March 07, 2006, 5:02 PM PST
Verizon teams up with TiVo
Posted by: Kent German

As any TiVo owner can tell you, the digital recorder is a life-changing purchase. I could live without my camera, my DVD player, and even my home computer, but TiVo is something I would truly mourn if it somehow wandered off. In fact, I've got it so bad that without thinking, I furiously press the TV remote control in hotels in a vain effort to rewind whichever program I'm watching. But as much as I love it, when I'm on the go, I wish I could telepathically (or at least remotely) tell my TiVo to record something if I forgot to program it beforehand. And now it looks like Verizon Wireless might just have an answer.

America's second-largest cell phone carrier today announced a partnership with TiVo, in which Verizon subscribers will be able to program their DVRs through their cell phone. After accessing the carrier's Get It Now service, TiVo Mobile will turn any Verizon phone into a remote control of sorts that will give customers direct access to their machines. But before you get too excited, you'll most likely pay through the nose for the privilege. Customer pricing was not announced as part of the deal, but the rumored fee is $5 per month on top of your regular TiVo subscription. And remember that since you're using the Get It Now wireless Internet service, you'll pay for airtime as well. TiVo Mobile will be available this summer.

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March 07, 2006, 3:13 PM PST
I shall call him...miniremote
Posted by: Dan Ackerman

Plenty of people have opted for an entertainment PC experience without Windows Media Center Edition, thanks to popular DVR apps like SnapStream's Beyond TV. One thing that draws users to that particular platform is the handy Firefly remote that Snapstream bundles with the app (and also sells separately).

But while branded Microsoft Media Center remotes come in all shapes and sizes, the Firefly has always been a bit on the, um, chunky side. Apparently, it was a bigger issue than we thought, because SnapStream is now offering a new product called the Firefly Mini.

The Mini is two inches shorter than the traditional version and a little bit lighter. It loses a few buttons along the way, but unlike its big brother, the Mini offers driverless installation, so it's easy to plug and play. And like the original Firefly, it works with a variety of other apps, including Media Center. So if coffee-table space is at an absolute premium, or your arms are too enfeebled by years of media consumption to hoist a full-size remote, SnapStream is selling the Mini via its Web site for around $29.

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March 07, 2006, 3:05 PM PST
The iPod and world domination, part two
Posted by: Jasmine France

On Friday, when Pope Benedict XVI paid his first visit to Vatican Radio, he was awarded with a pleasant little surprise: a shiny new iPod. Apparently, the gift, which was of the white, 2GB Nano variety, left quite an impression on His Holiness, who is said to have replied, "Computer technology is the future." The MP3 player was preloaded with a selection of the radio's programming, along with several classical music compositions by the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. The station's technical staff, who chose the gift, also opted to have the back engraved with the words "To His Holiness, Benedict XVI" in Italian. Am I the only one picturing the Pope in his own silhouetted iPod commercial?

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March 07, 2006, 1:56 PM PST
Eight gigabytes, one phone, no takers?
Posted by: Molly Wood

Samsung just debuted its new SGH-i310, featuring an 8GB hard drive, a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, 3G wireless capability, and music on the brain. Unfortunately, it happened to come out the week that 70 percent of respondents to a recent survey announced they have no interest in listening to music on their phones. So...photo viewer, then?

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March 07, 2006, 11:47 AM PST
Oh, no, vaguely hypothetical-sounding Google evil!
Posted by: Molly Wood

The blogosphere is freaking out over Google's possible plans to store every single tiny bit of your data and serve it up to you wherever you are. Then again, according to notes accidentally released online, the scenario occurs only in "a world with infinite storage, bandwidth, and CPU power." So unless they have some beta projects we don't know about, the time to panic is probably not yet nigh.

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March 07, 2006, 11:44 AM PST
Is it Origami? Or is it sort of just like Origami?
Posted by: Molly Wood

I can't figure out if this is stupendously bad planning or all part of the carefully orchestrated Origami buzz, but Intel showed off some Ultra Mobile PC devices today that, well, have a distinctly Origami-like feel. You know, because they run the version of XP designed for the as-yet-unseen Origami, and they look just like the devices shown in the "Is it real or isn't it?" Origami video that was briefly on the Web. Yeah, come to think of it, stupendously bad planning seems about right. Although the gadgets do look pretty cool.

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March 07, 2006, 10:57 AM PST
Intel shows Origami-like device
Posted by: Justin Jaffe

CNET News.com writer Ina Fried got a preview of some of Intel's UltraMobile PC devices this morning.

From the story: "Intel on Tuesday plans to show off the mini-tablet device at the center of Microsoft's Origami Project.

"In a preview of Tuesday afternoon's demonstration, Intel Marketing Director Brad Graff showed CNET News.com several of the Ultra Mobile PC devices, including an example of the kind of hardware that will ship in the next few weeks as part of the Microsoft effort.

"As earlier reported, the first devices have a 7-inch touch screen, standard x86 processors, and can run full versions of desktop operating systems including the Windows XP variant being used for Origami.

"In later generations, probably next year or later, the devices could have the pocket size, all-day battery life, and $500 price that Microsoft and Intel are aiming for, Graff said in an interview.

"The first generation of devices are likely to get about three hours of battery life, he said.

"In addition to the 7-inch model, Graff showed several other prototype devices of what the chip maker hopes will be possible in future versions, including models with smaller screens and a swivel-out keyboard. Although the prototypes are working, because they use today's standard components, they get only about 15 minutes of battery life."

I'll be checking out these devices myself this afternoon and shooting some video, so check back then for a closer look.

Read the full News.com story here. See the photos here.

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March 07, 2006, 9:29 AM PST
Creative lowers price on Zen Vision:M
Posted by: Jasmine France

While we were investigating a rumor that Creative would announce an online video store the day before Apple's 30th-anniversary event, we prodded our Creative contacts for the inside scoop. The reply was that they had no news regarding such an announcement but that Creative lowered the price on the Zen Vision:M from $330 to $300, effective yesterday. This isn't the exciting tidbit we were hoping for, but it's certainly good news for prospective Zen Vision:M buyers.

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• See product information for Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB, black)
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