Aereo launching in Boston on May 15
Aereo is about to break out of its base in New York City and debut its live TV streaming and cloud DVR service to customers in Boston on May 15, which will be the first market as part of expansion plans the company announced a few months ago.
Netflix’s subscriber base trumps HBO, new Family Plan ready to go
Netflix's latest quarterly earnings show its subscriber base edged out HBO in the first quarter of 2013, while the company also announced it will introduce a new optional $11.99 Family Plan to allow four simultaneous streams on one account.
Slingbox 500 gets firmware update, SlingSync now enabled
A new Slingbox 500 firmware update will enable a feature called SlingSync, allowing users to push media content from an iPhone or Android phone to box for TV playback, and play files stored on a hard drive plugged into the USB port in the back.
Sennheiser gets into fashion game with new headphones
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That’s not exactly how Sennheiser is putting it, but a partnership with a European fashion label may signal a new direction aimed toward fusing trendy style with sound quality purists appreciate.
House of Marley Riddim EM-JH053 Review
House of Marley’s Riddim headphones offer a smoothed-out sound experience in an eco-friendly and highly distinct package. Cloaked in denim and accented in Rasta colors, the Riddim are as much fashion accessory as they are personal audio device.
- Pros: Great balance, Smooth sound signature, Eco-friendly comp...
- Cons: Lack of detail, Lack of depth and dimension, Expensive
Earth Day 2013: Cut the cord with the Red Wine Audio Signature 57
Toss those expensive power conditioners and power cords in the garbage. Battery-powered audio components like the Signature 57 integrated amplifier from Red Wine Audio promise to change the high-end audio landscape.
SVS Ultra Series Review
SVS absolutely blew us away with its Ultra Tower Surround speaker system. While SVS isn’t the only Internet-direct speaker manufacturer testing pre-conceptions about what value is supposed to mean, it is certainly one of the best. Simply put, you need to…
- Pros: Superb build quality, Outstanding bass response from tow...
- Cons: Treble response may seem forward or metallic at times, S...
Record Store Day 2013: Vinyl Strikes Back
Record Store Day has grown into a major cultural event over the past six years, with 2013 looking like the biggest one yet. We consider the oft-overlooked celebration and talk to some local record shops to see how this annual event impacts their sales.
Vizio E420i-A0 Review
A bright picture, vivid colors and slim design make Vizio’s E420i a solid value, but it is this set’s excellent Smart TV platform that helps it rise above the competition. Though its smart dimming feature doesn’t work well and there are motion blur…
- Pros: Good picture quality, Relatively slim design, Excellent ...
- Cons: Minor white washout on select mediums, Occasional jitter...
Amazon launches 14 pilots to gauge interest in series development
Skipping the traditional Hollywood executive review in favor of a mass audience opinion, Amazon is reaching out to viewers on the Web to review and rate a multitude of new pilots for Amazon Instant Video.
Twitter gets in the TV biz, partners with BBC America
It seems like everyone wants a piece of the rapidly evolving media landscape that is television, and apparently Twitter is no exception. A recent tweet by BBC America indicates a partnership with between it and Twitter for a new kind of in-Tweet video.
Geometry, aspect ratios, and why you should love those black bars on your TV
Ever since Woody Allen's "Manhattan" came out on VHS and Betamx, people have been complaining about the black bars thy see above and below the movies they watch. We explain why they are there and what you can and can't do about them
AudioControl’s Rialto 400 amplifier/DAC beefs up distributed audio systems, including those made by Sonos
AudioControl debuts its new Rialto 400, an amplifier/DAC combo that the company says will improve the fidelity of all sorts of multi-room audio solutions, including those made by Sonos. Based on what we're seeing, the Rialto 400 looks like a real contender.
LG 39LN5300 Review
LG's LN5300 series TV isn't big on features, but makes up for it with a sharp picture supported by excellent color reproduction, solid black levels and an approachable price.
- Pros: Gorgeous color, Sharp, clear image, Good black levels, A...
- Cons: Motion blurring, Poor sound quality
Harman Kardon AVR 3700 7.2 receiver brings support for 3D, 4K/Ultra HD and Airplay
Consumers looking for a great deal on a new AV receiver have a number of great choices under $1,000 now, including the new AVR 3700 from Harman Kardon which supports 4K, 3D, and AirPlay.