Archives For Gadgets

Nest Learning Thermostat Back In Stock

Dave Zatz —  March 1, 2012 — 12 Comments

Looks like the coveted Nest learning thermostat ($249) is back in stock after the initial run sold out. Nest is the startup founded by a pair of Apple alumni to bring that a more modern design aesthetic and ease-of-use to what has largely remained a commoditized industry. (And at least one incumbent seems to take issue with Nest’s approach.)

A key Nest selling point is that aforementioned “learning” capability which attempts to detect and adjust to your household’s temperature preferences (via motion sensors and timer). While that sort of customization and the potential of saving energy is nice, I’m mostly attracted to the Nest’s sleek appearance and integrated WiFi. No, they’re not the first. Nor are they the cheapest. But they are certainly the most elegant. Plus, Nest kindly provides both the info and tools a home improvement novice such as myself will likely need to get it going without calling in the cavalry.

Sadly, we’re in a bit of a housing transition at the moment and now may not be the right time for us to partake. However, those of you prepared to take action and who added your name to the store waiting list may be pleased to discover an email invite similar to the one I received above.

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Panasonic Stops Making Set-Tops… and (Some) VCRs

Mari Silbey —  February 13, 2012 — 10 Comments

Panasonic announced a few weeks ago it was getting out of the US set-top biz, something it pursued briefly in retail, but far longer through cable operator channels. That headline wasn’t terribly surprising, but today’s company news is a little different. According to The Wall Street Journal, Panasonic has also stopped manufacturing VCRs in its home country of Japan. Yes, VCRs. You know those old machines that your mother still hopes you’ll use to copy her VHS tapes over to a new medium? Panasonic is selling out its inventory in Japan, and then VCR sales there will be no more.

As a corollary to the Japanese news, The Wall Street Journal does point out that Panasonic will continue to manufacture VCRs in China and Slovakia. That’s likely because there continues to be a market among consumers who still cling to their VHS collections. Reporter Daisuke Wakabayashi characterizes the generational VCR divide this way:

If you had trouble programming it, you are probably a baby boomer or older.

If you know the cure for the fuzzy picture — pop the tape out; depress the small button on the side; pull back the lid and blow air ever-so gently onto the black strip to dislodge dust and other particles – you are probably a Generation X baby.

One final note: It’s staggering to watch how quickly DVD players are following VCRs down the path of obscurity. The Digital Entertainment Group reported last month that DVD sales dropped 20% in 2011 to $6.8 billion. Blu-ray disc sales fared better, up 19% last year, cresting $2 billion in sales.

In DVR, Gadgets, Movies
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Don’t Cut The Cord. Cut The Inconvenience.

Dave Zatz —  February 9, 2012 — 20 Comments

Boxee, makers of software powering digital media streaming boxes and computers, recently launched a campaign that seemingly encourages folks to “cut the cord” (and find fulfillment via their new Live TV USB dongle):

Yes, there are hundreds of cable channels, but make a list of the stuff you actually watch. You will probably find that most are on broadcast and the rest are available on Vudu/Netflix/Network sites. What is left on your list? Is it really worth $85 a month? We believe the combination of Netflix/Vudu/Vimeo/TED/etc. with over-the-air channels delivers a much better experience for less money.

Let’s skip for a moment the fact that most modern televisions tune over-the-air HD broadcasts and so Boxee’s cost “savings” pitch fails to incorporate their hardware fees. Instead, we’d rather focus on Boxee’s spat with the cable industry. And the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) takes issue with Boxee’s possible hypocrisy:

Instead of telling regulators that its service is a replacement for pay TV service, they now seem to be saying that their service is dependent on subscription TV and that regulators must… wait for it… dictate how cable service is delivered to its customers. Yes, that is correct. This cord-cutting, end-of-cable-as-we-know-it dynamo is demanding that the FCC not allow cable systems to scramble its basic service tier

Continue Reading…

In CableCARD, Gadgets, HDTV, Video
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Nokia Lumia 900 Launch Timing & Pricing

Dave Zatz —  February 4, 2012 — 3 Comments

While running errands at the mall, I swung by the relatively new Microsoft Store. And, as you can see from the pic above, they’ve done a nice job duplicating Apple’s iconic store design… with the addition dark woodgrain surfaces (bad) and rich projection displays (good). Not to mention red store employee t-shirts replace Apple’s blue.

Speaking of those store employees, two confirmed reports that they’re accepting $25 deposits on the flagship Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone (on AT&T). However, as I tweeted, it’s pretty absurd to pre-order a device that has no announced launch date or pricing. So, of course, I pushed the staff for details. They stated rather factually that I could request white or black Lumia 900 hardware which they expect to release in the second half of March, after the 15th. Unfortunately, they weren’t so certain on pricing. One employee figured the Nokia handset would run about $200, while the other conferred with the manager who wasn’t given concrete details but inferred it’d be made available between $150 – $199.

The timing lines up well with the rumored March 18th launch date, but I’m somewhat bummed they couldn’t (yet?) corroborate a $100 price tag to undercut the competition. Until we know more, the Samsung Focus Flash remains my favorite Windows Phone. But only time will tell if it sees WP8 software and/or Skype video conferencing. Which you can pretty much guarantee will find its way to the Lumia 900.

In Apple, Gadgets, Mobile
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Inrix Travels from Smartphone to In-Car GPS

Mari Silbey —  January 16, 2012 — 11 Comments

Ford got a lot of buzz at CES last week with new updates to its SYNC platform, but the most interesting announcement to me was word of an update to the SYNC Destinations app. Users can now enter a destination on the iPhone (or Android or Blackberry device later this quarter) and push it directly to Ford’s in-car navigation system. The app is powered by Inrix, and it illustrates the value of connecting user input from outside the car with an interface and real-time data available inside the car. Ford and Inrix claim this is the first application to connect a smartphone with in-car GPS, but given the utility of this particular machine-to-machine communication, it certainly won’t be the last.

In addition to the updated Destinations app, Ford also announced the new SYNC AppLink service at CES, giving users voice control over certain navigation functions. Drivers can call for real-time traffic reports and turn-by-turn directions without touching a button. Users can also report traffic incidents to the Sync community, supplementing Inrix’s data with real-time user input. The AppLink service is available in select Ford 2012 model cars.

Traffic is big business, and, as local newscasters have known for decades, a big draw for Americans who spend an inordinate amount of time in their cars. Inrix has been on my radar for a couple of years now. The company is not only collecting valuable data today, it’s creating an infrastructure of data inputs that will be hard to match in a few years time if the company does its job right.

And Inrix has the potential to be valuable to far more than just consumers too. Transit authorities, law enforcement and government budgeting offices could all benefit from Inrix data. Just note this story in the Seattle Times from January 8th. Inrix was able to report on the impact of new highway tolls on local traffic congestion and average vehicle speeds. The DOT’s comments on the news were decidedly indifferent, but that’s a short-sighted response. In the future, Inrix data (and traffic data from other sources including Navteq and Google) could be critical for transportation planning, community development and more.

In Gadgets, Mobile, Software
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