Will Apple make the Apple TV more of a focus for home networks?

With Apple’s CEO Tim Cook saying that the company had sold 1.3M Apple TVs in Q3 2012, with 4M units so far this fiscal year. He went on to say - “We think it will lead us somewhere., we’ll keep pulling the string,”. So will Apple make the Apple TV more of a focus for home networks? Perhaps not according to Cook who said it was still a hobby. (Image credit: Flickr)

Providing some perspective on the sale of Apple TV units, it was revealed that sales numbers are up over 170% year over year. Back in May, Cook said that Apple had sold some 2.7M so far in 2012. That means that Apple has sold some 1.3M units in roughly 2 months.

According to Tom Warren -

"We're not going to keep around projects that we don't believe in," says Cook. "There's a lot of people here that are believers in Apple TV and we continue to invest in it and see where it will take us."

"We do it because we think it can lead us somewhere, so we'll see."

Will Apple make the Apple TV more of a focus for home networks?, that remains to be seen but rumors persist suggesting that the company is preparing its own Apple television. No matter that this is being classed as a hobby it is a product that Apple is focusing on over time.

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Home networks get Google Fiber in Kansas city

Home networks get Google Fiber in Kansas city is all over the news. This is Google's first foray as an internet service provider and will essentially be offering a fibre-optic broadband network service, providing 'gigabit' speeds, or 1000 mbps. While this is a first of its kind in the USA, South Korea has already installed a fiber optic cable network which provides the same sort of speed and the government there is aiming to bring high speed connections to every household by the end of the year. (Image credit: Google Fiber)

 

Home networks get Google Fiber in Kansas city - Cool Gear

As part of the rollout Google Fiber which is promising speeds that are 100 times faster than current speeds on offer, the company is also providing some cool gear.

The company will offer a Network Box that attaches directly to a wall-mounted fiber jack, including an 802.11n Wi-Fi access point and four gigabit Ethernet connections. Also on offer is a separate TV Box for other TV's in your home. The box features a Wi-Fi access point and receiver, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and will play 1080p content through its HDMI or component connections. A 2TB stackable Storage Box is also on offer, allowing up to eight TV shows to be recorded at once. Each component will rely on a Google Nexus 7 as a remote control, and all of these devices will be provided for free if you sign up for a two-year contract at $120 a month plan, though only the Network Box is provided with the $70 per month one-year contract.

Home networks get Google Fiber in Kansas city - Whats on offer?

There are three versions of Google Fiber to choose from (all prices in USD) broken down by PC World :

The standalone Gigabit Internet service will cost $70 a month and will give you the high-speed Internet service as well as the Google Fiber network box with four 1Gb Ethernet ports. Subscribers need to pay a $300 installation fee, unless they sign up for a 2-year contract.

Gigabit + TV service is $120 a month, and includes the Gigabit Internet service, the network box plus the Fiber TV service. Subscribers will get a selection of network and cable channels, including some HD channels like Showtime and Starz. This high-end package also includes Google's new Nexus 7 tablet and a two terabyte TV box that can record up to eight shows at once. The installation fee is also waived with this plan if subscribers sign up for two years.

For those who don't want to subscribe to the Gigabit service, there's an optional low-end plan that is free, if subscribers pay for the $300 installation. Those without a monthly fee will only have access to 5 Mbps upload speed and 1 Mbps downloads.

The video below highlights some of the buzz in the media -

This is in many ways a great step forward for home networks. Imagine being able to download and upload content in secs if not microseconds. Home networks get Google Fiber in Kansas city may be a headline today but could well herald roll outs in other parts of the country very soon. Home networks get Google Fiber in Kansas city is already viable given that the company's website has had over 3,900 pre-registrations. Over 20% of the "fiberhood" zones it has designated have gained enough pre-registrations to guarantee a Google Fiber buildout.

Take a look at the video below at the company's introductory video below.

Tell us what it is like if you live in the area and what you think of all the hoopla surrounding the news of home networks get Google Fiber in Kansas city.

