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Adobe Announces Plans To Abandon Flash On Linux

Tim A — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:33:10 +0000

Well, I hope that all of you Linux users like to use Chrome. It looks like Adobe is cutting off Linux Flash support after 11.2. It appears that there is an API to do Flash support but right now only Google has implemented it. It appears that Mozilla has previously stated that they will not support it on FireFox. While I don't often use Flash under Linux all that often, it is still something that I like to have around so I install it on all of my MythTV boxes.

Adobe has issued a statement this morning that they will effectively be abandoning Flash Player support on Linux. After Flash Player 11.2 they will no longer be providing updates for Linux users but just maintaining the 11.2 release. Google is expected to take over with a Flash Player implementation based upon a new API, but only for Google Chrome-based web-browsers.
Phoronix

What TV Broadcast network do you record the most shows on? (Just Record not LIVE TV)

Kyle Button — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:31:07 +0000

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SlySoft Releases AnyDVD HD 7.0.0.0 - Adds "Speedmenus"

Andrew Van Til — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:22:42 +0000

Every time a new release of HTPC Blu-ray software comes out I am amused by the standalone v. HTPC discussions that crop up here and at AVS Forum. While there is validity on both sides of the argument, there is one point that doesn't get much mention, which makes the PC side a clear winner for me - SlySoft's AnyDVD HD. The reasons should be obvious, because the strength of the product is that it provides the control and flexibility fundamental to why many people, including myself, use a HTPC for Blu-ray playback.

With studios pushing ever more intrusive advertising and blocking easy navigation through it all via restrictions, especially on rental discs, AnyDVD gives us the ability to skip through all of it and get to the menu faster. Not content with that, 7.0.0.0 now includes a feature that removes all of the cruft and draws a new "Speedmenu" in place of all the warnings and other "value" that stands between you and the important bits on the disc.

Check out the release notes, screenshots, and videos demonstrating the difference after the click...

2011 Fall TV Conclusions

George Schmauch — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:36:11 +0000

In a previous blog, I lamented the new fall season of television programs and laid out my intentions of not watching any new shows until they proved themselves. I actually broke down and recorded a couple of new shows, but have yet to watch any of them. I also spoke about what I was still watching. Particularly, I had a pretty scathing review of Ashton Kutcher's acting and his character on Two and a Half Men (Charlie Sheen actually seemed to agree with me <scary>). I may actually need to rescind my comments and I'll explain why. I'm also interested in what people thought of the fall season.

It's Official - Ceton Tuners Now $199

Andrew Van Til — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:28:38 +0000

If you stay on top of the current deals, you surely noticed that both of the InfiniTV models dropped $100 over the last few days on Amazon and other retailers. One-off discounts aren't generally news, but today it became official with Ceton announcing that they are changing the MSRP of their Digital Cable Tuners (DCT) to $199 making it the clear value play (@ $50/tuner) versus the competition.

It's probably too soon to call it the first strike in a price war, but it's never too early to hope

PR after the click...

J&W Announces New Cedar Trail Motherboards, Barebones

Matthew Miller — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:15:30 +0000

J&W's MINIX line of mini-ITX motherboards have consistently targeted the higher end of the market with unique features and a focus on quality components. My first experience with their boards was the fantastic MINIX 780G-SP128MB, a mini-ITX gem that made its way into several HTPC and home server builds I assisted with. J&W looks set to continue the trend of quality craftsmanship with the release of the MINIX D2700-DC and MINIX D2500-DC. Both Cedar Trail-based boards will be passively cooled, include USB 3.0, and feature all-solid capacitor designs. J&W is also prepping a barebones kit based on the new boards. No word on pricing or specific release dates just yet, but evidently the D2700-DC is expected out first. Atom processors may not be as popular for HTPC builds as they once were, but J&W's new boards may be worth a look for those interested in going low-powered and silent.

Luckily, J&W spared no expense and both boards feature an all-solid capacitor design, with two USB 3.0 ports courtesy of a Renesas controllers and HDMI. They also feature 5.1 audio, VGA, Broadcom dual-gigabit LAN, one PCIe x1 slot and two DDR3 SO-DIMM sockets for up to 8GB of DDR3 1066, although Intel only recommends 4GB.
Fudzilla

People Watching More Videos, Longer on Tablets and Connected TVs

Matthew Miller — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:35:44 +0000

The explosion of mobile devices has dramatically changed the landscape for streaming video consumption over the last couple of years, so no one should be surprised to see a report, such as the one that Ooyala recently released, that shows mobile device viewership is on the rise for online video. Ooyala is a video service provider for companies such as the Hearst Corporation and ESPN. Every quarter Ooyala issues a report of online video viewership habits based on their analytics. The company's 2010 Q4 report goes beyond mobile devices though. The report also breaks down viewership statistics for tablets and connected TVs. For Ooyala's purposes, connected TVs include smart TVs and TVs connected to an OTT box such as a game console or Google TV.

