Showing posts with label Amazon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazon. Show all posts

Monday, May 5, 2014

If Comcast, Electronic Arts deal pushes through, customers can buy games through their TVs

Cable TV subscribers may soon be able to stream video games right into their living rooms as Reuters reports Comcast is currently in talks with Electronic Arts (EA) to allow cable subscribers to stream EA games through its cloud-connected Comcast X1 platform.
Reuters cites five anonymous sources who each confirmed that Comcast and EA have just finished two years of testing and are now well on their way to finalizing an agreement that would stream video games using X1, Comcast's sophisticated video operating system with voice control, Internet applications and other advanced features. Experts have touted X1 the best operating system of its kind.
"Comcast and EA's aim is to make buying games as easy as ordering a pay-per-view movie, sources said. This could create a new distribution model that circumvents console and video-streaming device makers," writes Reuters.
The report singled out lucrative titles such as "FIFA," "Madden," "Plants vs. Zombies" and "Monopoly" as some of the first games that will be streamed through X1. It also mentioned that users will be able to turn their existing tablets into consoles, which suggests that the games offered will be smaller, mobile games instead of games that require a full-blown console.
Sources told Reuters that Comcast will offer casual and family games before considering first-person shooter and action games, based on user preferences.
"If the agreement goes through, it would mark the boldest step yet by a cable company to muscle into the territory of leading video-game console manufacturers such as Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp.," Reuters reports.  
Comcast has been hoping to ward off what it sees as potential invasions of its home turf by other technology companies, including Sony and Microsoft as well as new players in the television industry Apple and Amazon.
Apple TV allows users to stream iOS games straight from their iPhones and iPads to their TV sets. It won't be long before Apple will also bring streaming video games through its set-top box, developers believe. Fire TV, which was launched just last month, came with more than a hundred free and paid video games from various game publishers, including EA.
If the partnership pushes through, it could create a potentially massive market for Comcast, which currently has 22 million cable subscribers in the United States - more if its controversial acquisition of Time Warner Cable receives approval from antitrust regulators.
The X1 system allows users to find programs, record and store them in the Comcast cloud. Comcast is reportedly installing up to 20,000 of new X1 boxes every day.

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Posted by Editorial Team on 1:45 AM in , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Samsung Galaxy S5 (T-Mobile)


