John P. Falcone on January 14th, 2009
Kwiry offers TiVo control(Credit: Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive)

We already knew that text messaging service Kwiry could do some cool tricks via text messaging–things like adding products to your Amazon wish list or adding movies to your Netflix queue. But now the service is adding rudimentary TiVo control to the list. TiVo already …

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John P. Falcone on January 13th, 2009
Samsung HT-BD7200

With its unique design, built-in BD-Live Blu-ray player, Netflix onboard, and Wi-Fi compatibility, the Samsung HT-BD7200 encapsulated cutting-edge home theater this year.

(Credit: Samsung)

The 2009 Consumer Electronics Show is history. As far as the home audio world is concerned, the product lineup and trends were pretty much right in …

Originally posted at CES 2009

Continue reading about CES 2009: Home audio wrap-up

John P. Falcone on January 12th, 2009
Panasonic DMP-BD70V(Credit: Panasonic)

VHS movies may be disappearing from store shelves, but we saw some evidence at CES 2009 that the VCR just isn’t ready to die. In addition to Panasonic’s surprising DMP-BD70V–a combo VCR/Blu-ray player–JVC and Toshiba also have new VHS/DVD combos lined up for …

Continue reading about VHS at CES 2009: Still alive

John P. Falcone on January 8th, 2009
LG BD390(Credit: CBS Interactive)

We’ve already seen the entry-level LG BD370, but now we’ve gotten a glimpse of the step-up Blu-ray player in LG’s 2009 line-up: the BD390. The BD390 includes all of the features of its little brother–DVD upscaling, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio, BD-Live/Profile 2….

Originally posted at CES 2009

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Dish Network ViP922 by EchoStar(Credit: Dish Network/EchoStar)

We’re huge fans of the Slingbox, which lets you access your home TV from any broadband-connected PC and many models of 3G smartphones. But the boxes have always had a fundamental problem of monopolizing the host video source (cable/satellite box or DVR); if you …

Originally posted at CES 2009

Continue reading about Dish Network ViP922 combines Slingbox and DVR into one super set-top box

John P. Falcone on January 7th, 2009
JVC LT-46P300

The JVC LT-46P300

(Credit: JVC)

In 2008, JVC became the first company to offer TVs with built in iPod docks. For 2009, Panasonic is joining the fray with its own line of iPod-friendly TVs, but JVC is looking to defend its turf with a second generation of models. Among the …

Originally posted at CES 2009

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John P. Falcone on January 5th, 2009
Amazon Video On Demand(Credit: Roku)

Amazon Video On Demand will be coming to the Roku Netflix Player in early 2009.

Amazon’s video service will become the first non-Netflix “channel” to be available on the Roku box. The service, formerly known as Amazon Unbox, offers more than 40,000 movies and TV shows.

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Netflix Player by Roku

Roku's Netflix Player: Getting more channels in 2009

(Credit: CBS Interactive)

The Netflix Player by Roku is the latest Netflix-compatible device to offer HD video support. The free firmware upgrade (version 1.5) adds the ability to access the approximately 300 or so titles in Netflix’s streaming library that are currently available in high-definition. The upgrade brings the Roku box up to speed with the Xbox 360, TiVo HD DVRs, and Samsung BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 Blu-ray players, all of which have been upgraded to support Netflix HD streams over the past few weeks. (The remaining device, the LG BD300 Blu-ray player, should be getting its own HD firmware upgrade soon.)

In addition to the HD upgrade, the Roku box is also teasing the eventual availability of new non-Netflix programming. Clicking the “what’s new” button on the updated home screen reveals a message that says:

Continue reading about Roku’s Netflix Player gets HD upgrade–and the promise of additional channels in 2009

Philips Prestigo SRT9320(Credit: Philips)

The Philips universal remote line has a new top dog. The Prestigo SRT9320 combines a 2.8-inch color touchscreen on the top half with hard buttons on the lower portion. The screen handles both channel favorites (replete with familiar icon logos) and customized commands. The SRT9320 can control …

Originally posted at CES 2009

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John P. Falcone on December 16th, 2008
Philips Streamium NP2500, Philips Streamium NP2900

The Philips Streamium NP2500 (front left) and NP2900 (back right)

(Credit: John Falcone/CBS Interactive)

Philips’ line of Streamium products was one of the pioneers in the network audio realm, but it never really clicked with consumers (at least in the U.S.) even as competitors like Sonos and Logitech’…

Originally posted at CES 2009

Continue reading about Philips adds two new network audio products to its Streamium line