheap. And not from some no-name knock off brand no one’s ever heard of. You know, the ones in the shady white vans? No, actually it’s Philips that’s blowing out refurbed, one-model-year-too-old sets for as low as $949.99 after instant rebate (and only $30 shipping!). Sure, some may balk at the idea of an old model, and one that’s been refurbished, but that size of TV for less than $1k is pretty good no matter how you slice it.  And, it comes from Philips, and to say they’ve been around for a while is a major understatement. Make the jump for the set of links.

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Real Networks has had quite a year, first partnering with Verizon and MTV, and now this. The company has just announced that they will be bringing their subscription-based streaming music service to a TiVo box near you. TiVo and Real have joined forces to bring you the craziest combination of pre-recorded TV and streaming audio this side of the Yangtze river. The service integrates with your existing Rhapsody account, providing one-click access to your entire music catalog, as well as any of a number of pre-determined Rhapsody Radio channels. You will also be presented with track name, album art, artist bio’s, and a whole lot more. No word on exactly when this will launch, or whether it will command a premium over your existing TiVo/Rhapsody bill, but rest assured that all will be revealed soon.

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A television that dynamically responds to clapping and applause? This new set from electronics manufacturer JVC allows users to control many standard functions by clapping and gesturing. Think of it as a sort of combination between a Nintendo Wii and a "Clap on / Clap Off" light fixture. The TV has a set of sensors that is able to memorize commands based on human hand / arm waving and the sound of clapping. You could, for example, program the device to flip to CNN every time you clap twice. It also responds to gestures, allowing you to select on-screen prompts by moving your arm. No word on when we can expect this technology to trickle down to the consumer level, but we’re pretty excited nonetheless. Bye bye remote control

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Fancy your speakers carved out of rare wood? Looking for something to make you stand out of the crowd? Maybe just want a conversation piece; Penaudio has something that might interest you. Standing tall and confidently, these speakers sport a subdued and classy appearance that would complement any number of interior designs. Nothing crazy, but perhaps that’s the point. The real wash here is that the damn things will run you roughly $8,550/pair, which is a heft price for a set of speakers from a relatively unknown company. For that amount of dough you could buy into a well-established brand with a proven track record. We must say, however, that if the sound quality is anything like the outward appearence, the big boys might have a new bit of competition to contend with.

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