Windows 10’s latest preview sends web videos to your TV

Posted on 29/10/2015 by Jon Fingas

If you've wanted nothing more than to sling web videos from your Windows 10 PC to your TV, today's a very big day. Microsoft has released a Windows 10 Insider Preview build that gives early adopters (specifically, those on the Fast ring) the abilit...

UBOX Amlogic S12 4K TV Box Mirrors Mobile Devices

Posted on 27/05/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Most manufacturers of Android TV boxes assume that all the content you want to watch or listen to is already in the internal memory of the product. If you’d rather mirror your smartphone or tablet’s display, UBOX Amlogic S12 might be the best solution for you, as it also integrates Miracast and DLNA technologies.

UBOX Amlogic S12 (named so after the SoC it’s based on) packs plenty of horsepower to run 4K videos smoothly, and this feature is even advertised on the product itself. The chipset includes a quad-core Amlogic S812 CPU running at 2Ghz, and an octa-core Mali-450 GPU, which coupled with either 1 or 2GB of RAM (depending on the model) can offer a video playback experience for a fraction of the price of other TV boxes. The internal memory is of 8GB for both versions, and it’s almost a certainty that you will run out of space, especially if you are going to watch 4K videos on this TV box. However, U Box included a microSD card slot that enables you to expand the storage by up to 32GB. If even that proves insufficient, users have the option to add flash drives, external hard drives, or even access network storage.

Just in case Miracast, DLNA and 4K video playback weren’t enough, the Amlogic S12 runs xmbc or Kodi (as it is known now). Hence, it can handly all of the popular video file formats you might want to throw at it, not to mention that it will organize your video library so you can easily find your movies at a later point in time.

When it comes to connectivity, U BOX Amlogic S12 does not disappoint, as it includes HDMI, USB 2.0, SPDIF for digital audio, and AV output. As for the wireless connection, the TV box rocks Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi b/g/n. Connecting peripherals or network storage using these options should be a breeze.

Both versions of UBOX Amlogic S12 are currently available on GearBest, where they sell for $70.60 and $80.47, respectively. However, applying the coupon code UBOX1 will get the price of the 1GB RAM version to $63.89, while the coupon UBOX2 will get you the 2GB RAM version for $71.89. The presale on both models ends on June 1, and orders will be shipped soon after that.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the PIPO X8 Windows TV box, or the MeeGoPad T02 computer-on-a-stick.

UBOX Amlogic S12 4K TV Box Mirrors Mobile Devices

Posted on 27/05/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the PIPO X8 Windows TV box, or the MeeGoPad T02 computer-on-a-stick.

PS4 Has No MP3 Playback and DLNA Streaming: Backlash Awaits

Posted on 31/10/2013 by Lambert Varias

When Microsoft outlined the restrictive lending and always online requirement for the Xbox One earlier this year, it was hit with a wave of hatred so hard that the company was forced to eat its words. Now it’s Sony’s turn to be on the wrong end of publicity, albeit for less offensive reasons. In its recently posted Ultimate FAQ for the PlayStation 4, Sony explicitly states that the console won’t support MP3 playback and streaming via DLNA.

As with the shelved always-online requirement on the Xbox One, part of the reason why gamers are so upset about the loss of two supplementary features is because the previous console had them. I myself used my PS3 to stream videos from my iMac using the excellent PS3 Media Server app. Others used Plex. Bottomline, it’s a downgrade. So why would Sony subtract those features? A possible answer would be to push its streaming services for both music and video, which are both accessible on the PS4 out of the box. Assuming you have an Internet connection. And that the streaming service is available in your country.

In an attempt to quell disappointed customers, Sony Computer Entertainment President Shuhei Yoshida stated on Twitter that he will discuss it with the console’s development team “for future consideration.” Hopefully that means a patch and not the PS5.

[via PlayStation Blog & Shuhei Yoshida via Polygon & N4G]

Harman Kardon ships AVR 2700 and 3700 receivers with 4K scaling and AirPlay

Posted on 20/04/2013 by Jon Fingas

Now that Ultra HD TVs are poised to hit the market in force, it's more important than ever to have receivers that can handle them -- even if our bank accounts often can't. Harman Kardon knows this well enough to ship its AVR 2700 and AVR 3700 receivers, both of which carry 4K passthrough and upscaling on their eight HDMI ports as a matter of course. The two also support AirPlay streaming alongside more commonplace DLNA media sharing and offer remote control mobile apps. Home theater futureproofers mostly have to decide on audio channels and network support before they buy: the $800 AVR 2700 produces 7.1-channel surround and sticks to Ethernet alone for networking, while the $996 AVR 3700 introduces 7.2-channel audio and WiFi. Few of us will use either receiver to its full potential right now, but well-heeled 4K TV owners (or just the well-prepared) can pick one up today.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD

