DVR

Hands-on: Simple.TV might be the next big cord-cutting device

LAS VEGAS--Simple.TV's DVR without a hard drive or video output may sound crazy, but it could end up being a killer product for cable-cutters.

That's the impression I got after spending some hands-on time with the over-the-air-friendly DVR, which was already working on an iPad and a Roku 2 XS box in the booth.

To recap from my initial story, Simple.TV allows you to access over-the-air TV programs, either live or stored on a connected hard drive (that you supply), from a number of devices on your home network--at launch there are apps for Roku, Google TV, Boxee, and iPad. So fire up your iPad and you can watch live broadcast TV or any of the recordings on the connected hard drive.… Read more

Take that, Dish: Samsung, DirecTV partner on 'boxless' DVR streaming

Samsung and DirecTV have partnered up to make watching DVR-recorded shows in other rooms a bit easier--one day after Dish Network unveiled its own multiroom DVR setup.

The companies said today that Samsung's 2012 line of Smart TVs, announced yesterday at CES, will allow viewers to stream recorded programs from DirecTV DVRs to televisions in other rooms. That alone isn't new, although to date, most such setups require you to have multiple DVRs attached to your TV sets. (Dish yesterday unveiled DVR "extender" devices it calls "Joeys"--check out this slideshow to see why… Read more

Simple.TV is a next-gen DVR for the cord-cutting crowd

LAS VEGAS--It's hard to imagine a DVR without a hard drive or a video output, but that's exactly what the new Simple.TV box is.

Designed with cable-cutters in mind, the Simple.TV ($150, available in the spring) is capable of recording over-the-air HDTV and Clear QAM cable, along with traditional DVR functionality like pausing live TV.

What makes Simple.TV's solution interesting, compared with more-traditional DVRs capable of recording over-the-air content (like TiVo and Channel Master TV), is that the Simple.TV box itself doesn't have an HDMI or any kind of video output. Instead, … Read more

Dish lets kangaroo out of pouch at CES (live blog)

LAS VEGAS--At the Consumer Electronics Show here, satellite TV provider Dish Network went kangaroo crazy as it took the wraps off "Hopper," a new multiroom DVR that, with the help of "Joey" units, will let people watch recorded programs on TVs throughout their house.

The new DVR also lets users record prime-time programming on all four major networks at the same time.

The company also announced a new high-speed broadband service with partner ViaSat that will launch in the "first quarter." It's called Dish Broadband and will allegedly provide up to 12 Mbps … Read more

Dish aims high with new Hopper DVR, high-speed satellite broadband service

LAS VEGAS--More music, more magic, more memory, more movies.

That's the marketing message Dish is serving up here at CES, introducing a new kangaroo-themed, whole-home HD DVR system called the Hopper that includes a 2TB drive and can record up to six programs simultaneously while pushing content out to accompanying "Joey" boxes in up to three additional rooms.

The company has also announced a new high-speed Broadband service with partner ViaSat that will launch in the "first quarter." It's called Dish Broadband and it will allegedly provide up to 12 Mbps download and up … Read more

Kodak mulls bankruptcy protection

Logitech tries to reinvent the mouse with the Cube, the next Xbox may have built-in DVR functionality, and venerable Kodak lays plans for bankruptcy protection if it can't sell its patents.

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Kodak mulls bankruptcy protection DVR coming to Xbox? Apple hunting for iTV content deals Nintendo sells 4 million 3DS units Music sales up for first time in seven years Barnes & Noble may spin off Nook business Logitech's boxy mouse Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3) |  iTunes (320x180) |  iTunes (HD) |  RSS (MP3) |  RSS (320x180) |  RSS HD

Microsoft to pair DVR with next Xbox?

The next iteration of Microsoft's Xbox may be a real game-changer for consumers' living rooms.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the software giant a patent on December 27 for an "integrated gaming and media experience," in which content could be recorded on a gaming console.

Here's the essence of patent No. 8,083,593 according to the USPTO abstract:

A digital video recorder (DVR) application running alongside a television client component allows users to record media content on the gaming console. The DVR application also integrates itself with the console menu. Once integrated, … Read more

AT&T to pay TiVo $215M to settle patent lawsuit

AT&T has agreed to pay TiVo at least $215 million to settle a patent infringement lawsuit involving the digital video recorder pioneer.

Under the settlement, AT&T will pay TiVo more than that minimum amount, should AT&T's DVR subscriber base exceed certain levels, the companies said in a statement announcing the mutual licensing pact. The announcement sent TiVo shares up $1.38, or 15.5 percent, to $10.30 in after-hours trading.

TiVo sued AT&T in 2009 for damages, alleging infringements of TiVo patents Nos. 6,233,389 B1 (a "multimedia … Read more

Get a SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime CableCard tuner for $169.99

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Windows Media Center is a better DVR than TiVo. It has a vastly superior program guide, a much prettier Netflix interface, and a total lack of monthly fees.

The key ingredient to a successful WMC setup is a CableCard tuner. These were few and far between until a couple months ago, but now you have several good options.

Like this one: Newegg has the SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime HDHR3-CC CableCard tuner for $169.99, plus $6.98 for shipping. The list price is $249, and most online outfits sell it for around $229.

The HDHR3-CC offers three digital tuners that can pull down HD and premium channels alike. (Sorry, no on-demand or pay-per-view, though.) All you need is a CableCard from your cable company. The one I'm renting from Comcast costs me all of $1.50 per month; I think I was paying $13 to $14 for a DVR box.

What's unique about this particular tuner is that it plugs into your home network router, meaning you can share its tuners with multiple Windows 7-powered PCs: one in the den, one in the bedroom, and so on. (Ideally, however, you'll want a wired Ethernet connection between those PCs and your router.)

There's even a companion iPad app, though it's pricey at $17.99 and not very good.

My only real complaint is that you can't plug the HDHR3-CC into a single PC if you prefer that kind of configuration. But for multi-PC households, the HDHR3-CC is a steal at $169.99. Grab one while it's on sale!… Read more