MediaTech101
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
[Google Fast Flip] DIY Home Theater PC – How to Turn a PC into a H - Flash Player In...
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Hardware of media, very geeky
DIY Home Theater PC – How to Turn a PC into a H - Flash Player In...
New software and cheaper hardware make a compelling case for the PC as entertainment device. But should you buy one or build your own? BY GLENN DERENE AND ANTHONY VERDUCCI The computer industry has been trying to sneak its way into the home theater since 2002. That's when Microsoft first introduced Windows Media Center, a version of the company's media player with a "10-foot" user interface—large type and simplified menus that could be read and operated easily from couch distance. Apple followed in 2005 with Front Row, a Jobsian take on the 10-foot UI that was also used in the Apple TV. The computer-as-entertainment-device idea was compelling to technophiles (after all, people were already migrating massive amounts of music to their PCs), but it was a hard idea for most people to swallow back then. Dedicating a powerful, $1000-plus computer solely to TV duty was fine for the super-enthusiast, but computers at the time had few options for video (don't I already have a DVD player?), plus cable boxes and DVRs were becoming more computer-like anyway, so the computer as video recorder was an awkward fit. What a difference a few years can make. The price of a new computer has...
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Hardware of media, very geeky
DIY Home Theater PC – How to Turn a PC into a H - Flash Player In...
New software and cheaper hardware make a compelling case for the PC as entertainment device. But should you buy one or build your own? BY GLENN DERENE AND ANTHONY VERDUCCI The computer industry has been trying to sneak its way into the home theater since 2002. That's when Microsoft first introduced Windows Media Center, a version of the company's media player with a "10-foot" user interface—large type and simplified menus that could be read and operated easily from couch distance. Apple followed in 2005 with Front Row, a Jobsian take on the 10-foot UI that was also used in the Apple TV. The computer-as-entertainment-device idea was compelling to technophiles (after all, people were already migrating massive amounts of music to their PCs), but it was a hard idea for most people to swallow back then. Dedicating a powerful, $1000-plus computer solely to TV duty was fine for the super-enthusiast, but computers at the time had few options for video (don't I already have a DVD player?), plus cable boxes and DVRs were becoming more computer-like anyway, so the computer as video recorder was an awkward fit. What a difference a few years can make. The price of a new computer has...
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[Google Fast Flip] Google TV Faces Some Prime-Time Challenges
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How Google TV will change the market
Google TV Faces Some Prime-Time Challenges
By Tom Simonite Having conquered much of the Internet, it seems only logical for Google to try to take over television, too. But the Google TV platform unveiled at the firm's annual I/O developers' conference in San Francisco yesterday could face many problems. The goal of the platform, said senior product manager Rishi Chandra, is to offer the "best of what TV has to offer today, and the best of what the Web has to offer today." However, closer analysis of what is known about Google TV so far suggests that the firm has some work to do if its new platform is to live up to that promise. Google TV consists of a modified version of the open-source Android mobile phone operating system. It's designed to run on Internet-connected set-top boxes and high-definition televisions. The platform was developed in collaboration with Sony, Logitech, and chipmaker Intel, which is supplying relatively powerful Atom processors--chips already used in some laptop computers--for Google TV hardware. The hardware announced so far consists of two kinds of devices: Sony televisions and a set-top box made by Logitech. Both will be available in Best Buy stores in the fall. Google TV users will be able to sea...
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How Google TV will change the market
Google TV Faces Some Prime-Time Challenges
By Tom Simonite Having conquered much of the Internet, it seems only logical for Google to try to take over television, too. But the Google TV platform unveiled at the firm's annual I/O developers' conference in San Francisco yesterday could face many problems. The goal of the platform, said senior product manager Rishi Chandra, is to offer the "best of what TV has to offer today, and the best of what the Web has to offer today." However, closer analysis of what is known about Google TV so far suggests that the firm has some work to do if its new platform is to live up to that promise. Google TV consists of a modified version of the open-source Android mobile phone operating system. It's designed to run on Internet-connected set-top boxes and high-definition televisions. The platform was developed in collaboration with Sony, Logitech, and chipmaker Intel, which is supplying relatively powerful Atom processors--chips already used in some laptop computers--for Google TV hardware. The hardware announced so far consists of two kinds of devices: Sony televisions and a set-top box made by Logitech. Both will be available in Best Buy stores in the fall. Google TV users will be able to sea...