Comments

Source: Harman Kardon (1), (2)

HDHomeRun Prime firmware featuring DLNA streaming comes out of beta

Posted on 29/03/2013 by Ben Drawbaugh

You'd really like to stream some HD cable TV to a DLNA client from your HDHomeRun Prime, but aren't willing to risk introducing beta firmware into your fully functional entertainment system? We have good news: after a little more than two months of beta, your wait is over. Today's official HDHomeRun Prime update comes with release notes detailing its newfound ability to stream Copy Freely content to any DLNA playback device (like XBMC, PS3 or Samsung's HDTVs, for example) that supports MPEG-2 and AC3. Protected content, like anything marked Copy Once, works as well if your device happens to be one of the few that supports CableLab's transmission DRM of choice, DTCP-IP. So while we warned that this feature might not be worth injecting beta software into the mix back in January, a number of fixes in this release plus weeks of testing should push HDHomeRun Prime owners to update now.

[Thanks, Rob]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Comments

Source: Silicondust firmware change log

Boxee TV update brings DLNA access, on device DVR management and more

Posted on 27/03/2013 by Richard Lawler

Boxee's second box is getting a fresh round of updates, as GigaOm points out software version 2.1.0.7781 has been detailed and is rolling out. It includes features that appeal to classic Boxee fans like support for DLNA rendering that lets it browse and play files from PCs or other devices on the same network and DMR that lets users push media to it from apps like Skifta. For more traditional viewers, the update also brings a standard TV guide users can pull up by selecting "TV" on the home screen, the ability to schedule and manage DVR recordings from antenna on the box itself (previously only possible via webpage for the still-in-beta feature), notifications for upcoming recordings and even 3D support in the Vudu app. Boxee co-founder Idan Cohen joined us at Expand and mentioned some of the other updates the team is working on, we'll see if oft-requested features like the ability to pause live TV are added any time soon. Hit the source link for the full list of changes, current owners should see the new software arrive over the next few days.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Comments

Via: GigaOm

Source: Boxee Support

Zotac’s StreamBox and RAIDbox build upon the ZBOX’s HTPC pedigree

Posted on 07/03/2013 by Terrence O'Brien

Zotac has this media-friendly SFF computer thing pretty much nailed. For years the company has been churning out ever smaller machines purpose built for living rooms and media servers. The StreamBox and RAIDbox aren't standalone computers, but accessories that build on the home theater capabilities of their ZBOX PCs. The StreamBox pushes content to your TV from a laptop, Android smartphone or tablet using DLNA or Miracast for mirroring your portable's display. In addition to the 10/100 Ethernet jack and dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n radios, there's also a USB port on board for connecting external storage devices. What kind of storage devices, you ask? Well, how about the USB 3.0 RAIDbox that was unveiled alongside the StreamBox. The box itself doesn't ship with any drives inside, but you can slip in a pair of mSATA SSDs and it wont even require an external power supply. Sadly, the really important details like price and availability haven't been announced, but you can still read the PR after the break.

Filed under: Desktops, HD

Comments

Via: Tom's Hardware

Source: Zotac 1, 2

HDHomeRun Prime beta update for DLNA streaming is live

Posted on 20/01/2013 by Ben Drawbaugh

Got your HDHomeRun Prime, your favorite DLNA client and an itch to watch some premium HD cable TV? Well, then it's time to head over to the beta forum, download the latest firmware then register as a tester. Those of you lucky enough to have a nice TV provider that doesn't lock everything down with Copy Once flags will be able to watch live TV on just about any DLNA playback device that supports MPEG2. Those not so lucky will need a PS3 or a 2012 Samsung HDTV, without which this little gem ain't going to do you much good. Sadly, this exclusive to the HDHomeRun Prime because its the only one with the hardware to support DLNA, but the new tuners due this spring will allow DLNA access of ATSC, QAM and DVB sources -- as well as allow playback on Media Players that only support h.264. The usefulness of this is still pretty limited while we wait for the rest of SiliconDust's Project:Connect to come together, but we don't see any reason why you wouldn't join in on the fun.

Filed under: HD

Comments

Source: Project:Connect beta forum

Qualcomm Atheros’ Skifta app brings DLNA media streaming to iOS

Posted on 10/01/2013 by Michael Gorman

Android users have been using Skifta, the mobile media streaming platform, for a couple years now, shooting media to and from their phones and tablets wirelessly. Today, Apple users can get on the action, as Qualcomm Atheros has quietly released a version that brings the power of DLNA to iOS. That means that iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads running iOS 5 or later can now stream content directly to and from a host of devices, including stereos, TVs and the PS3. Sound good? You'll find a gallery of screenshots of the Skifta's UI below, and should that sufficiently pique your interest, hit the source to grab the app for yourself.

Gallery: Skifta for iOS screenshots