News

New Roku Streaming Stick to Compete with Google’s Chromecast

2014-03-05

Roku is set to start shipping its new HDMI-connected Streaming Stick in April. It is intended to compete directly with Google’s very popular Chromecast. Seeing as Roku’s new device sells for $49.99 versus $35 for Chromecast, it looks like the competition will be fierce.

So what makes this different than the original $99 Roku Streaming Stick? The new HDMI Version is not limited to “Roku-Ready” TVs that use ports that support Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technology. It will work with any TV with an HDMI input.

According to Roku chief marketing officer Matthew Anderson, the original MHL-compatible Roku Stick will still be available, but most likely limited to being bundled with compatible TVs and specialized remote controls that can work with the streaming device and the set itself. Roku has not disclosed sales figures for the original stick, but since the company certified 60 different products from 14 consumer electronics partners and that 20 companies are already in the Roku Ready program, it is estimated that they have shipped about 8 million devices in the US alone.

And just like the rest of Roku’s streaming boxes, the new Streaming Stick will support Roku’s 1,200-plus apps/channels, including authenticated TV Everywhere apps such as HBO GO, Watch Disney, WatchESPN, and TWC TV from Time Warner Cable.

As long as there is a solid internet connection that can handle the data rates, the new HDMI version can deliver 1080p video and uses a mini USB port that can draw power from a USB port on the TV or directly from a wall outlet. The 802.11n Wi-Fi-enabled device will also ship with a remote control and the ability to use mobile apps that can also control the Roku Streaming Stick. Anderson said the new product is also made to support DIAL (Discover and Launch), a feature currently supported by the Roku 3 that lets users fling video from YouTube and Netflix from a mobile device to the TV, tying in a feature that’s central to the rival Chromecast platform. The new adapter will also let users view locally-stored personal photos on the TV.

Roku is trying on several fronts to compete with rivals such as Google and Apple, who makes the ever-popular iTV. At the International CES event in January, Roku announced that Hisense and TCL are the first television manufactures that will launch models that integrate the Roku platform. The first of the Roku TV models are expected out this fall.

QTOOTH will be on the lookout for this device and will do a review when the Roku HDMI Streaming Stick become available.

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B00DR0PDNE” cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B00I4ZO11C” cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B00BGGDVOO” cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

Got Wearable Tech? Then You Need Apps! Wearables DevCon Exceeds Expectations

2014-03-05

The first edition of the WearablesDevCon kicked off today and it has proven to be extremely popular. So popular that the promoters, BZ Media, announced that next year’s event will be moving to a larger facility to accommodate the expected increase in attendance. This year’s event was originally set for 500 registrants. Instead, there were over 1,200! They will also be changing the name from “Wearables DevCon” to “Wearables TechCon” to better reflect the focus of the event.

There’s good reason for this event to be well-attended. For every wearable tech device that is invented there will need to be dozens, if not hundreds, of apps available for it to be successful. In the smartphone world this is called having an “app ecosystem”. One of the big reasons why people are not buying as many Windows or Blackberry phones is because there are not nearly as many apps available as there are for the Apple iOS and Android phones, both whom have over a million apps each. Having a rich, well-developed ecosystem of apps to get the most out of these new wearable devices will mean the difference between mass adoption and abandonment.

Though not everyone may be able to bring a wearable tech product to market, just about anyone can develop applications for them with a bit of training. The APIs and SDKs for most of these devices are available for anyone to download and to dive right in create their own solutions. There is a lot of promise out there. It will be interesting to see how creative humans will get with this new approach to engaging with our world through these wireless wearable devices.

And that’s exactly where events like Wearables DevCon come in handy. It’s an incredible way to get involved. Just take a look at who the teachers are and what companies are there to support you on your journey. Manufacturers are eager, some may say desperate, for people to put their technology to use in all ways possible, starting with apps. Their success depends on it.

QTOOTH will be reporting on the action from the conference and will follow up with what we think are the highlights. Stay tuned…

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B00BKEQBI0″ cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B009ZJ3MUM” cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B00BGO0Q9O” cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

Why is Bluetooth World at the Center of the Internet of Things?

2014-03-04

QTOOTH is looking forward to the 2014 Bluetooth World conference that is going to be held April 8-9th in San Jose, CA. We’ll be on-hand to report on this massive event that features leading product innovators, developers, analysts and media from around the globe to explore the Internet of Things (IoT) as enabled by Bluetooth® technology. And if you are a developer, hacker, or someone who just wants to get involved in this fast-growing area of tech, you may want to go, too!

As the Bluetooth ecosystem grows, particularly Bluetooth Smart, Bluetooth World 2014 will give you a fantastic opportunity to stay up to date on all key developments within the industry, view the latest products and devices in the exhibition and network with your fellow IoT enthusiasts. Get involved and help shape the future of Bluetooth technology!

Bluetooth World is THE industry platform for sharing best practices, exploring the many and varied growth opportunities available, evaluating business models and networking with your colleagues from across the ecosystem. Come learn, share, network and get inspired!

Click here for the full agenda and here to register. Hope to see you there!

Fell Asleep While Watching a Video? Netflix Hack Day has a Wireless App for That

2014-03-01

Like many forward thinking companies, Netflix sponsors its own Hack Day, an in-house competition for generating innovative ideas. The goal of the Netflix Hack Day is mostly just to have fun, but hey, if something cool comes out of it you never know, they may end up incorporating it into their service.

The most recent Netflix Hack Day was held last week. The employees started their projects on Thursday with many of them working through the night to make the following days deadline. Because they have only 24 hours to complete them, their projects may appear a little rough around the edges.