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Home network Bang & Olufsen Playmaker receiver streams music with AirPlay or DLNA

Bang & Olufsen is taking its integration with mobile devices further. The home network Bang & Olufsen Playmaker receiver streams music with AirPlay or DLNA. The home network Bang & Olufsen Playmaker is a wireless audio receiver that allows you to play music using their choice of AirPlay or DLNA. The Playmaker receives either protocol via Wi-Fi or ethernet (usually used by mobile devices) alternatively a line in jack can be used for feeding music into it.

According to the company's press release -

It can stream music from practically any smart phone, tablet, MAC, PC or media server. Additionally, Playmaker possesses a second-to-none sound performance as it features a high performance Digital Audio converter that is specified for even the most powerful B&O speakers. Therefore, Playmaker gives music lovers the best of both worlds: outstanding audio quality from Bang & Olufsen's extensive range of premium active speakers and one-touch access to digital music collections, without the wires.

Playmaker has extreme ease-of-use and intuitive operation. You simply add Playmaker to any set of Bang & Olufsen active loudspeakers and within seconds you'll discover just how good a smartphone can sound. Whether you want to share a playlist or explore a new online station, Playmaker lifts digital music into rich aural panoramas that reveal even more of your favorite tunes on Bang & Olufsen speakers. Playmaker also creates new wireless music scenarios, as one can easily set various music zones in the house and/or music can be moved around from room to room, or played in sync using iTunes.

Additionally, an extra amplifier is not needed for set up. All Bang & Olufsen speakers are active with specially tuned amplifiers, built into every cabinet, to power all speaker drivers separately. Just connect two BeoLab speakers to the new Playmaker and start listening to music from your phone or tablet. Outstanding sound systems have never been this simple.

"We believe Playmaker will resonate with our customers as it offers a one-step wireless solution for enjoying digital music from any smart phone to the powerful B&O loudspeaker portfolio," states Zean Nielsen, President of Bang & Olufsen America, Inc. "Furthermore, we believe that most new B&O owners will want to include Playmaker when purchasing any new pair of B&O speakers. Therefore, we have strong expectations for its sales performance, especially among an entirely new customer segment that may have aspired to own world-class B&O loudspeakers but chose not to invest in an audio or video system to drive the B&O speakers for one reason or another. The Playmaker now allows these customers to use their own device and still experience the high-quality sound experience of Bang & Olufsen."

Set up is quite easy and can be done via an iOS app or via a browser. The home network Bang & Olufsen Playmaker receiver can be used much like Sonos in that it can be used in different rooms but with the downside of only being used with Bang & Olufsen's own speaker systems.

Playmaker is ideal for homes where people enjoy different kinds of music in different ways. Everyone in the family can stream from their own phone or other device. Volume and mute can be controlled either by the handheld device, by the Bang & Olufsen remote, or on Playmaker itself. Guests can easily link up and share a song and by adding more Playmakers to more rooms with Bang & Olufsen speakers, you can sync sound throughout the house or listen to opera in one room and hip-hop in another – and create as many music zones as you like.

With its easy set up and user application, Playmaker also connects to a wireless network in just seconds. The Bang & Olufsen BeoSetup App helps you do this in a few steps, or you can push a button on the bottom of Playmaker to connect to a wireless router. Everything you need to stream is packed inside the discrete white design, which is small enough to tuck away on a bookshelf.

The home network Bang & Olufsen Playmaker receiver streams music with AirPlay or DLNA and is pricey at $425. However if you are already using products from the company it probably would make sense to acquire the Playmaker. The Playmaker receiver will be available in the US, Canada and Mexico by the end of the month.

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Logitech Alert System home network security camera

We have been asked a few questions recently about the Logitech Alert System home network security camera and hence this post to address some of your questions. A quick home network security camera set up with Logitech Alert System can be expected, in fact it can be done in an hour. However what is critical is determining whether it will meet you needs and generate few if any false positives.

