I've been cable-TV-free for the better part of a year and a half. First, the idea was to save money. Second, the idea of watching TV via the Internet and on my assorted devices--iPad, iPhone, PS3, laptop--is an appealing and, honestly, preferable way of dealing with content at this point, especially since the TV is usually out of bounds in our household, since our sleeping child dictates silence. Though I feel like my idea was personally motivated, it's increasingly becoming part of a cable-cutting trend that many are adopting. (For more advice, see Maggie Reardon's tips on cutting cable for online video.)

Admittedly, we're not really off-grid at all. We still use the cable provider's Internet service. We also subscribe to Netflix, a virtual necessity when off-grid. Hulu has always offered a good selection of current shows on many networks, acting as a decent stand-in for a DVR.

Hulu Plus, with its promise of a larger library and an ability to work on the iPad, iPhone, and game consoles, got my attention when it was launched. Its price--$9.99 a month--did, too, for all the wrong reasons. Still, when I received my e-mail inviting me to sign up for the "preview," I ponied up my credit card. Is it worth it? And can it really help fulfill my wishes to watch TV off the grid without spending a fortune in iTunes? Well, that depends.

Content surprises Hulu Plus offers no free trial period other than a few free shows on its app, unlike Netflix which gives new users 30 days to try the service. Users have to discover for themselves what Hulu Plus' library actually consists of, which at the moment has its ups and downs. Some people on forums I've read seem confused as to whether the "Hulu Plus Preview" is currently free, or costs money. Hulu doesn't make the distinction clear of what a "preview" really even means, since this looks like a final product. And, yes, it costs money right now.… Read more

On this week's episode, we look back at the Steve Jobs iPhone 4 "Antennagate" news conference, which had Dan and Scott busy last week providing talking head commentary for TV news stations; plus we take a peek at some very cool iPad cases.

Then we move on and talk about what we've been test-driving lately. Everyone goes wild for Limbo, the spooky new downloadable Xbox Live game, and Scott reveals that he signed up for the $10 per month Hulu Plus service. He says the interface and video quality are great, but the limited catalog makes … Read more

Lenovo is launching its own tablet to debut in China by the end of this year.

Dubbed "LePad," the tablet will run Google's Android operating system, according to comments made by Liu Jun, senior vice president for Lenovo Group, as reported by TradingMarkets.com and other sources. Details are few so far, and there's no word from Lenovo or other sources on whether the tablet will venture abroad after its initial debut in China.

Tablets launched in the U.S. and many other countries face competition from Apple's popular iPad. But China is one country … Read more

Jeff looks a little different on this morning's episode of The 404 podcast, doesn't he? Initial reports tell us that the half-moon forming on Jeff's face is actually a smile, which probably has to do with Ilya Kovalchuk staying with the New Jersey Devils this season.

The LA Kings, New York Islanders, the NJ Devils, and a random team in Russia all grabbed for Kovalchuk when he became a free agent on July 1, but only the Devils were able to secure the hockey star for a reported 100 million bucks over the next 17 years, which … Read more

Apple's iPad may be putting a damper on demand for e-readers and portable game consoles, according to the results of a new survey by Resolve Market Research.

The study examined the spending habits and attitudes of current and potential owners of iPads and other mobile devices.

Among those who own or plan to pick up an iPad, 60 percent see the tablet as most enjoyable for playing games. As a result, 38 percent say they won't buy a dedicated portable game console after picking up an iPad.

E-readers may also take it on the chin. Among the folks who own or will buy an iPad, 50 percent say they won't purchase a dedicated e-reader after bringing home Apple's tablet.

"What's surprising about this research is that consumers end up spending a lot of time playing casual games on their iPads and many will not buy a new portable gaming device as a result," Elaine Coleman, chief research officer for Resolve Market Research, said in a statement. "This negatively impacts portable gaming as consumers want to carry fewer devices over time."

When asked their reasons for wanting to own an iPad, 56 percent said it was for entertainment, 42 percent cited the "cool factor," 40 percent said it was for convenience, and 28 percent said it was because of the Apple brand.

Where do iPad owners use their tablets?… Read more

CNET TV's Brian Tong discusses the latest in the world of Apple. This week, Brian recaps Steve Jobs' press conference about iPhone 4 antenna issues, examines the iOS 4.1 developer release, and talks about rumors for the next generation iPod touch.

Can't see the video? Have an iPhone or iPad? Click the following link to download this week's Apple Byte (should show in the HTML5 viewer in Safari):

→ Apple Byte 7/19/2010 ←

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The iPad's market is going more global starting this Friday.

Apple announced Monday that its popular tablet will reach residents in nine more countries: Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G models will go on sale.

The iPad is currently available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.

In U.S. dollars, the Wi-Fi models now sell internationally for $499 for the 16GB edition, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB, while the Wi-Fi+3G units sell for $629 … Read more

The big news this week was Apple's announcement Friday morning regarding the antenna issues on the iPhone 4. Steve Jobs came to the stage in a very unique Apple event to talk about the iOS 4.0.1 update that he says shows signal strength much more reliably. As a way to quell concerns about dropping calls by gripping the iPhone 4 a certain way, which Jobs admitted decreases signal strength in some circumstances, Apple is offering free bumper-style cases for everyone. Those who have already bought the bumper will receive a full refund. iPhone 4 users will be able to sign up for a free bumper or refund starting next week at Apple's site.

I have had the iPhone 4 for exactly a week now and I haven't experienced any connection issues so far, but I bought the bumper a couple of days ago for protection, in case I drop it. I was wondering what Apple would do with people like me who already bought the bumper (most people I talked to agreed that I was out of luck), so it was a pleasant surprise to hear I would get a refund, too.

This week's apps include a slick-looking and useful calculator app and a drift racing game that challenges you to master the controlled slide.

Calcbot (99 cents for a limited time) from the makers of stylish currency converter Convertbot brings more than your iPhone's included calculator wrapped up in a nice package. Like other apps from Tapbots, when you launch Calcbot, the first thing you notice is the slick-looking design. Features include a live as-you-type expression view so you know you have all your values correct, a history tape so you can track back to earlier calculations, and an advanced functions screen, all accessible with a swipe of your finger.

For all of Calcbot's class and functionality, it's not the most feature-rich calculator in the iTunes App Store. But if all you need is to make basic calculations (and some advanced functions) and the ability to send your work elsewhere, Calcbot is an attractive option. A swipe downward brings up the history tape, and a swipe to the left brings up the advanced function screen. I'm a little disappointed there is no graphing calculator, but Calcbot is an excellent alternative to the iPhone home screen calculator.

Drift Mania Championship (99 cents) is a drift racing game that offers excellent controls, smooth graphics, and challenging gameplay, and even though it's a little short on content, the price makes it a must have for drift racing fans. The precise tilt controls work better than most racing games in the iTunes App Store, letting you truly control how you attack each corner. Your speed is controlled by where you place your finger on the throttle bar on the right side of the screen, and you'll need to adjust your speed a lot to get the best drift through each turn.… Read more

As we saw recently with all that amazing art painted from rear-window grime, true artists can create masterpieces using just about any tool.

In the first video below, David Kassan paints quite a detailed and subtly shaded portrait using only his fingers and an iPad. His model sat for three hours, but the time-lapsed video means you don't have to.

The Brooklyn-based artist used Steve Sprang's $4.99 Brushes app to portray his subject, as does U.K.-based Kyle Lambert, who created some pretty great-looking iPad finger paintings of Beyonce, a scene from "Toy Story 3,&… Read more