One of our favorites used a FitBit activity tracker that paused the playback of a video if it detected that the wearer had fallen asleep. The app also created a bookmark so that the person could have the option of restarting the video at the same point where they drifted off. Sounds pretty handy to us.

Check out the video demo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMKDEH8KTak

There was also a project that used Apple’s iBeacon technology for a better sharing experience between multiple Apple products.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8sA7ON7Q3o

We would have to agree with many of the comments that people left on the Netflix site, the playlist hack is one they should incorporate immediately. And for the gamers out there who view Netflix through their gaming system, the radial project demonstrated a much better way to enter alphanumeric information than what is currently available. Instead of clicking repeatedly through a grid of letters and numbers, the values are arranged in a circle. Spinning an alpha wheel on the game controller allows you to select the value you want similar to using an old fashioned combination lock. Speedy… and smart!

Netflix makes no guarantee that ANY of these will become a reality anytime soon. So what’s a tech fan to do if they don’t want to wait? DO IT THEMSELVES!! That’s what. A few of these projects, especially the sleep/pause hack using an activity tracker, would be pretty easy to do even without an API (application programming interface) or SDK (software development kit) from Netflix. Would you like to know how? There are an ever-increasing number of public hackathons out there that you can attend that will teach you exactly that. There is a big one in San Francisco next week for Wearable Technology development called Wearables DevCon. Click on their banner for more info. We are also media sponsors for a few others, like the Android Developer’s Conference, AnDevCon, coming up in May in Boston.

If you are holding your own hackathon or know of any conferences that involve wireless technology and would like to attend, please let us know. Not only will we list the event on our site, QTOOTH often has a need for roving reporters or, at the very least, might be able to get you in at a discount. Hit us up on our contact page or join our mailing list.

Attention Developers and Hackers: Wearables DevCon is Next Week!

2014-02-25

Are you a developer or hacker who wants to get in on the exciting world of wearable tech? The Wearables DevCon, March 5-7 in San Francisco is the event for you! And at a discount!

Whether you are just getting your feet wet or a seasoned professional, Wearables DevCon is an event tailor-made for designers, builders and developers of wearable computing devices and software. Leading research analysts project up to 400 million devices to be sold annually by 2017. Learn how to develop for the coolest gadgets and next wave of computing devices like Google Glass, FitBit, Pebble, the Sony SmartWatch 2, Jawbone, and the Samsung Gear 2smartwatches and be a part of the wearables technology revolution!

Use code WEARIT for a $200 conference discount. And if you’re in the area and just want to check out the latest in wearable technology, the Wearables DevCon Expo is free! For more information go to: www.wearablesdevcon.com

Also, if you’re more of an East Coast person, check out their sister event coming to Boston, MA May 27-30: AnDevCon – the World’s Biggest Android Developer Training Conference. We’ll be posting more details here soon, but if you’re interested in attending, use our discount code ANDROID to receive $200 off. Click the logo below for more details and to register:

Bluetooth Internet of Things Revolution? Announcing CSR Mesh

2014-02-25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtLBazKoFq8&feature=youtu.be

This is huge! Exciting news for Bluetooth and the future of the Internet of Things, or IoT.

Chip manufacturer and Bluetooth pioneer CSR is today announcing their new Bluetooth protocol called CSR Mesh. Soon you will be able to walk through a wired environment, whether its your home or office, even certain public spaces, and your connected smart device will be able to control it for you. This could be either done automatically through settings that you have pre-programmed or done on the fly using voice command, gesture control or interacting with your favorite device’s touch screen. You will be able to control any Bluetooth Smart enabled device from wherever you are, including lighting, heating, appliances, and entertainment and security systems. Best of all, it doesn’t require the complex setup, pairing, or use of an access device such as a router.

What makes this possible? The CSR Mesh protocol allows Bluetooth to create a decentralized network of interconnected Bluetooth Smart devices. Most current, common Bluetooth applications allow for up to seven devices to be available for pairing and yet will allow only two to be active at any time and only within a 33ft/10 meter range. CSR Mesh technology allows each Bluetooth Smart device to communicate with all of the others in the network. Each added device will also extend the working range of the network. With CSR Mesh, you can control up to 65,000 devices in a single network! And if that wasn’t enough, there is virtually no limit to the number of networks that can be setup in a given location.

Why are these types of numbers so necessary for the success of the Internet of Things? It might seem overkill at first, but consider a modern office building. They can be the size of skyscrapers and contain hundreds of businesses and tens of thousands of employees. This will allow each person to have their own personal network that may or may not overlap with their team’s network, that might overlap with their division’s network, that might overlap with their company’s network, that might overlap with the office building’s network… You get the idea. And I hope you are starting to get the scope of what CSR has done. This is an incredible enabler for inventors, developers and manufacturers in every industry. It is limited at this point only by our imagination. CSR put together a great introductory video to help explain the concept (see above).

CSR is already currently working with a number of undisclosed companies that are building products based on CSR Mesh, set to be launched in the near future. This is going to be a quantum leap for all technology, not just wireless. We all knew it was coming, but CSR Mesh is helping make it today’s reality. And if thinking about this has only led you to more questions, you are not alone. We have plenty, and we are going to be leveraging our contacts at CSR to get them answered. This will not be the last post from us concerning Mesh. Stay tuned, we will have more for you soon!

Click here for CSR’s Original Press Release.

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”center” asin=”B00DGEGJ02″ cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”center” asin=”B009AR2MQO” cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”center” asin=”B00H0OL04E” cloaking=”default” layout=”left” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]