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Apple HDTV would lure about 1 in 2 iPhone owners, survey says

If you own an iPhone, you're pretty likely to buy Apple's much-rumored TV set, according to the results of a new study.

Market research firm Strategy Analytics today released findings from its 2012 ConsumerMetrix survey, which says "nearly half" of those who already own an iPhone would be "very or somewhat likely" to buy an Apple TV set.

The survey, which took place in March, was limited to the U.S. and Europe, and consisted of about 6,000 individuals, most of whom were located in Europe.

According to Jia Wu, a Director at … Read more

Foxconn refutes claim it's making Apple TV sets

Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn says its chief executive made no such mention of working on an Apple TV set at a news conference in Shanghai last week, and that any reports otherwise are inaccurate.

In a statement issued to The Next Web, the company said that Chief Executive Terry Gou "made it very clear that he would neither confirm nor speculate about Foxconn's involvement in the product," and that it is the company's policy not to talk about what it is working on for any customer.

"At no time did [Gou] confirm that Foxconn was … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S III knows your voice

In today's show, it's time to teach your phone new tricks, get creeped out about privacy settings, and tag up the office:

Samsung unveiled it's newest Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy S III, and it's got some serious specs that could challenge the iPhone. It's fast, with a quad-core processor, and will be loaded with latest version of Android (Ice Cream Sandwich). But the most notable highlights are new photo and voice command features. The phone will first roll out to Europe within the month, and eventually make it's way to the U.S. this … Read more

Google TV to jump across the pond to Europe

Despite being plagued with high prices, low sales, and difficulty with program distribution in the U.S., Google TV is expanding to Europe. Come September, Sony will sell Google TV-based products in Europe, according to GigaOM via a translation of a Les Echos article.

Slated to go on sale in France, Spain, Germany, and the U.K. are two devices: a set-top box costing 200 Euros ($266) and an integrated Blu-ray player for 300 euros ($399), according to GigaOM.

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt announced Google TV's rollout to Europe last August and Sony confirmed that two Google TV-compatible set-top … Read more

Apple TV set said to be coming in 2013

The newest in the long line of Apple TV set rumors is that indeed the device is on the way but most likely not until 2013.

"We continue to view Apple TV hardware as a 2013 event," an Asian research group CLSA said in a note today, according to the news site Business Insider.

The note goes on to note that Foxconn, which manufactures Apple products, has decided to invest in Sharp electronics, giving more credibility to the notion that an Apple TV set is in the works. According to Business Insider, Sharp will provide the panels for … Read more

HBO Go on the Xbox: Great, if your cable provider allows it

Can your game console act as a TV replacement? Very nearly, now that more and more video apps are hitting consoles at a record rate. HBO Go, which has become a symbol of sorts for the potential of app-based on-demand entertainment as a cable accessory, has hit the Xbox, joining Roku, Android phones, the iPhone, and the iPad -- and, of course, smart TVs and laptops, too.

Unlike IP-based cable provider apps like Time Warner and Xfinity, HBO Go works anywhere in the U.S. just like Netflix, provided you have a subscriber log-in that comes from signing in via your cable provider. Oh, there's one more thing: not all cable providers allow HBO Go to work on the Xbox. Depending on who your provider is, you'll either (a) not be able to use HBO Go, or (b) be able to use it on certain devices, but not others.… Read more

Cisco to spend $5 billion for set-top box software maker

Cisco Systems has signed a $5 billion deal to buy set-top box software developer NDS, the companies said today.

NDS, based in the U.K., sells its software platform along with a combined service platform to video service providers. The products allow video providers to deliver a service that easily lets people view, search, and navigate video content at anytime from anywhere.

Cisco plans to use NDS software and services to enhance development of Videoscape, its own video platform for paid TV providers. The company said the NDS acquisition should help it expand into emerging markets, such as China and … Read more

Google getting around IE privacy settings?

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

Apple is combating Siri ports, blocking unauthorized devices

The hacking community is abuzz with news that Apple has decided to thwart attempts to bring Siri to older-model iPhones. The requirements for connecting your iPhone with Siri has a new element, a token, that has blocked third-party apps like Spire from accessing Siri's database.

The SetActivationToken appears to be the culprit, though it is unclear exactly what the requirement of the device is for this token.

The main concern for users with older iPhones is that the SetActivationToken could signal a focused approach by Apple to stop Siri access for unapproved devices. Though the new token does stop … Read more

Turn off 'raise to speak' for Siri, and make it quit talking from your pocket

You may think Siri has a mind of its own when you randomly start hearing it beep and talk to you from your pocket.

Truth is, you aren't going crazy, the "raise to speak" feature for Siri can easily be triggered. Turning it off will eliminate the voices in your head, er pocket, and could potentially help increase your battery life as well.

To turn off "raise to speak," for Siri follow these four steps:

Go to the Settings on your iPhone 4S. Tap on General. Select Siri. Toggle the Raise to Speak switch to … Read more