The company bills the Logitech Alert System as a complete home-video security system that is customizable for each users needs. The use of Home Plug networking means data and power cords are combined into one cable. The user can build a video security system with upto 6 cameras of which there is quite a range including weatherproof outdoor and indoor units all of which have night vision capabilities as well.

Logitech Alert System home network security camera - Specs

What is an attractive feature of the system is motion triggered recording which will maximize storage space however that could also be a pain point as we will discuss later. All cameras have 130-degree wide-angle lenses, and they record at 15fps, with 960x720 resolution. An integrated microphone can capture audio, and all data is stored on a micro-SD card. The Logitech Alert System home network security camera comes with a 2GB card. The Master camera needs to be connected to the internet router for web access.
The cameras come a power adapter, a Quick Start guide, installation CD and a network cable. The Master System also comes with an additional HomePlug router. Logitech Alert System units came with suction cups for window mounting and desktop docks. Check out the introductory vidoes below -

Logitech Alert System home network security camera - set up and sensitivity

Setting up the Logitech Alert System home network security camera is as easy as installing the Logitech Alert Commander software and plugging in the cameras. The HomePlug router needs to be connected to a power source and to the network router. Upon launching the Alert Commander application the wizard should automatically detect all camera units and display their video feeds. The software is really an upgrade of WiLife but WiLife cameras cannot be integrated. The fact that the software is PC only is probably the biggest issue with the system. However it may not be much of an issue if you have a Windows Home Server that you could adapt and spare for security usage. Another pain point is that even though it allows for customization of motion sensitivity and hot spots the software is pretty dumb in that it lacks the ability to distinguish between swaying branches and burglars.

Logitech Alert System home network security camera - Is it worth it?

While accessing the footage is easy either via the PC or a website that serves a live view of what is happening in or around your home. For $80 a year you can get the Mobile Commander which allows you to view any footage still stored on your cameras remotely, configure their sensitivity, and modify alerts. The mobile apps for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry are very handy in that they let you select from any of your cameras and view live footage over 3G or WiFi.

However the question of privacy needs to be raised given the possibility of footage from inside the home being accessed via hacking or via password cracking while being sent to Logitech’s servers. On the whole the Logitech Alert System home network security camera can be expected to be set up in about an hour right out of the box. However if you need a system that generates few false positives and only alerts you when something that shouldn’t be moving is detected then you will need something more serious. Try Amazon for the Logitech Alert System home network security camera at a competitive price.

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Onkyo adds music streaming options to 2012 home theater receivers

Onkyo adds music streaming options to 2012 home theater receivers in realization of the importance of music streaming to consumers. The company has added streaming abilities to its control apps for iPod Touch/iPhone and Android/Kindle platforms. In addition the company has also released a USB Bluetooth adaptor that provides similar functions through a hardware gateway. (Image credit: Onkyo)

According to the company's press release -

The upgraded Onkyo Remote 2 App for iPod and iPhone allows users to stream music stored on their iPod Touch or iPhone directly to Onkyo's 2012 model networked receivers through their wireless home network. Streaming through this app is done at CD Quality, 44.1/16bit rates and supports Track name, Album name, Artist name, Album Art and Time Data. The improved Onkyo Remote App for Android now supports streaming music directly from the Kindle Fire. In addition, these new apps were also improved to manage remote zone functions and support music playback in these zones.

The Onkyo UBT-1 Bluetooth USB adapter is similar in size to a USB flash drive, plugs into the front USB port of a 2012 Onkyo Network receiver (models TX-NR414 and higher). The adapter will allow Bluetooth enabled wireless phones, tablets and other devices to stream music to Onkyo's 2012 network receivers. When plugged in a Bluetooth pairing occurs and the user can just play the required track/s.

