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TiVo's 3Q results reveal Virgin Media UI deal, new remotes on the way -- but no new boxes

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 24th 2009 at 7:40PM

Besides linking up with Google, TiVo has some other big news coming out of its third quarter results, first that it lost less money than expected, a mere $6.7 million instead of the $8-10 predicted. Bigger than that for UK denizens, TiVo has cut a long-term deal with Virgin Media to put its software and UI on the cable company's next gen set-top boxes, including access to online features, due in 2010. On this side of the Atlantic, besides resuming marketing in New England, the company's work with Comcast will continue, including a tru2way mention, while Cox and RCN also deploy boxes throughout next year. The future for TiVo? Expect Best Buy's digital video delivery store to find its way on the box soon, while the company also expands beyond just DVRs expecting to create "some very interesting product opportunities for our next generation TiVo products and services." All that online content means the old peanut isn't long for this world, with development of a new "keyboard remote control" under way, we just can't wait to see if it's beaming commands to any new DVRs at CES.

HDTV Listings for November 24, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 24th 2009 at 5:19PM

What we're watching tonight:
  • ABC (720p) has V at 8 p.m. and the season finale of Dancing with the Stars at 9 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) airs 90210 at 8 p.m. and Melrose Place at 9 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has NCIS at 8 p.m. NCIS: LA at 9 p.m. and The Good Wife at 10 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has Dirty Jobs at 9 p.m. and Ghost Lab at 10 p.m.
  • FX (720p) has Sons of Anarchy at 10 p.m.
  • DirecTV (1080i) has Eyes at 10 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has Table for 12 at 8 & 8:30 p.m., 18 Kids & Counting at 9 p.m. and The Little Couple at 10 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has college basketball with Maryland/Cincinnati at 7 p.m. and Gonzaga/Wisconsin at 9:30 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) has Ball State/Western Michigan college football at 7 p.m. and Texas/Pittsburgh college basketball at 10 p.m.

James Cameron thinks he can get viewers asking to wear 3D glasses

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 24th 2009 at 11:56AM

Viewers watching 3D
The promotional hype train for Avatar is just getting started, one of the more recent stops was on 60 Minutes for an interview with director James Cameron. Of course one of the segments focused on was the film's potential to push 3D at home and in theaters, with Cameron dropping this interesting line on all the glasses-haters (video embedded after the break) "my goal has been, over the last few years to get people from a point of say "Do I have to wear the glasses?" to a point of saying "Do I get to wear the glasses?" because the glasses must then become associated the sense of a heightened experience, of a journey." Our trip took a turn towards believing in 3D after checking out the BCS National Championship game last year, we'll have to wait for the launch December 18 to see if this very Pocahontas / Dances with Wolves style sci fi tale is a similar turning point for others.

Continue reading James Cameron thinks he can get viewers asking to wear 3D glasses

Rogers Cable starts Canadian On Demand Online beta November 30

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 23rd 2009 at 7:00PM

Count another cable company for the online VOD trend, this time Rogers Cable in Canada. Tonight it's showing off RogersonDemand.com, where customers will soon be able to stream video from 19 channels. the beta kicks off for all customers November 30, with all the usual streaming video features (listed after the break) with an eye towards launching more social oriented bits in 2010. Also due in Q2 of next year is streaming to mobile handsets, we'll see if it beats Comcast and Verizon to the punch. Anyone else glad to see Canada's catching up (slowly) in the internet delivered TV programming department?

Continue reading Rogers Cable starts Canadian On Demand Online beta November 30

HDTV Listings for November 23, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 23rd 2009 at 5:01PM

What we're watching tonight:
  • CBS (1080i) has How I Met Your Mother at 8 p.m., Accidentally On Purpose at 8:30 p.m., Two and a Half Men at 9 p.m., The Big Bang Theory at 9:30 p.m. and CSI: Miami at 10 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has Dancing with the Stars at 8 p.m. and Castle at 10:01 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has House at 8 p.m. and Lie to Me at 9 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) brings Heroes at 8 p.m. and Trauma at 9 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) has One Tree Hill at 8 p.m. and Gossip Girl at 9 p.m.
  • USA (1080i) has WWE: Raw at 8 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has the series finale of Jon & Kate Plus 8 at 9 p.m. and Cake Boss at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Titans/Texans Monday Night Football at 8:30 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) has Texas/Iowa college basketball at 10 p.m.