But that's the thing—the Galaxy S5 doesn't stand alone, and why it doesn't stand alone is telling. Samsung simply can't figure out premium design, at least from an American perspective. I spoke to the designers behind the S5, and they declared its plastic form to be "modern glam" with a "warmth and softness" (as well as a removable battery) that isn't available on glass-and-metal phones. But hold the S5 next to our other Editors' Choice on T-Mobile, the HTC One (M8)$199.99 at Amazon, and the S5 doesn't feel like the expensive one.
Physical FeaturesThe Galaxy S5 still has an uncomfortable relationship with its own materials. At 5.85 by 2.85 by .31 inches (HWD) and 5.1 ounces, it's a big phone, but that's par for the course nowadays. It's all plastic. The back is a stippled, textured faux-leather, borrowed from the Galaxy Note series, which is a major step up from the slick, fingerprint-collecting casing on the Galaxy S4. The back comes in black, blue, gold, or white. The design is almost ruined, in my mind, by a cheap chromed-plastic bezel. You'll learn to live with it, but I didn't learn to love it. Near the top, a useful colored LED blinks blue when you have a new message. On the bottom, a large micro USB 3.0 port promises fast charging and fast data transfer in exchange for needing to be covered by a silver plastic door. A physical Home button with dedicated, light-up back and multitasking buttons are a little more convenient than the purely virtual buttons on the HTC One.
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The S5 is water-resistant and just a bit rugged; it's about as tough as last year's Galaxy S4 Active$29.99 at Amazon. That means it's sealed against liquids and made from flexible materials, so you don't have to worry about getting it wet or dropping it on its edge. You can still crack the screen, though, so a screen protector would be useful.
Dr. Ray Soneira of DisplayMate Labs put it best: The Galaxy S5 has the best screen we've seen yet on a smartphone. It's brilliant, vibrant, and highly customizable, appearing brighter and punchier than competing displays in almost every circumstance. The trick isn't just the 5.1-inch, 1080p Super AMOLED panel, although the panel itself has better color representation and a more even subpixel layout than the S4's. It's software. Samsung's Professional Photo and Cinema Modes give picky viewers true whites, while Adapt Mode constantly alters the display color for maximum readability, and Super Dimming Mode makes the phone viewable in the dark without blowing out your eyes. Adapt Mode also deals very well with outdoor viewing conditions; I had no problem reading anything on my S5's screen through a week outside in Seoul.
The screen has a few other neat tricks, too: It works pretty well with styli, including using the tip of a graphite pencil on the screen as a stylus. While there was still a tiny bit of lag, the GS5 showed much better precision when tapping with a small stylus than other Android phones I've tried, except for the Galaxy Note line.
Call Quality and BatteryThe Galaxy S series have always been excellent voice phones and this model is no exception. The earpiece here gets really loud. If you need volume, you'll be happy. The earpiece tone can also be tuned to your specific hearing profile, just like on the Galaxy S4. Do that if calls sound a little muddy, which they might on the default setting. Transmissions in normal call settings come through clearly. The phone cancelled street and car noise very well, although some background chatter from a Starbucks came through under my voice.
GS5 Inline
The single, small, back-ported speakerphone performs perfectly adequately, but it's nowhere near as clear and powerful as the HTC One's front-ported BoomSound speakers. Transmissions through the speakerphone mic, on the other hand, are excellent thanks to Samsung's top-notch noise cancellation. I also had no problems with Bluetooth headsets.
Battery life looks very good. Because of SIM provisioning issues, I couldn't complete our standard single-long-call test, but the 2,800mAh battery was still at 41 percent after 11 hours, 15 minutes of calling. In a week's worth of use, it lasted out the day every time.
The new Ultra Power Saving mode delivers peace of mind: Kick it in when your battery is around 15 percent to limit the phone to calling, texting, Facebook,and Web browsing, and watch the phone report that it magically has more than a day's worth of standby time remaining. With the battery down to 2 percent, I managed to squeeze out several hours of standby, a few text messages, and even a brief phone call. That was magical.
Wi-Fi and LTEThe Galaxy S5 takes networking to a new level. Its Wi-Fi performance outdoes the HTC One significantly when 25-50 feet away from an 802.11n router. At a 30-foot distance from a router with a 30-Mbps-up-and-down connection in a tough environment, the HTC dropped to 7-10Mbps but the Galaxy S5 maintained 15-20Mbps. I saw a similar difference up to about 75 feet, when they both dropped off. That will make a serious difference when Web browsing.
Lousy Starbucks wireless connections could be further enhanced by Download Booster, a Samsung feature which combines Wi-Fi and LTE throughput when you're downloading files larger than 30MB. I'm worried about this one, though, because it was disabled on my phone. Samsung insisted to me that it would be enabled with a firmware update at launch, but this is just the kind of thing a carrier could kill.
Otherwise, the S5 comes in four different carrier LTE versions. We tested the T-Mobile model, which features the carrier's Wi-Fi calling. Radio-wise, the handsets all support various carriers' highest-speed networks but won't switch between U.S. carriers well. The non-T-Mobile models lack T-Mobile's main 3G band; the AT&T and Verizon models lack each other's 700MHz LTE, and the Sprint model won't work on anyone else's LTE network. So you need to buy the right model for your carrier and stick with it, like with the HTC One but unlike with the carrier-flexible iPhone 5s.
Annoyingly, both the AT&T and T-Mobile models lack LTE Band 12, which T-Mobile and some regional carriers are implementing at the end of this year to improve rural coverage—so far, only the HTC One has shown that band on its spec sheet.

The phone comes with 16GB of memory, with 11.5GB available (slightly more than on the HTC One). There's a microSD card slot under the back cover which took my 64GB card without complaint.

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Posted by Editorial Team on 10:49 AM in , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Xbox One bundle price drops to $399 on Amazon (update: back to $450)

We're not sure if this is a real price drop or a retailer error, but CheapAssGamer.com points out that the Xbox One is currently available on Amazon for $399 -- the same price as a PlayStation 4, but obviously with the Kinect camera and a game packed-in. The Xbox One Standard Edition (with the Forza Motorsport 5 digital code) is currently listed for $450, but adding the discount code XIAMAZON -- first seen last week as retailers cut prices on theTitanfall bundle to $450 -- takes an additional $50 off of the price. Of course, this means you don't get the console's most anticipated game as a part of the deal, but at this price we doubt many will complain. It's earlier than an anticipated and if it's an error (of course, Amazon is starting a videogame Gold Box deal today...) then we don't know how long it will last, but tell us -- if they're the same price which would you choose, an Xbox One or PS4?
Update: It looks like it was an error, as the bundle's price has jumped back to $499, which comes down to $450 with the discount code. It was good while it lasted, but we guess Microsoft isn't quite ready to make that level of sacrifice to catch the PS4 in sales.
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Posted by Editorial Team on 1:24 AM in , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, March 7, 2014

