ITV HD coming to Freeview

Topic: Home Entertainment

Well, we have good news and we have bad news. ITV HD is coming to Freeview HD in time for the World Cup in 2010, which is the good news. The bad news for those of you excited by this announcement is that it's only going to be offered in about half the homes in the UK.

ITV has made a deal with BBC to take some of its bandwidth allowing for the service. The channel will be offered along with Five, Channel 4, and BBC HD once the roll out is complete. Read more

Posted on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:01:14 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Toshiba Applies to Join Blu-ray Disc Association

Topic: Home Entertainment

You might recognize the name Toshiba as the company that backed the failed HD DVD format in the format wars against Blu-ray. Toshiba's aspirations of being the defacto HD standard came crashing down a few years back.

The company has decided that it has been out of the HD market for movie players for too long and last month we first got wind that the firm was looking to enter the Blu-ray market. Toshiba has now announced that it has applied to join the Blu-ray Disc association. Read more

Posted on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:08:46 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft to Compete with Hulu

Topic: Home Entertainment

Microsoft is reportedly set to challenge Hulu with an online video streaming service with the launch of MSN Video Player. The program will be run by the man who worked on the BBC Kangaroo project Ashley Highfield.

The video player will be funded by advertising in the form of commercials that will play for 30 seconds before a show and longer programs will have a commercial break mixed in as well. The pilot for the program will be for the UK only and will work as an extension to the current MSN video player. Read more

Posted on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:45:15 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

BBC and Partners Shed Failed Kangaroo Platform

Topic: Home Entertainment

The BBC and its partners ITV and Channel 4 have finally offloaded the ill-fated Kangaroo platform, which cost lots to build and failed before it started. The partners have agreed to sell the platform to Arqiva Ltd.

The Competition Commission killed the project saying that it would give the three firms too much power in the market. Arqiva says that it is buying all aspects of the platform including hardware, software, and IP and expects the sale to be complete in the next few weeks. Read more

Posted on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:32:45 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Toshiba Will Launch Blu-ray Player by Christmas

Topic: Home Entertainment

It's only been a few years now since Blu-ray defeated HD DVD in the format wars. Toshiba was the champion of the HD DVD format and when it ceded defeat to Blu-ray, it did so in one massive swoop.

Toshiba has now decided if you can’t beat them, join them, and will be offering a Blu-ray player to the movie loving public in time for Holiday shipping. The company plans to launch a Blu-ray player before the end of 2009. Read more

Posted on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:59:20 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

ASUS TV Monitor T1 Series unveiled

Topic: Home Entertainment

ASUS unveiled the TV Monitor T1 Series that combines desktop monitor and LCD TV technology to deliver HDTV broadcasting and Full HD Blu-ray Disc playback.
Featuring built-in TV tuners, these large screen monitors ( 22", 24" and 27" sizes) allow users to watch digital (DVB-T) and analog (PAL/SECAM) channels and enjoy all common TV functions in Europe. Read more

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:00:00 GMT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft to Offer Free Music Streaming in UK

Topic: Home Entertainment

Microsoft has announced that it will be starting a free music streaming service in the UK later this month. Microsoft is already working with several major music labels and the service sound similar to the Zune Pass that is available in America.

The service will offer unlimited streaming of songs from the Zune Marketplace for about £9.99 per month and users will be able to download 10 MP3 tracks each month to keep. That will make the Microsoft service roughly the same price as Spotify without ten free monthly downloads. Read more

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:33:57 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Virgin Media Updates HD Line

Topic: Home Entertainment

Virgin Media has announced that its HD lineup is growing by a few new channels. Among the new offerings are Living, FX, MTV Networks International, and National Geographic.

Several new HD shows will be available to XL TV customers including Criminal minds, Ghost Whisperer, Private Practice, and CSI. Virgin will also be getting The Wire, Family Guy, and True Blood with True Blood the only HD offering. Read more

Posted on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:49 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

LG Announces HR400 Blu-ray Recorder

Topic: Home Entertainment

LG has launched its slick HR400 Freeview Blu-ray recorder in the UK. The device conforms to the BD Live profile and has 160GB of internal storage for recording Freeview content.

The recorder supports Freeview+ and can record one channel while the user watches another. The unit features time-shifting and series recording options. Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:01:02 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

LG TVs to Feature ARM Processors

Topic: Home Entertainment

Future versions of the popular LG LCD TV line will feature powerful ARM processors for its sets. The processors will enable web browsing directly from the TV and enhanced interactivity.

Yahoo widget-channel like services are likely. The two processors slated to go inside the TVs are the ARM 11 and the Mali-200 and Mali-400 GPUs. Read more

Posted on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:51:06 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

FM and AM Radio Could be Gone by 2015

Topic: Home Entertainment

Thousands of drivers that enjoy AM and FM radio in their cars could lose the ability to tune in while driving by 2015 is a new governmental plan goes ahead. According to a report from Communications Minister Lord Carter, the majority of local and national radio stations would not be broadcast on AM or FM by 2015.

The move is to vacate the airwaves currently used for AM/FM broadcasts and broadcast the programs on DAB only. The remote also recommends DAB capability on all new car radios sold in the UK by the end of 2013. Read more

Posted on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:40:49 GMT | by Shane McGlaun