10/26, 2:45pm
Skifta Android app lets users stream to devices
Qualcomm Atheros just announced the release of the Skifta 1.0 Android app (free, Android Market) that will allow users to stream content from their Android devices or saved on the cloud to any DLNA-compatible device. It will offer a Channel library, that will let users access content from their Picasa, Photobucket, Soma.fm, Napster, ShoutCast, Revision 3 and TED Talks accounts or service, among others, without launching those apps separately.
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10/26, 12:55pm
Winamp 1.2 brings Mac syncing in beta, more
AOL has just released Winamp for Android 1.2 (free, Android Market), which brings with it Mac support, albeit in beta. It allows syncing with Macs with WinAmp for Mac Sync Beta, letting users import their iTunes libraries]. There is also wireless syncing between desktop and phone.
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09/14, 1:25pm
Sony Dash B7 and B70 joined by N200 in US
Sony as part of its home media push Wednesday unveiled a rearchitected Dash and brought the N200 streaming media player to the US. The Dash HID-B7 and HID-B70 are now PC-free, having their own setup processes, and have a simple web browser for a quick information check. The B70 adds a built-in lithium-ion battery to let it serve as a traveling clock radio.
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09/06, 7:10pm
We test ViewSonic's media hub
The VMP75 NexTv is ViewSonic's latest foray into living rooms for what's quickly becoming a crowded field of media hubs. This network media player can serve up content from a variety of local and online sources and even has its own web browser. But is it a strong balance, or trying to do too much at once? And how does it stack up against an Apple TV? Our NexTV review hopes to provide an answer.
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08/13, 10:50am
New firmware includes app management features
A new firmware update for Sony's Dash Personal Internet Viewer adds AOL's free Shoutcast Internet radio service to the Chumby-based device. Any of the Shoutcast stations can be used with the device's clock radio feature. The update also includes a shortcut to a thumbnail gallery for faster access to apps installed on the user's personal channel. The update installs automatically when the Dash is restarted by unplugging it momentarily then plugging it in again.
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07/06, 8:50am
Sony x600ES and S1700ES have iOS apps, automation
Sony has come out of the Independence Day weekend with a new set of ES series home theater hardware. All of the line is now targeted at custom installations and will only be available through specialty shops. Every device now has at least one IR input jack to link with a unified remote control system; the receivers also have serial ports to link with home automation systems like Crestron or Savant.
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04/09, 9:10am
Sony Walkman docks stream Shoutcast radio
Sony late Thursday put out a slew of new Walkman speaker docks in its native country that each achieve something rare. The NAS-V5 and NAS-V7M both have Wi-Fi built-in and will stream Internet radio either from 9,000 pre-programmed vTuner stations or any Shoutcast MP3 broadcast. They both have CD players and can even rip CDs directly to a Walkman while it's attached; the V7M can also rip music directly to 16GB of built-in storage.
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01/04, 12:00am
Popcorn Hour sequel handles 1080p
Syabas preluded CES today with its most ambitious media hub to date. The Popbox replaces the Popcorn Hour as the flagship media hub and revolves around a major, much more polished interface overhaul designed by Moxie's inventor and former Microsoft executive Dewey Reid. In addition to showing visual thumbnails of virtually everything and universal search, the interface has applets known as Infopops that show weather, Twitter feeds and other data whenever the viewer pauses what's playing. As with the previously available Popapps, new Infopops can be added over time.
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12/21, 1:05pm
SHOUTcast Internet radio now on Popcorn Hour hubs
Syabas on Monday added a new functionality to its Popcorn Hour A-110 and C-200 network media hubs, allowing them to access AOL’s free SHOUTcast Radio Directory. This will let users access over 32,000 MP3-based radio stations using their Popcorn Hour remote controls, bringing it to their home theater set-ups or living rooms on their TVs. The two Popcorn Hour hubs already support a wide range of digital audio and video files, and can stream audio and video content from partners that include Vuze, CNET TV, CBS, CNN and others.
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03/13, 5:15pm
Toshiba JournE Air frames
In Europe on Friday, Toshiba released a pair of Wi-Fi-capable digital photo frames as part of its new JournE Air range. The JournE Air 1000 is the flagship, offering a 10-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio LCD-backlit screen with 1GB of internal memory and a memory card slot for expansion. It also has a pair of 0.5W speakers and an online connection for playing Internet radio stations with 50 presets for SHOUTcast MP3 streams. A touch sensor replaces old-fashioned buttons for a clean design, or users can use the standard infrared remote control.
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