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Labels: android, google, google tv
¶ 5:54 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
[Google Fast Flip] Um, Did Google Just Quietly Launch A Web-Based iTunes Competitor? Yep.
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This is going to be an interest move, Apple your move
Um, Did Google Just Quietly Launch A Web-Based iTunes Competitor? Yep.
Um, Did Google Just Quietly Launch A Web-Based iTunes Competitor? Yep. Today at Google I/O, Vic Gundotra introduced Froyo, aka Android 2.2. But he also went a bit beyond Froyo. Coming soon, is a way to download an app through the Android Market over the web — and have it automatically download on your Android devices too. But that's not all. Gundotra also showed off a new section of the Market — Music. Yes, an iTunes competitor on the web from Google. Details are sparse at the moment, but here's how this basically works. You go to the Market on the web, find a song you like, click the download button, and just like with apps, the song starts to download on your Android devices. So it's iTunes, over the web, with auto-syncing. No word on who the partners are for this, what the prices will be, etc. Undoubtedly, we'll hear more about that soon. Gundotra also announced that Google recently : Simplify Media. Using this technology, Google will soon offer a desktop app that will give you access to all of your (DRM-free) media on your Android devices remotely....
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This is going to be an interest move, Apple your move
Um, Did Google Just Quietly Launch A Web-Based iTunes Competitor? Yep.
Um, Did Google Just Quietly Launch A Web-Based iTunes Competitor? Yep. Today at Google I/O, Vic Gundotra introduced Froyo, aka Android 2.2. But he also went a bit beyond Froyo. Coming soon, is a way to download an app through the Android Market over the web — and have it automatically download on your Android devices too. But that's not all. Gundotra also showed off a new section of the Market — Music. Yes, an iTunes competitor on the web from Google. Details are sparse at the moment, but here's how this basically works. You go to the Market on the web, find a song you like, click the download button, and just like with apps, the song starts to download on your Android devices. So it's iTunes, over the web, with auto-syncing. No word on who the partners are for this, what the prices will be, etc. Undoubtedly, we'll hear more about that soon. Gundotra also announced that Google recently : Simplify Media. Using this technology, Google will soon offer a desktop app that will give you access to all of your (DRM-free) media on your Android devices remotely....
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Labels: android, google, webservices
¶ 1:13 PM 0 comments
[Google Fast Flip] Google TV: 8 Big Questions
Sent to you by mlsj12 via Google Fast Flip:
Title said it all
Google TV: 8 Big Questions
The seamless integration of the Web and TV is the holy grail of home entertainment, but does Google's solution cover all the bases? Google TV is by no means the first service to try to combine TV and the Web. Web TV predates it by 15 years and Apple TV has been giving it a half-hearted attempt for the last three. Yet, with its industry-leading partners, a proven platform, and successful demonstration of phase one, Google TV does have the scent of a game changer. I think it's fair to assume many of you will be considering a Google TV purchase in the fall (in an anecdotal survey, over 60 percent of you told me you would). With that in mind, here are some things to consider before you make that investment. Google's partners include Sony, Logitech, and Intel. Direct TV is in there, too, but there were no major cable or fiber TV companies on site. This means that Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon FiOS, and other service provider customers will still need to use an IR blaster to control their cable boxes. If you're unfamiliar with this technology, here's how it works. There will be a port on the Logitech Google TV box. It will accept a very long cable that will end in a tiny pla...
