media

Back in 2005, CNET reviewed Orb, a software package that promised to let users access media files located on their home PC and stream them to any other broadband-connected computer and even some mobile devices. Orb scored a 7.0--"very good"--and that was that--except that Orb has offered some pretty compelling upgrades in the meantime.

Since our original review, the company has rolled out Orb 2.0 (fall 2006), which is essentially a Web 2.0 version of the product. You still run a small server applet on your home PC that catalogs and streams your media files--video, audio, and photos--but you can now access all of these files via a single Web page (available at mycast.orb.com). It's a user-customizable, AJAX-based page that's similar to the personalized home page that you can make at Google, Yahoo, Live.com, and elsewhere. In addition to keeping links to your home PC media files (or any other documents you choose to make accessible), Orb 2.0 lets you add pretty much any RSS-based resource from the Web. In addition to a variety of pre-fab options available (news, weather, sports, stock quotes, and the like), I was able to add several blog and news feeds, plus an array of my friends' Flickr, Twitter, and Jaiku feeds. In other words, you're able to mix your own "local" media with pretty much anything you can find online. Orb even supports Google Gadgets; I was able to include a Google Maps applet and even a decent game of Pac-Man.

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We're convinced that someone high up at Volkswagen is a wannabe rock star. First, the carmaker offers a complimentary "GarageMaster" guitar with many of its new models. Now, it's come out with VW media player co-branded with LG.

This is no ordinary sticker job either. "The player will have an aluminum body and come in three of the same colors the cars offers; Salsa Red, Shadow Blue and Sunflower Yellow," according to Everything USB, as well as featuring a 2.4-inch LCD for video and a battery that allows up to 20 hours of … Read more

Now this is what we like--truth in advertising. Or truth in blogging, at least.

Apparently as weary of iPod docks as we are, Uber-Review is spot-on in its assessment of this accessory in saying it does "absolutely nothing." OK, it does let your iPod rest in a little red hammock while it recharges. But that's about it.

Even its German manufacturer seems to acknowledge its limited existence, having given it a suitably superficial name: the "Load Thing." Still, if there's one thing we appreciate as much as honesty, it's a low price. So … Read more

Back for a second spin, the popular iRiver Clix gets a makeover and a fashionable '2' in its name. The iRiver Clix 2 builds on its predecessor's unique design and meritorious feature set. It's a flash-based 4GB MP3 player that'll play your videos, read content from SD cards via a built-in card reader and is even kind enough to incorporate an FM radio.

We're glad to see that the Clix 2 has also retained its intuitive navigation system--simply push the screen to navigate the player's menus. The resulting absence of navigation buttons leaves lots of … Read more

As MP3 players continue their magic shrinking act, it's getting difficult even to identify what they are at first sight. The latest version of Sony's once-venerable Walkman making its Japan debut, for example, could be mistaken for a USB key or dongle, measuring just over 3 inches long and weighing only 1 ounce.

In fact, as Akibahara News notes, the E Series players can be used as a USB drive too. But that would make it a pretty expensive storage device, going for about $92 to $167 for versions ranging from 1GB to 4GB, providing up to 30 … Read more

The release of Apple TV a few weeks ago has opened up an intriguing new possibility: streaming music from iTunes on your home computer to your cell phone.

No, Apple TV does not stream over the Internet or across a cellular phone network, but the SlingBox does. And Sling Media, the makers of the SlingBox, confirmed to CNET News.com on Monday that the company is working on making the Slingbox compatible with Apple TV. The most likely--and compelling--scenario would be to allow the streaming of Apple TV content (which is synched with a PC) to a mobile device.

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Back in November of last year, our U.K. sister blog reported that JVC would be releasing a new line of sleek, flat-panel-friendly, virtual surround home-theater systems that also featured streaming media capabilities in a couple of the models. Well, word is that one of those systems, the Sophisti DD-3 is actually shipping--or about to ship--in the U.S. It carries a list price of $999.95 and seems semi-intriguing on paper.

JVC calls the 3.1-speaker system, "A new type of home theater system, featuring a Network Media Player that serves as the nerve center of the home … Read more

Hewlett-Packard's Digital Entertainment Center (DEC) systems are getting taken out in a pine box. We give credit to HP for taking a chance on this niche market--it was the only mainstream vendor to sell an A/V-style living-room PC--and we generally liked the DEC systems we saw over the years, including the last model we tested, the DEC z560. The systems were attractive, well designed, and much more affordable than systems from boutique Media Center vendors such as Creature and Niveus.

We're not surprised that HP decided to kill off the DEC line, however, because mainstream consumers never … Read more

The PalmOS version of the SlingPlayer Mobile software is now available as a public beta at Sling Media's Web site. The initial version of the Palm software is designed to run only on the Palm Treo 700p. The new software adds Palm to the list of supported platforms to which Slingbox products can stream home TV programming. To date, SlingPlayer viewing software has already been released for Windows (2000, XP, and Vista) and Mac OS X (Intel and PowerPC) computers and Windows Mobile handhelds and smartphones. Additionally, a Symbian version of the SlingPlayer is preinstalled on some phones available … Read more