The Onkyo UBT-1 adapter is configured with CSR's aptX™ compression reduction codec which restores the natural dynamic range to audio files. It provides a remarkably flat frequency response over a 10-Hz to 22-kHz bandwidth, a dynamic range of 92 dB, and algorithmic delay of less than 1.89ms. It also uses the latest Bluetooth version 3.0 with improved audio bandwidth capability to deliver sound quality approaching that of compact disc.

What is note worthy is that the adapter supports the AAC file format. Controls include Auto Power-On and Direct Input Change function on hybrid standby status. The Onkyo adds music streaming options to 2012 home theater receivers include the updated apps which will be available at the end of the month. The Onkyo UBT-1 Bluetooth USB Adapter is available for around $59. The fact that Onkyo adds music streaming options to 2012 home theater receivers is going to be popular with consumers and will make for a real AVR alternative for home theaters.

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Google Triad home theater speakers

Released along with other devices at Google I/O this year were the Triad bookshelf speakers. The Google Triad home theater speakers are listed in the Play store for $399 and are billed as speakers to optimize the sound quality of the Nexus Q. (Image credit: Google Play store)

Check out the specs below -

The Google Triad home theater speakers are currently only available in the USA. They weigh in at 14 pounds and have a 1-inch fabric dome tweeter and a 6.5-inch proprietary woofer. From what we can tell they are of a high quality and hence the price tag and certainly add to the Google Play @ Home strategy that the company is pursuing.

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Samsung Smart TVs to deliver superior audio

DTS and Samsung have announced a partnership to integrate DTS' audio solutions into select models of Samsung's 2012 premium Smart TV line. The move by Samsung SMART TVs to deliver superior audio will affect their flagship 7000 and 8000 series LED and plasma TV's. The move is meant to provide a better home theater listening experience to its consumers.

[caption id="attachment_3519" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Samsung Smart TVs to deliver superior audio[/caption]

Samsung Smart TVs to deliver superior audio for audio entertainment

According to the company's press release -

"Our goal is to improve consumers' television watching experiences by providing rich, immersive audio," stated Brian Towne, executive vice president and chief operating officer at DTS, Inc. "The DTS audio solution allows users to effortlessly enjoy multi-channel surround sound regardless of the audio source."

The DTS audio solution provides consumers with a seamless conversion from stereo to surround sound audio for elevated vocal quality and a more engaging, immersive sound. DTS' audio solution allows up-mixing to 5.1 channels of surround sound via the Samsung TV in order to provide a superior audio entertainment experience to consumers across a variety of applications, including:

-- Enhanced cinema viewing--broadcasts movies and television shows in surround sound for a captivating, immersive entertainment experience;

-- Elevated music listening--delivers music with more depth and realism to better mimic the quality originally intended by musicians and producers;

-- Heightened engagement for gaming--provides multi-dimensional audio to complement today's visually stimulating video games for the ultimate gaming experience.

The move by Samsung Smart TVs to deliver superior audio will only enhance the product line in the eyes of consumers and make it a real home theater solution. Given the popularity of the apps in the Samsung store and its history of delivery great picture quality the company should make gains in 2012 in the Smart TV segment. Do you own a SMART TV if so is it a Samsung? Tell us what your current audio enhancements to the SMART TV are if any.

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Home networking 21.5 inch android tablet

A Japanese company called Kouziro is calling its 21.5 inch Android device a tablet. While that might be a stretch the home networking 21.5 inch android tablet runs Android 4.0 on a Texas instruments OMAP dual core 1 Ghz processor.

The device has many of the features that a tablet would have but is sized almost like that of a newspaper. It has a 1,920x1,080 touch display, 1GB of memory, 8GB of storage, webcam, Wi-Fi, and HDMI, microUSB, and microSD ports.

Kouziro is marketing the home networking 21.5 inch android tablet for mainly watching movies, scanning news sites, and playing games. It is quite common for Japanese households to have all in one PCs with large screen integrated touch displays and so should do well in that market. The home networking 21.5 inch android tablet will retail from this month for 34,800 yen or about $439. It should make a great addition to home theater networks.

