Microsoft to launch new set top box TV
With the exception of Xbox 360, Microsoft has struggled with most of its ventures into TV land. Its failed products include: WebTV, Microsoft TV, Media Center, and many many others. However, with competition for space in our living rooms heating up, Microsoft has finally decided to get into the game with its own TV device, going head-to-head with rivals Google and Apple.
The Seattle Times reports that Microsoft is planning to launch a set top box running a stripped down version of Windows overlaid with Windows Media Center interface. The device, slated to incorporate media streaming and remote control capabilities for approximately $200 will reportedly amalgamate regular TV with online media under Microsoft’s existing Media Centre interface.
More details will be released when Microsoft kicks off CES with its keynote.
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iPhone users miss New Year thanks to alarm glitch
The New Year was nearly missed by iPhone users because built-in alarms on the phone failed to wake them. According to the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC), the problem led many people to oversleep on the first two days of the New Year. The anomaly appears to affect single alarm settings on the iPhone 4 and earlier models with software updates, the BBC said.
Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison in an e-mail told Reuters that the company is aware of an issue related to non-repeating alarms set for January 1 or 2 and that customers can set recurring alarms for those dates and all alarms will work properly beginning January 3. Apparently, this glitch affected not only new year celebrations- it has also caused thousands of people to come late for work and miss airline flights and trains as a result of the malfunction, Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper reported. The iPhone’s alarm system had previously encountered problems recognizing daylight savings time, making it go off at the wrong time, media reports said.
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Vizio to showcase Google TV sets at CES
Vizio is set to disprove rumors that Google has asked TV set makers to stop shipments of new Google TV appliances by introducing two new Google TV sets at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, following its announcement that they would demonstrate TV sets and Blu-ray players preloaded with the Web-meets-TV service at the 2011 CES. Vizio said it will show off the VIA Plus 47-inch XVT3D476SV and 56-inch XVT3D556SV HDTVs at their private CES showcase at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas beginning Jan. 6.
Via Plus is the company’s line of Android-based devices, covering HDTVs, Blu-ray players, smartphones and tablet computers. In a press release Vizio said its Google TV-enabled VIA Plus HDTVs and Blu-ray Players will come with Bluetooth-capable QWERTY universal remote with a directional touchpad, 802.11n Wi-Fi and enhanced onscreen navigation, including Google search and the Chrome Web browser. Sony has offered these as standard features for its Google TV-enabled televisions and Blu-ray players since their launch in October in time for the holiday season. However, Sony and Logitech created separate software applications to let users control their Google TV appliances from Android-based handsets and tablets. On the other hand Vizio will allow its new smartphones and tablets to operate the company’s Google TV appliances through a built-in IR blaster with universal remote control app — an integration unique among the small Google TV universe today.
“Vizio is making a new line of TVs and a Blu-ray player incorporating Google TV that will hit shelves later this year,” Google TV Product Manager Rishi Chandra wrote in a brief blog post Jan 3, also reaffirming that Google will roll out developer tools and the Android Market for building Google TV applications. The Vizio news comes just two weeks after the New York Times reported Google has asked TV set makers to delay introducing Google TV-based products at the 2011 CES so that the company can improve the software. Logitech has denied the rumors.