Google offers up its own Googlers in cloud channel chumship trawl

Google has expanded its cloud reseller program as the web giant tries to enlist the channel to help it diversify its business away from search.
The updates to the Google Cloud Platform Partner Program were announced by the company on Thursday and sees it split its partners into three tiers: Registered Company, Authorized Partner, and Premier Partner.he kicker is that Premier Partners can get access to the rarest resource at Google: flesh-and-blood homo sapiens who will help the partner with sales, marketing, and technical support.
"These tiers are the first steps of many to further develop our partner community so we can provide the best possible experiences for everyone out there while working hand in hand with those companies that make it possible," the company wrote in a blog post announcing the expanded program.
Google launched its partner program back in July 2012, and since then has been pushing out new cloud services and cutting prices as it tries to build a business that competes with Amazon Web Services and Windows Azure.
One of the greatest problems Google's cloud has faced is a perception that the company may just drop its public cloud ambitions at some point and move on to other projects, as it has done in the past with popular services like Google Reader and paid-for schemes like Google Answers.
Google has always protested this, and by lassoing partners together and herding the more successful ones onto the Google farm, the company is able to drum up more business for its products and instill confidence in users and the channel.
As any scholar of religions knows, you need people out there beating the drum and talking up your ideology to get seriously big, and so Google's channel ambitions are likely critical to the future success of its public cloud service.
Organizations with some Google cloud customers can sign up for the Registered Company role for free, but if they want to get the glamour of some Google marketing and training they'll need to be doing over $12,000 in Google-related revenue to become an Authorized Partner, and if they want to co-sell services with Google then there'll need to be doing over $120,000 a year.
As before, partners fall into two categories: Services Partners and Technology Partners. These, roughly speaking, are companies that either resell Google's technology, or who build and sell standalone services that use Google in the backend.
Another less frequently noted aspect of partner programs is that it's a two-way street in terms of information sharing: partners will get confidential information from Google about upcoming projects, but Google will also gain a valuable source of information about what customers are asking for, and what they are complaining about to the channel. ®

News Source: www.theregister.co.uk
Posted by Editorial Team on 3:47 AM in , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Roku Streaming Stick vs. Google Chromecast: How do they stack up?

Roku's new Streaming Stick is clearly aiming to take on Google's Chromecast, but both streamers have their strengths and weaknesses. Here's how they compare so far.

(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)
Roku Streaming Stick(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)
Roku's new Streaming Stick bears more than just a passing resemblance to Google's Chromecast.
They're both tiny sticks that connect to the back of your TV, use a nearby USB port (or power outlet) for power, and stream media from a variety of sources like Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go and Pandora. So which one should you get?
I haven't had the chance to fully review the new Roku Streaming Stick (which comes out in April), but from my brief hands-on time, it looks to deliver the same Roku experience that's available on the company's traditional streaming boxes. While it's too early to crown a winner, we already have a pretty good idea how these two sticks will match up.

Apps: Roku in a landslide

When it comes to apps, nothing comes close to Roku's massive 1,200-channel library. While some of those channels are definitely filler, there's a ton of top tier content, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Pandora, Hulu Plus, MLB.TV, PBS, YouTube, Showtime Anytime, Time Warner Cable, Spotify, Amazon Cloud Player -- the list goes on.
Roku 3 new user interface(Credit: Roku)
In the Chromecast's defense, it has most of the major apps covered, including Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, and Pandora. And now that Google has released an SDK, it's fair to expect that the rate of new apps should increase.
There is one big exception where Chromecast beats Roku in apps and that's Google's media ecosystem. Right now, Chromecast is pretty much your only option if you want to stream media from Google Play TV and Movies and Google Music. If you're all-in on Android for your media purchases, you're probably better off sticking with the Chromecast.