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Home networking iPhone case with USB drive

The iPhone has long since had a number of accessories available but this is the first time we have laid eyes on one that comes with a USB drive giving the memory a boost. The home networking iPhone case with USB drive is made by a company called ego. The hybrid case is the first of its kind and is available in 7 colours with USB drives that range in capacity from 4Gb to 16Gb. (Image credits: Ego)

The case is said to be great for those who need to carry more files while they are on the go, including music, photos and videos, without having to take up more space on the device. According to the company the hybrid Series USB Case offers superior protection and scratch resistant qualities without covering the iPhone's ports and cpntrols. The USB drive itself is uncovered by the case as well.

The home networking iPhone case with USB drive with capacities of 4GB, 8GB and 16GB cases will retail for $34.95, $39.95 and $49.95, respectively.

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Home networking storage solutions for laptops with SSDs

Small laptops or ultrabooks with Solid State Drives or SSDs are becoming increasing popular. While these drives are faster and have no moving parts, they have small storage capacities. While this may be ok for work in progress or work on the go, there are many occasions when you need to access files or information that cannot be stored locally on your device. There are a few home networking storage solutions for laptops with SSDs.

Thanks to cloud storage that problem is solved. With cloud storage you don't need a lot of storage on your local device. Home networking storage solutions for laptops with SSDs include Google Drive, Dropbox, Sugarsync and Pogoplug.

The advantages to these home networking storage solutions for laptops with SSDs are that they are professionally backed up and managed, the odds of you losing your data are quite low. However there is the possibility of the service being temporarily unavailable as people discovered when Amazon’s servers in Virginia went down due to storm-related power outages. These services also allow you to share files and folders, which can be great for co-workers who collaborate on projects or family and friends who want to share photos, videos and other files.

While cloud services provide a limited amount of storage for free (typically 5 GB), they charge for additional storage. Dropbox charges $99 a year for 50 GB of storage. Google Drive is cheaper at $2.49 a month for 25 GB and $4.99 for 100 GB. SugarSync charges $50 a year for 30 GB, $100 for 60 GB and $150 for 100 GB.

An issue with using Dropbox is that it’s designed to synchronize your devices so anything stored in your Dropbox account is also stored on your laptop’s drive. That makes it faster to access, but it can unnecessarily take up space on your laptop’s SSD. SugarSync allows you to get around that issue by giving you a choice of whether to synchronize or just back up any folder on any of your machines.

Pogoplug is a different home networking storage solution for laptops with SSD. It is a device that you install at home and attach one or more external hard drives. So in effect you can have almost unlimited storage for no monthly fee. The Pogoplug doesn’t synchronize your computers, but it does allow you to remotely access that external drive from anywhere with an Internet connection. You can access your files via a Web interface or “mount” the drive so it appears as if it’s a local drive on any PC or Mac. So is a great tool if you travel a lot.

Do you know of other home networking storage solutions for laptops with SSDs if so let us know below?

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Backlash against Linksys home network Wi-Fi router firmware upgrade

A backlash against Linksys home network Wi-Fi router firmware upgrade seems to be gaining attention on the forums off late. Some users have complained about an automatic firmware upgrade that has pushed users to use a cloud based administration service they do not want. (Image credit: Cisco)

According to Stephen Lawson -

Users posting on the Cisco Home Community forum and the U.K.-based site PC Gamer said they had turned on their Linksys EA3500 and EA4500 routers earlier this week and found they were running a new firmware version. The new firmware presented a login screen for the Cisco Connect Cloud instead of the LAN-based router management interface that had come up previously, they said.

The EA3500 and EA4500 were designed to run with third party applications and be managed remotely via Cisco Connect Cloud. Linksys on their part have provide instructions on how to downgrade the firmware for users who so choose to.