It's in these statistics that Ooyala found some interesting trends that might reflect on the future of online video consumption. Tablets and connected TVs saw rapid growth in usage in Q4, with connected TV usage nearly doubling, and tablet and connected TV viewers are also more likely to watch a complete video and watch a long video versus a short video than viewers on desktops or mobile devices. It stands to reason that larger screens and more comfortable viewing conditions would result in more engaged viewers. As tablets and connected TVs become more prevalent and command a larger percentage of the time spent viewing online video, we will likely see greater demand for more medium and long format video content.

The iOS vs. Android comparison is also enlightening. Starting with the iPhone 4S launch, iOS usage rapidly outpaces Android usage, correlating with recent sales figures for the two platforms and underscoring analysts' suggestions that iPhone 4S sales benefited from pent-up demand for Apple's new phone. There are also encouraging statistics for Google TV, which saw more than a 90% increase in video plays. Admittedly, the slow start that Google TV has experienced means that just about any growth is going to look explosive in isolation, but it sure beats a downward trend.

As we learned in Q3, the rabid adoption of mobile devices has been leading to increased engagement with online video. Not only that, but connected TVs are really beginning to make waves, Google TV in particular. Ooyala’s report found that video plays on tablets, mobile devices, and connected TVs nearly doubled in the fourth quarter (from Q3).
TechCrunch

AMD FM1 Socket Mini-ITX Motherboard Roundup

Matthew Miller — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:52:11 +0000

Intel may have been hogging the CPU limelight over the last few years, but AMD has been toiling away on its own processors and taking full advantage of their purchase of ATI several years ago to pump out competitive processors with superior graphics capabilities. Indeed, for a small form factor HTPC that will be completely dependent on its integrated graphics unit, AMD's recent Llano processors are particularly compelling. At the same time, AMD has been more aggressive in adding new technologies and features to their motherboard chipsets, allowing manufacturers to pack a ton of attractive features into even the smallest boards as the motherboards in this roundup demonstrate. It may be hard to tap into the full performance opportunities of SATA 6.0 in an HTPC, but I still find it rather interesting to see an entire collection of motherboards sporting nothing but SATA 6.0 for hard drive connections.

Hybrid AMD processors from A8, A6, A4 or E2 families suit perfectly for Mini-ITX computer systems. Let’s see what platforms are currently available from the leading mainboard makers in this field. Today we are going to check out ASRock A75M-ITX, ASUS F1A75-I Deluxe, Gigabyte A75N-USB3 and Zotac A75-ITX WiFi.
X-bit Labs

Meridian Invites Fans to Trade Up to the 800 Reference Series

Matthew Miller — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:12:51 +0000

Meridian recently released the 818 Reference Audio Core, their new integrated pre-amp and the most recent addition to the 800 Reference Series, rounding out the lineup of high-end audiophile gear. In celebration, Meridian is offering a trade up program allowing folks to trade up from a selection of previous generation CD players and controllers and apply the value toward the purchase of a Reference 800 Series device. Perhaps a bit self-serving as far as celebrations go, but for Meridian fans, it might just be the deal you need to spring for an upgrade.

With immediate effect - and until the 31st May 2012 - customers can obtain a minimum trade-up value from an authorizedMeridian retailer on selected CD Players and Controller products against the purchase of a new 800 Reference Series product.
Home Theater Review

Sapphire Announces Brazos-Powered HD3 Nettop

Matthew Miller — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:36:01 +0000

Sapphire has announced their newest nettop, the HD3. The Sapphire HD3 is powered by AMD's E-450 APU and Radeon HD 6320 graphics. This marks the HD3 as the first Sapphire HD nettop not based on the Intel Atom platform. The HD3 also ditches the optical drive, helping to make the unit small even by nettop standards. Sapphire does not target the HTPC market with the HD nettops, so there are no special niceties such as IR sensors or bundled remote control, but with its small footprint, HDMI output, and reasonably capable Brazos heart, the HD3 would probably make a fine extender-style HTPC or dedicated streamer. Sapphire usually sells the HD nettops in both a Windows version and a FreeDOS version for those interested in an alternative OS.

The HD3 is powered by AMD’s E-450 APU with HD 6320 graphics. It packs up to 4GB of RAM and up to 500GB of storage, which is plenty in the nettop world. In terms of features, the HD3 is second to none. Like most AMD nettops, it comes with a couple of USB 3.0 ports, along with HDMI and the usual array of VGA, LAN, USB 2.0 connectors.
Fudzilla

Hulu Plus App for Nintendo Wii Now Available

Matthew Miller — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:14:41 +0000

Hulu Plus subscribers can finally get their waggle on. The Nintendo Wii has added Hulu Plus to its list of downloadable apps in the Wii Shop Channel. There will also be a version of the Hulu Plus app for the Nintendo 3DS before the end of the year. Now, please note that I am quite aware that Nintendo does not consider the Wii a media consumption device, but it has been over a year since the Netflix app came to the Wii, and that's without adding in the six months of Netflix on the Wii via disc. Here's hoping that Nintendo has a better media streaming story to tell with the Wii U.

