Kevin Rose (Digg, Revision3, Pownce) may have an inside source at Apple - which wouldn’t be surprising given his elite status amongst the digerati and Bay Area location. He’s heard that the entire iPod lineup will see a refresh and iTunes 8.0 will be introduced by the end of September. (Apple’s free iPod promotion ends 9/15…) I’m not extremely fond of the Nano Fatty and wouldn’t mind seeing it replaced with the rendering Rose provided (above) - similar in form to the previous Nano that I’m a fan of.

Supposedly, iTunes 8.0 provides new features and functionality worthy of something more than just a point upgrade designation. Which lines up nicely with our quarterly iTunes music subscription service rumor and iPhone 2.1 update. This time around the claim is $129.99 for a year of unlimited downloads and playback. Works for me if it pans out - cheaper than satellite radio without the continuous network connectivity requirement of a Pandora.

No doubt, Hulu’s been kicking butt in growing their web audience by providing legit, mainstream television content. And word is they’re now considering international expansion. So Engadget’s ‘Best portable Internet device‘ query has got me thinking… Are there any mobile devices capable of streaming Hulu shows?

Let me start by saying “best” is a relative term term - In my experience, the iPhone provides the most efficient and enjoyable way to browse the web on a small form factor device. However, it’s obviously not the “best” browser for visiting sites that embed Abode Flash. While Apple’s gone outside the browser to offer YouTube via a custom interface and H.264 content, a large percentage of web video is off limits. Such as Hulu.

The Nokia N800 and N810 Internet Tablets also utilize a highly regarded web browser - Mozilla-based and with Flash support. Though, you’ll probably need to use the stylus… Supposedly YouTube does OK, but reports on Hulu have been mixed as Steve O’Hear of Last100 and I discovered this AM - seems like the CPU and/or Flash version aren’t sufficient to present smooth video playback.

Other than bringing a Windows UMPC into the mix, is anyone aware of a mobile device that’s capable of streaming Hulu video?

(And let’s not even talk about Netflix Watch Instantly and Microsoft DRM… Though, Silverlight will be going mobile - which might have come in handy at NBCOlympics.com this month.)

While I spent some time with a pre-release ZvBox in NYC not so long ago, the folks at ZeeVee have provided me an eval unit for a more comprehensive look. In following the coverage, it seems that “localcasting” is the best descriptor: ZvBox ($500) streams PC- or web-based content from a computer over coax to any QAM-tuning HDTVs in the home. Testing will be somewhat interesting… I recently unloaded my Vista Media Center, so I’ll be borrowing Melissa’s (underpowered) Windows laptop (when available) as a source.

I’ve noticed a decent amount of energy waste coverage lately. The general theme has been specific to devices that consume electricity while in standby mode or even powered off. While I’m lazier than I am cost conscious or environmentally aware, it did get me wondering what exactly goes on in my apartment.

So I went around my place with a Kill A Watt measuring the consumption levels of various digital media hardware (and a few other devices for comparison) when not actively engaged.

Some interesting discoveries… The Netflix Roku box draws the same amount of power (5 watts) when not in use as my DivX-capable Philips DVD player when in use. The Staples shredder draws 2 watts when in standby and when powered “off.” Most surprising, though, are my two Panasonic HDTVs which appear to pull less than 1 watt when shut down - kinda negating a lot of the bad press, if accurate. (One set confirmed by CNET. Perhaps older televisions are more demanding.) Here’s the complete breakdown:

• Watts - Device
• 42 - TiVo Series 3*
• 38 - TiVo HD*
• 38 - TiVo HD XL*
• 18 - Vudu*
• 13 - ZvBox
• 11 - Slingbox PRO-HD
• 8 - Ooma Hub
• 7 - Slingbox Solo*
• 5 - Roku Netflix box
• 4 - Neuros OSD*
• 3 - Panasonic cordless phone
• 3 - Maxtor OneTouch 4
• 2 - Xbox 360
• 2 - Shredder
• 1 - Sony alarm clock radio
• <1 - Panasonic HDTV (x2)

Obviously, these various components are consuming electricity when not in use. Shutting down the TiVo units isn’t a reasonable option, so a remote powerstrip kill switch is out of the question. But devices like the Roku and Xbox 360 only need power when the television is on, making Smart Strip-like adapters appealing. These solutions cut power to peripheral devices when the primary device (television, in this case) is off. In the meantime, I’m taking a page out of Brian Lam’s and Jeremy Toeman’s book - by simply unplugging. Since the Xbox probably won’t see much playing time until the next Call of Duty arrives and I’m still waiting for mainstream blockbuster content from Netflix (Roku), both these devices have been unplugged (along with the shredder). At the same time, it’s worth keeping these numbers in perspective - my electric bill jumped over $90 once the outside temps passed 85 and I cranked the AC, while the TiVo Series3 is responsible for only about $2.25/month.

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs:

• Verizon Highlights Multi-Room DVR to Sell FiOS TV: Media Experiences 2 Go
• Experiences with the 16GB 3G iPhone in Canada: The Daleisphere
• Build Your Own tru2way App: Media Experiences 2 Go
• Upload Speeds Aren’t Terribly Important Yet: Media Experiences 2 Go

I hereby declare August 14th, 2008 as Netflix Dysfunction Day. I woke up this morning to a notification that my Netlix account would be upgraded (yay), followed by a notification that Netflix isn’t actually shipping any discs (boo). Normally, a couple day delay wouldn’t ruffle my feathers… However, I’m knee-deep in an HBO Wire marathon and had expected my next disc to ship on Tuesday and arrive yesterday - though it hasn’t actually yet left their facilities. So I did something I haven’t done in years and purchased a DVD (box set). The question is: How’ll I recycle the Season 2 discs in a few days?

Upon joining Dash, I gave up the seemingly unlimited supply of phones and service provided by Sling. Plus, I had dumped Vonage in Feburary after two and a half years - the call quality/connectivity had simply deteriorated to the point of being unusable. So, of course, I’ve burned through all my iPhone minutes (and rollover minutes) these last few months. I have tried being economical by using SkypeOut with a headset tethered to my laptop, but it’s been a bit uncomfortable. Especially since I tend to pace while on the phone.

Fortunately, a few of my former Sling peeps have relocated to Ooma and provided me with a device to play with. Setup was a breeze - the most difficult and time consuming aspect was deciding what area code (DC, 202) and number I wanted. (They’ll also port numbers.) The Ooma “Hub” (above, right) can sit between a router and modem or just hang off the router, which how I’ve configured it. Though I may reconsider the network topography since Ooma does provide QoS, port forwarding, etc. I’m also a sucker for sexy things and appreciate the understated Ooma design, which is much more visually appealing than my former clunky Vonage Linksys router.

Ooma retails for $250, which includes unlimited US calling. Forever. While it’s a bit more pricey than the MagicJack, no need to worry about leaving a computer on and Internet chatter strongly suggests Ooma call quality is superior. In my limited testing, I’ve been very pleased. Basic features like CallerID and Voice Mail are included, while an optional Premier tier of service ($99/yr) offers additional features such as extra lines/numbers and conference calling.