Read full story ¶ 9:19 AM 0 comments
Title said it all
Google TV: 8 Big Questions
The seamless integration of the Web and TV is the holy grail of home entertainment, but does Google's solution cover all the bases? Google TV is by no means the first service to try to combine TV and the Web. Web TV predates it by 15 years and Apple TV has been giving it a half-hearted attempt for the last three. Yet, with its industry-leading partners, a proven platform, and successful demonstration of phase one, Google TV does have the scent of a game changer. I think it's fair to assume many of you will be considering a Google TV purchase in the fall (in an anecdotal survey, over 60 percent of you told me you would). With that in mind, here are some things to consider before you make that investment. Google's partners include Sony, Logitech, and Intel. Direct TV is in there, too, but there were no major cable or fiber TV companies on site. This means that Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon FiOS, and other service provider customers will still need to use an IR blaster to control their cable boxes. If you're unfamiliar with this technology, here's how it works. There will be a port on the Logitech Google TV box. It will accept a very long cable that will end in a tiny pla...
Read full story ¶ 9:19 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
[Google Fast Flip] Some Early Pictures Of Chrome’s New Web Apps Feature
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First look at Chrome OS
Some Early Pictures Of Chrome's New Web Apps Feature
Some Early Pictures Of Chrome's New Web Apps Feature Perhaps the biggest announcement during day one of Google I/O was — an app store for web apps that lives in Google's Chrome web browser (and soon Chrome OS). There's a lot of curiosity out there about how this will work. Here are a few early pictures to show you: Here's what tabs currently look like in Chrome (notice the TC favicon, Google is watching): Here's what installed apps will look like (on the left): Here's the app installation pop-up (notice that it informs you what it will need to access): Here's what the app launch page in Chrome will look like (the final icon is for the store itself): Here's one app, MugTug Darkroom, running in Chrome:...
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First look at Chrome OS
Some Early Pictures Of Chrome's New Web Apps Feature
Some Early Pictures Of Chrome's New Web Apps Feature Perhaps the biggest announcement during day one of Google I/O was — an app store for web apps that lives in Google's Chrome web browser (and soon Chrome OS). There's a lot of curiosity out there about how this will work. Here are a few early pictures to show you: Here's what tabs currently look like in Chrome (notice the TC favicon, Google is watching): Here's what installed apps will look like (on the left): Here's the app installation pop-up (notice that it informs you what it will need to access): Here's what the app launch page in Chrome will look like (the final icon is for the store itself): Here's one app, MugTug Darkroom, running in Chrome:...
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Labels: chrome OS, google, mobile
¶ 2:28 PM 0 comments
[Google Fast Flip] Google TV Vs. Apple TV Is Android Vs. iPhone Round 2
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A new front on the Apple VS Google war
Google TV Vs. Apple TV Is Android Vs. iPhone Round 2
by MG Siegler on May 20, 2010 During the keynote at Google I/O today, Google took a lot (and I do mean a lot) of not-too-subtle shots at Apple. Most of this was related to Android vs. iPhone, but it also delved into something else with the new Google TV platform. At the Q&A following the keynote, someone asked the question: what does this mean for Apple TV? Google dodged the question a little at first. Their line is that the TV ecosystem is now ready for something like Google TV (that implies that it wasn't before with devices such as the Apple TV). But they also noted that their idea is different from Apple because they're trying to do this in a different way. That way, naturally, is the "open" way. Whereas Apple TV is a device and a piece of software, Google TV is just a platform. Sony TVs will be called something different, for example, but they'll have Google TV built-in. And this is an important distinction because it allows Google to take what makes current TVs popular — showing TV content — and build on top of it. Apple doesn't do that with Apple TV. Instead, they created an entirely new way to get content (by download via iTunes). Users shouldn't have to choose betw...