Bored with experiencing Hulu Plus through the same old ... interfaces? Get rid of that Hulu Plus ennui with Hulu Plus on Wii. Nintendo announced that the service is now available through the Wii in the US as of today.
Joystiq

ASRock CoreHT Server Edition Reviewed

Matthew Miller — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:48:25 +0000

ASRock's CoreHT line of small form factor PCs are specifically targeted at the HTPC market, and ASRock has generally done a good job of delivering the goods. Our friends at Anandtech took the CoreHT 252B for a spin several months ago and were generally pleased with what they saw, but were disappointed with the hard drive performance and capacity. ASRock has since updated the CoreHT line with the CoreHT Server Edition. Despite the name, this little unit is every bit an HTPC. Anandtech has tested this new version of the CoreHT to see if it improves on the CoreHT 252B.

It’s very similar to the CoreHT we reviewed before, even sharing nearly the same specs. The one major difference: there’s two 500GB HDDs in the place of one, configured in RAID 0. Other than that, there’s the same mobile Sandy Bridge internals, headlined by the HM67 chipset and Core i5-2410M processor.
Anandtech

Samsung May Be Considering Spinning Off LCD Division, Focusing on OLED

Matthew Miller — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:34:03 +0000

Samsung's much anticipated 55" OLED TV will be washing up on U.K. shores in the not too distant future and though the price tag is expected to be out of reach for most consumers, it would seem that Samsung has high hopes for the future of OLED. Samsung is reportedly considering moving away from LCD production and focusing their efforts on OLED production. This comes amidst a prolonged period of LCD panel oversupply that has helped push TV prices down, especially on newer 3D TVs. It also comes on the heels of a decision by Sony to back out of a joint partnership on LCD panel production.

The most obvious way to change the unprofitable panel business unit's direction would be to spin the LCD division off. leaving Samsung to devote its attention to higher margin OLED panels. With mobile device consumption on the rise, a market that Samsung has already established a solid position in with OLED displays, and OLED TVs finally approaching mass market pricing, Samsung is also considering merging their mobile OLED manufacturing subsidiary with their LCD division and converting production to OLED displays. Either way, such a move would stand in sharp contrast with Sony's recent decision to move away from OLED TVs. Will we soon see OLED vs. LCD debates that hearken back to the heady days of plasma vs. LCD?

Analysts estimate Samsung’s OLED revenues will increase by a staggering 600 percent in the next two years, according to the BBC. Currently OLED technology features mainly in small devices like smartphones and tablets, but as production ramps up and world demand increases they will likely end up superseding LCD panels in a wide range of products including TVs.
TechSpot

MythTV Is Now Forked As Torc

Tim A — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:35:57 +0000

Well this is interesting news. It appears that one of the MythTV developers is splitting off the MythTV project with his own branch of code. It look like the idea is to drop a lot of the legacy support in order to modernize the project more quickly and easily. One of the things that I liked about MythTV is the ability to run it on older hardware. At one point I had a MythTV server with three analog tuners running on a Pentium II 400MHz CPU. I thought that was impressive. However, that was a number of years ago and at this point I have to say that I fully support the desire to drop support of older systems in order to bring in new features and bling. It will be interesting to see where this project goes and I will be sure to keep an eye on it.

From an anonymous Phoronix reader I received the following message:

New Plugin for Using a Ceton InfiniTV 4 Tuner with XBMC

Matthew Miller — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:50:02 +0000

It is no secret that we like the Ceton InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner around here or that we are always looking for new and interesting ways to make use of our favorite media front-ends such as XBMC. Thanks to mcheng89 in the XBMC forums, we can now make use of the Ceton InfiniTV 4 in XBMC. He has put together a modified version of the PsuedoTV plugin that allows XBMC to tune into the InfiniTV 4 with a little help from VLC. By building on PsuedoTV, the plugin includes a customizable EPG. It is not a complete DVR solution, but it is an interesting option for tapping into live TV from XBMC and especially from XBMC-compatible devices such as the Apple TV.

Some clever hacks over on the XBMC forums have managed to get Ceton’s infiniTV 4 working with XBMC. With the plugin you can stream video from Ceton tuner, share a tuner with multiple clients, stream TV over the Internet and using PseudoTV you can get a user interface to control it.
The Digital Lifestyle