Backlash against Linksys home network Wi-Fi router firmware upgrade - Cause for concern

Users complaints seem to stem from the lack of options and the fear of hacking into the cloud based interface thus allowing other entities to load firmware of their choosing onto the routers. The privacy policy is another source of concern for users -

"When you use the Service, we may keep track of certain information related to your use of the service," the policy said. Among other things, that data may include how much traffic is going through the router every hour; that information includes the Internet history from the home network, the policy said.
In the policy, Cisco said it "may share aggregated or anonymous user experience information with service providers contractors or other third parties," but that the data would not personally identify the user in any way.

Cloud-based router management is not necessarily less secure than the traditional method of logging into the device over the LAN, said Farpoint Group analyst Craig Mathias. Any router connected to the Internet may be susceptible to an outside attack, he said. And management from the cloud is more convenient because it can be done from anywhere, he said.

"We see cloud-based management as ultimately the dominant vehicle ... for almost everybody," Mathias said.
However, Mathias warned against allowing automatic firmware or software upgrades.
"If someone hacks that interface, they can load any firmware they want into your router," he said. Some users complained that when they discovered the problem and tried to turn off automatic firmware updates, they couldn't. The rollback instructions posted Friday included directions for turning off that setting.

Are you affected by the Linksys home network Wi-Fi router firmware upgrade? Let us know below. Do you feel that the backlash against Linksys home network Wi-Fi router firmware upgrade is justified?

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Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers and Cisco Cloud Connect for home networking

Continuing to update and offer the latest in home networking, Linksys has released the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers and Cisco Cloud Connect for home networking. The new routers that have been released are well suited for home networks which are pretty active and have multiple devices connected online. They easily handle everything from streaming HD video and multiplayer gaming to downloading large files, adding storage or printers and connecting multiple devices.

Cisco has with these Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers - EA4500, EA3500 and EA2700, also offered access to a Cisco Connect Cloud account. Users can access their account via an app or web browser and can give guests Internet access, set parental controls or add new devices to their network.

According to the company's press release -

Cisco Connect is the highly acclaimed software that guides consumers through simple setup and management of their Linksys E-Series and X-Series home routers. Cisco Connect Express is the company's first mobile app providing home network management from smart phones and tablets while on the home network. The next generation of Cisco Connect software, called Cisco Connect Cloud, works with new Linksys EA-Series products and enhances the users' experience by giving them anytime, anywhere access to multiple home networks, from their smart mobile device, tablet app or web browser. Users can give guests Internet access, set parental controls, and add devices to their network from anywhere at any time through Cisco Connect Cloud's easy-to-use password-protected site. New apps coming from Cisco and partners will deliver additional capabilities for connected devices, so that consumers can benefit from improved home network experiences right away and for years to come.

Check out the introductory video to the Cisco Cloud Connect for home networking below -

To connect and utlize the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers 6 new developer apps including an app that lets people search and “beam” online videos to a Smart TV or AirPlay compatible device were released. An app that helps install home monitoring cameras and enables monitoring at home and on the go were also released.

Along with Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers and Cisco Cloud Connect for home networking the SimpleTap is perhaps the way in which Linksys is plying a leading role in simplifying how users connect and set up their routers. The mobile app makes connecting new devices such as Smart TVs, printers or tablets connected in as little as a few seconds. Connecting is as easy as pressing the virtual Wi-Fi Protected Setup button in the mobile app and, in the near future, as easy as scanning a Near Field Communications (NFC) tag that may be bundled with or integrated in various consumer electronic (CE) products.

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers and Cisco Cloud Connect for home networking is really a product of the company's focus on usability in the home networks. Cisco is working with a range of CE device and home appliance manufacturers on partnerships that deliver better experiences to their customers. Cisco’s newest partnership is with Onkyo, an international CE manufacturer that has included the SimpleTap functionality in their new wireless 7.1 AV Receiver.

The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers and Cisco Cloud Connect for home networking are a step forward in bringing smart appliances and devices into the home and the next generation of products will most likely feature products that will provide seamless integration and control in the smart grid and home networking space.

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