Read full story
A new front on the Apple VS Google war
Google TV Vs. Apple TV Is Android Vs. iPhone Round 2
by MG Siegler on May 20, 2010 During the keynote at Google I/O today, Google took a lot (and I do mean a lot) of not-too-subtle shots at Apple. Most of this was related to Android vs. iPhone, but it also delved into something else with the new Google TV platform. At the Q&A following the keynote, someone asked the question: what does this mean for Apple TV? Google dodged the question a little at first. Their line is that the TV ecosystem is now ready for something like Google TV (that implies that it wasn't before with devices such as the Apple TV). But they also noted that their idea is different from Apple because they're trying to do this in a different way. That way, naturally, is the "open" way. Whereas Apple TV is a device and a piece of software, Google TV is just a platform. Sony TVs will be called something different, for example, but they'll have Google TV built-in. And this is an important distinction because it allows Google to take what makes current TVs popular — showing TV content — and build on top of it. Apple doesn't do that with Apple TV. Instead, they created an entirely new way to get content (by download via iTunes). Users shouldn't have to choose betw...
Read full story
Labels: android, apple, google tv
¶ 9:19 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
[Google Fast Flip] Google Introduces the WebM Video Format
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A new round in the video format wars begin.
Google Introduces the WebM Video Format
Today at Google I/O, Google officially announced the forthcoming release of an open source, royalty-free video format called WebM. Using the VP8 codec that Google acquired from On2 last February, the format is backed by fellow browser makers Mozilla and Opera. In April, rumors about the open sourcing of VP8 started to take off, but the implications of what VP8 — and now WebM — might mean has been somewhat clouded by the bigger battle between Apple and Adobe over HTML5, Flash and the future of mobile platforms. While WebM is not currently part of the HTML5 spec, it will be added as a supported part of the ¶ 1:20 PM 0 comments
A new round in the video format wars begin.
Google Introduces the WebM Video Format
Today at Google I/O, Google officially announced the forthcoming release of an open source, royalty-free video format called WebM. Using the VP8 codec that Google acquired from On2 last February, the format is backed by fellow browser makers Mozilla and Opera. In April, rumors about the open sourcing of VP8 started to take off, but the implications of what VP8 — and now WebM — might mean has been somewhat clouded by the bigger battle between Apple and Adobe over HTML5, Flash and the future of mobile platforms. While WebM is not currently part of the HTML5 spec, it will be added as a supported part of the ¶ 1:20 PM 0 comments
[Google Fast Flip] How to Design a Web App for Google TV
Sent to you by mlsj12 via Google Fast Flip:
Google TV apps will change the way we watch TV
How to Design a Web App for Google TV
How to Design a Web App for Google TV Google has released a preliminary developer's guide to aid those interested in porting their web or mobile applications to , the newly announced platform built on top of technology. With Google TV, "television is no longer confined to showing just video" explains Salahuddin Choudhary, Google TV Product Manager, in . "It can be a photo slideshow viewer, a gaming console, a music player and much more." But how does one build a working application for Google TV? Although deeper, technical details are still forthcoming (sign up for updates), developers interested in this new platform can now follow on the Google TV developer site. These are essentially style suggestions for building TV-enabled web apps, something which developers should consider if building apps for any TV platform, not just Google's. identify the vital parts of your app before starting work, stick with one visible mode of navigation or one information hierarchy, make the primary action reachable in one click, avoid the temptation to use abstract icons, limit vertical scrolling, preselect the user's next action when you can. Google TV users will often navigate with a directional pa...
Read full story ¶ 9:16 AM 0 comments
Google TV apps will change the way we watch TV
How to Design a Web App for Google TV
How to Design a Web App for Google TV Google has released a preliminary developer's guide to aid those interested in porting their web or mobile applications to , the newly announced platform built on top of technology. With Google TV, "television is no longer confined to showing just video" explains Salahuddin Choudhary, Google TV Product Manager, in . "It can be a photo slideshow viewer, a gaming console, a music player and much more." But how does one build a working application for Google TV? Although deeper, technical details are still forthcoming (sign up for updates), developers interested in this new platform can now follow on the Google TV developer site. These are essentially style suggestions for building TV-enabled web apps, something which developers should consider if building apps for any TV platform, not just Google's. identify the vital parts of your app before starting work, stick with one visible mode of navigation or one information hierarchy, make the primary action reachable in one click, avoid the temptation to use abstract icons, limit vertical scrolling, preselect the user's next action when you can. Google TV users will often navigate with a directional pa...
Read full story ¶ 9:16 AM 0 comments