Price: $35 Chromecast is irresistibly cheap

Roku managed to cut the cost of its Streaming Stick ($50) in half, but it still doesn't compare to the Chromecast's unbeatable $35 price.
Roku Streaming Stick(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)
The difference between the two sticks may be a mere $15, but there's something about $35 that makes easy click to "add to cart" without thinking twice. Both are cheap, but the Chromecast is cheaper, especially if you're looking to outfit several rooms with a streamer.

Remote: Roku has the flexible approach

The Chromecast's approach to remotes was relatively novel when it was released: your mobile device is the only remote your need. Not only did it allow Google to hit that impulse-friendly $35 price, it actually works better for certain search-heavy apps like YouTube, and eliminates one more remote from your coffee table.
Roku Streaming Stick(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)
The Roku Streaming Stick includes a standard RF-based Roku remote and that's good news for anyone like me who thinks real buttons still win when it comes to the living room. Even better, Roku now supports Chromecast-style control for Netflix and YouTube and the company says it's looking to add more services in the future. That means everyone in the household can choose whether they'd rather use a regular remote or stick with their mobile device.
One final word of caution: neither works with a traditional IR-based universal remote, unless you run an IR-extender behind your TV. The good news for Harmony Smart Control owners is Logitech says it's working on adding the ability to control Roku boxes over Wi-Fi -- hopefully it works with the Streaming Stick.

Screen mirroring: Chromecast, when it works

One of the neatest features of Chromecast is the ability to cast any tab from the Chrome browser to your TV. That includes streaming video from major content Web sites like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and Hulu (without a subscription), which typically are only available when browsing using a computer.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
The big caveat is that in my testing, the screen-mirroring functionality doesn't work all that well. Some have had more luck with this feature than me, but it hasn't worked well in any of the wireless environments I've used it. (In the same locations, the Apple TV's screen mirroring has been considerably more reliable.)
On the other hand, Roku doesn't have any kind of screen-mirroring functionality at all. If you want screen-mirroring from a stick, the Chromecast is the best option, just don't expect flawless performance.

Search: A surprising lead for Roku

It's hard to imagine Google not being the leader in search, but Roku has it beat in the living room. Roku's cross-platform search scours through Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus and more, to find where a TV show or movie is available and how much it costs. It's also quick to predict your search term based on just a few characters, which takes a lot of pain out of using the onscreen keyboard.
When Roku briefed me on the Streaming Stick, the company also showed off its upcoming mobile app (also due in April) which will integrate the same cross-platform search functionality that's available on the boxes. It's a nice plus -- not only is it easier to search on a mobile device, but when you choose the service you'd like to watch your content on, it automatically loads on the Roku.
Roku Streaming Stick(Credit: Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)
Google had a relatively sophisticated TV and movies search engine on Google TV and I wouldn't be surprised if that made its way to the Chromecast in some form soon. Until then, it remains a weakness on the Chromecast, as you need to open and switch between several apps to see where content is available. (Or use a third-party service.)

Hardware: Dead even

When it comes to the guts of these sticks, they're pretty much the same as far as I can tell. They both output at 1080p, have built-in dual-band Wi-Fi and use a nearby USB port for power. Perhaps there will be some performance differences when I compare them, but I'm betting they'll be pretty similar.

Roku's new Streaming Stick takes on Chromecast (pictures)

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Personal media: It's a tie

Both of these devices are focused on streaming content straight from the Internet, but they can also be used for displaying your personal media content as well. For media stored on your computer, both devices support the Plex media server, which supports a wide variety of file formats. The only drawback is you'll need to leave your computer on with the Plex server running.
Plex on Chromecast
(Credit: Plex)
They're about equal when it comes to media stored on your mobile device too. Roku's mobile app has a "Play On Roku" feature that lets you stream music, photos and video that are stored on your mobile device. You can do the same on the Chromecast using a third-party app likeRealPlayer Cloud, although it would be nice if Android natively supported casting functionality.

Full head-to-head comparison to come

When I get the Roku Streaming Stick in for review, I'll be able to fully test both of these devices head-to-head to see which stick comes out on top. Based on the spec sheets alone, I'd give Roku the early edge: more apps, a traditional remote, and an excellent cross-platform search seems worth the extra $15, especially for a device you'll use frequently. But the good news is, whether you go Roku or Chromecast, both streaming sticks are excellent values are only likely to get better as they continue to receive software updates.

News Source: reviews.cnet.com
Posted by Editorial Team on 7:57 AM in , , , , , , , , ,
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