Tech News Updates

It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like the wait for OnLive is finally coming to an end: the service is now officially slated to launch on June 17 in the 48 contiguous states. The game streaming service will run users $14.95 a month, though buying or renting games is an additional cost (it’s unclear exactly what that cost might be). Luckily there will be lower prices available for multi-month buys, and the first 25,000 people to sign up will get their first three months free. Service includes free instant-play demos, multiplayer and an “instant video-based social network,” whatever that means. At the outset the service will run on Mac and PC as a browser plugin, but the MicroConsole TV adapter will be released later this year, with other devices to be added “over time.” Initially the service will run at 720p, but 1080p / 60 fps will be added once the bandwidth becomes available. Out of the gate there will be somewhere between 12 and 25 titles available, including Mass Effect 2 , Borderlands , Assassin’s Creed II , Dragon Age Origins , and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands . There are five different data centers set up to serve up the games, strategically placed to reduce lag… let’s hope they work ! OnLive Game Service to launch on June 17 in the US for $15 a month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Comcast’s Amy Banse just hit the stage at NewTeeVee Live and announced key details about the company’s new On Demand Online launch. If you can’t check out the video (embedded after the break) here’s the important stuff: It will be available at no additional cost to existing subscribers and allow the authorization of up to 3 devices per household. Log in once from home to Comcast.net or Fancast.com, download the Move Networks powered player to authorize your PC and proceed to stream from the very healthy library of VOD , whether at home or anywhere else, despite previous rumors to the contrary . The bad news? Yes, this does still count against the 250GB monthly cap if used at home and still no word on HD streaming, but within the concept of making content available to subscribers wherever they want to view it, this seems like a good first step. [Via Media Experiences 2 Go ] Continue reading Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere Filed under: Home Entertainment , Internet Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Following the 5,000 person beta already ongoing, Comcast is apparently ready to deliver the On Demand Online experience to all of its customers by the end of the year, with a few rather significant caveats. At launch one the much hyped placeshifting element of the service will not be live, for the time being you’ll need internet and TV service, and it will only work at home. Still, if queuing up last night’s ep of Mad Men on your laptop is all you’re looking for there should be a decent library of content to choose from with 24 cable networks signed on, and a $0 additional cost for the service. Our excitement level depends mostly on how quickly HD streaming and on the go access becomes a part of the package. Filed under: Home Entertainment Comcast On Demand Online rolls out fully this year, but stops at the front door originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

The FCC may be yet to act on Chairman Genachowski’s proposed net neutrality rules , but the agency’s Canadian counterpart, the CRTC, has made a fairly significant ruling of its own on the matter today, and it seems like it may have manged to disappoint folks on both sides of the debate in the process. The short of it is that the CRTC will allow internet service providers to practice “traffic shaping” (a.k.a. bandwidth throttling), but only as a “last resort,” and only after it has issued a warning that the throttling will take place (30 days in advance for regular users, and 60 days for wholesale customers). What’s more, the CRTC is also recommending that ISPs “give preference to Internet traffic management practices based on economic measures” before cutting into customers downloads — in other words, charge more for extra bandwidth, or offer discounts during non-peak hours. Read – CRTC ruling Read – The Globe and Mail, “CRTC sets Web ‘throttling’ rules” Filed under: Networking CRTC sets net neutrality rules for Canada, allows throttling as ‘last resort’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Viewsonic’s already announced a few new laptops in advance of that little Windows 7 launch, but it looks like it’s saved its biggest guns for the last minute, with it now introducing a whole range of new models in Taipei. The stand-out of the lot is the company’s new ViewBook Pro (pictured above), which packs a 13.3-inch display, low-power Core 2 Duo processor, and a fairly unique interchangeable optical drive / second battery into a slim aluminum enclosure. Rounding out the lot are the ViewBook 120, 130 and 140, which expectedly boast 12-inch, 13.3-inch and 14-inch screens, respectively, and some low-end to mid-range specs across the board (think Celeron or Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM, and a 250GB or 320GB hard drive). Still no word on a release over here, but it looks like the ViewBook Pro will set you back $999 or $1,099 depending on the configuration, with most of the rest running well under the $1,000 mark. Head on past the break for a hands-on look at the Pro. [Via TweakTown ] Continue reading Viewsonic debuts new range of ViewBooks, ViewBook Pros Filed under: Laptops Viewsonic debuts new range of ViewBooks, ViewBook Pros originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

It’s hard to hold the designers of concept cars accountable — so few ever come close to seeing the light of day, and they are, after all — concepts. That said, the eRinGo car is one design we seriously hope never comes to fruition. A two-seater that’s capable of converting back and forth between one and three-wheeled driving, depending on the curves of the road ahead, the eRinGo looks like a half-crushed can of Heineken. Not a good thing, in our opinion. That said, we like the two steering wheel concept — wherein the passenger on either side can take over driving duties — great if your friends are the agreeable sort willing to hand over the keys at any moment. There isn’t much more meat as to how this dude would work, but that’s what your imagination is for, right? There’s one more shot of this bad, bad boy after the break. Continue reading Three-wheeled eRinGo car concept: no thanks Filed under: Transportation Three-wheeled eRinGo car concept: no thanks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

A cellphone without an LCD isn’t much of a cellphone. Alright, yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, LCDs still rule the industry, which makes it a ripe target for nefarious price-fixing schemes to take root — something that LG and Sharp are well-acquainted with coming off a stinging half-billion dollar verdict last year. All the talk of artificially inflated display pricing recently must’ve spooked AT&T, because they’ve gone ahead and filed a lawsuit in San Francisco today alleging that LG, Samsung, Chunghua, AU Optronics, and others all conspired to boost component prices during a period in which the carrier bought some 300 million handsets. That’s a boatload of phones — several times AT&T’s total subscriber base — and we’re guessing the result could be a significant cash outlay if they’re successful with the suit. Does this mean free Mythics for everyone? [Via Phone Scoop ] Filed under: Cellphones , Displays AT&T sues LG, Samsung, others alleging LCD price-fixing ‘conspiracy’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read