Rovi TV Guide widget debuts on Samsung HDTVs

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 23rd 2009 at 4:18PM

The agreement between Rovi (formerly Macrovision) and Samsung for EPG data has taken an odd turn with the debut of the TV Guide widget for Samsung's Yahoo! Widget enabled HDTVs. Check the pictures to get an idea of what it looks like, though with host of these televisions likely hooked up to satellite or cable boxes, the usability of these abbreviated "what's on" listings when another click of the remote would bring up a guide that will actually tune to those stations. Still, check the pics for an example of the flexibility of the widget platform, including the option to load up Daily Hotlists from Rovi's editors daily, complete with personal profiles but aren't exactly satiating the appetite we've developed for the Liquid guide demoed earlier this year.

Continue reading Rovi TV Guide widget debuts on Samsung HDTVs

HDTV Listings for November 22, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 22nd 2009 at 7:57PM

What we're watching tonight:
  • NBC (1080i) has Eagles/Bears Sunday Night Football at 8:15 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has The Simpsons at 8 p.m. and The Cleveland Show at 8:30 p.m.
  • Showtime (1080i) has Dexter at 9 p.m. and Californication at 10 p.m.
  • HBO (1080i) has the season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) lines up Did the Mob Kill JFK? at 8 p.m., JFK: The Ruby Connection at 9 p.m. and Storm Chasers at 10 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has Cold Case at 9 p.m. and Three Rivers at 10 p.m.
  • History (720p) has the premiere of Cowboys & Outlaws at 9 & 10 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Real Salt Lake/LA Galaxy MLS action at 8:30 p.m.

HDTV Listings for November 21, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 21st 2009 at 4:46PM

What we're watching tonight:
  • Fox (720p) has Cops at 8 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) airs Kansas/Texas or Oregon/Arizona college football at 8 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) airs Saturday Night Live with Joseph Gordon Levitt at 11:29 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Kansas State/Nebraska college football at 7:45 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) has Kentucky/Georgia college football at 7:45 p.m.
  • ESPNU (720p) has Vanderbilt/Tennessee at 7 p.m. and Nevada/New Mexico State college football at 10:30 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has California/Stanford college football at 7:30 p.m.

Poll: What's the best night to watch TV?

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 21st 2009 at 2:00PM

We've had plenty of time to get used to the fall's new shows and nightly lineups so it's time to decide, which night boasts the best lineup of (scripted) television programming? Of course Tuesday has already been up for some debate, but we figure there's at least one day that leaves you with a fully stuffed DVR that takes a couple more days to work through, so get to voting, and let us know in the comments which show's you're watching.

What night has the best TV?

HDTV Listings for November 20, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 20th 2009 at 4:57PM

What we're watching tonight:
  • CW (1080i) has Smallville at 8 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) brings Ghost Whisperer at 8 p.m., Medium at 9 p.m. and Numb3rs at 10 p.m.
  • USA (1080i) has Monk at 9 p.m. and White Collar at 10 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has Ugly Betty at 9 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has Law & Order at 8 p.m.
  • MyNetworkTV (1080i) has WWE: Smackdown at 9 p.m
  • Syfy (1080i) airs Stargate Universe at 9 p.m. and Sanctuary at 10 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has Lobstermen at 9 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has Say Yes to the Dress at 9 p.m. and the series premiere of Happily Ever Faster at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has an NBA doubleheader with Magic/Celtics at 8 p.m. and Nuggets/Clippers at 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) has Boise State/Utah State college football at 9:30 p.m.

HDTV Listings for November 19, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 19th 2009 at 4:47PM

What we're watching tonight:
  • ABC (720p) has FlashForward at 8 p.m., Grey's Anatomy at 9 p.m. and Private Practice at 10:01 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has Bones at 8 p.m. and Fringe at 9 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has Community at 8 p.m., Parks & Recreation at 8:30 p.m., The Office at 9 p.m. and 30 Rock at 9:30 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has Survivor at 8 p.m., CSI at 9 p.m. and The Mentalist at 10 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) airs The Vampire Diaries at 8 p.m. and Supernatural at 9 p.m.
  • WGN (1080i) has WWE Superstars at 8 p.m.
  • Spike (1080i) has TNA! Impact at 9 p.m.
  • History (720p) has the season finale of WWII in HD at 9 & 10 p.m.
  • FX (720p) has It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 10 p.m. and The League at 10:30 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) the season finale of Street Customs at 8 p.m., American Chopper at 9 p.m., and Family Armor at 10 p.m.
  • NFL Network (1080i) has Dolphins/Panthers football at 8 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Colorado/Oklahoma State college football at 7:30 p.m.

Broadcasters predictably unsettled about FCC taking away spectrum

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 19th 2009 at 4:18PM

You had to know that the FCC's investigation into other uses for current broadcast DTV spectrum wouldn't be met warmly by broadcasters, now the NAB has come out and said it needs every bit of frequency available. Apparently up for discussion are its reasons why, as the group is at odds with FCC advisor Blair Levin over whether retrans fees are the only issue or, as NAB VP Jane Mago states, preserving HD for consumers is key. We're sure OTA viewers of channels leaving bandwidth on the table for multicasting, or worse simply unused as we discussed on the podcast would beg to differ, but the one thing that is for sure is the current broadcast TV system won't go quietly into the night, no matter what potential a new paradigm might hold.

HDMI logos updated: version numbers out, supported features in

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 19th 2009 at 11:31AM

A response to cable sellers marking hardware v1.4 compliant before a test was even available or just another way for Monster Cable to ratchet up prices, we're not sure, but HDMI Licensing, LLC has reworked the packaging requirements for all new cables and products. Cable packaging must lose version numbers starting today, while HDMI-equipped components can only use version numbers in conjunction with listing specific features supported, and lose version numbers entirely starting January 1, 2012. The picture above features logos you'll find on certified hardware going forward, while we can appreciate being tied to supported features and not just version numbers that may or may not fully apply (*cough cough* remember the "HDMI 1.3" PS3Fat?) there's no way things get any less confusing when hooking up the new 4K or 3D capable HDTVs.

HDTV Listings for November 18, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 18th 2009 at 4:39PM

What we're watching tonight:
  • CBS (1080i) has The New Adventures of Old Christine at 8 p.m., Gary Unmarried at 8:30 p.m., Criminal Minds at 9 p.m. and CSI: NY at 10 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has Mercy at 8 p.m. and Law & Order SVU at 9 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has Glee at 9 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) airs The Middle at 8:30 p.m., Modern Family at 9 p.m. and Cougar Town at 9:30 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has Mythbusters at 9 p.m. and Time Warp at 10 p.m.
  • Syfy (1080i) has Ghost Hunters at 9 p.m. and the premiere of Ghost Hunters Academy at 10 p.m.
  • FX (720p) has Nip/Tuck at 10 p.m.
  • Spike (1080i) has The Ultimate Fighter at 10 p.m.
  • DirecTV (1080i) has Friday Night Lights at 9 p.m.
  • Comedy Central (1080i) brings the season finale of South Park at 10 p.m.
  • History (720p) has WWII in HD at 9 & 10 p.m.
  • TBS (1080i) has House of Payne at 9 & 9:30 p.m. and Meet the Browns at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has Flowers Uncut at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has an NBA doubleheader with Cavs/Wizards at 7 p.m. and Spurs/Mavericks at 9:30 p.m.
  • EPSN2 (720p) has Central Michigan/Ball State college football at 8 p.m.

Ask Engadget HD: What's the cheapest way to get streaming internet video on my HDTV?

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 18th 2009 at 3:15PM

It's hard to imagine, but there are a few home theaters out there not yet capable of pulling in internet video. Though quality, selection and pricing are going to remain issues for the foreseeable future, that doesn't mean our friend Keith wants to wait any longer to get on the train:

"Currently I have my home theater with a projection TV, Samsung Blu-ray player and Dish Network DVR, but I've been watching a lot of streaming video on my desktop PC and want to get it on my television. Netflix, YouTube when it goes 1080p, Hulu, as much as possible. What's the cheapest way for me to get streaming internet video sources hooked up to my existing equipment?"

If price is a consideration that may knock out most Media PC builds, but while plenty of newer Blu-ray players have streaming built in he could also opt for a game console, new DVR, dedicated hardware from Roku or VUDU or wait to see what kind of Boxee will deliver. Any tips on how you got the most internet sources hooked up to your television with the least up front cost?

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.




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