http://www.audioholics.comWhere audio and video equipment undergoes rigorous objective and subjective tests by our staff, ensuring that marketing slogans aren't the only guidelines for your home theater choices.Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:00:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/dish-blockbusterDISH Network recently announced the expansion of family and kid's programming available through the company's Blockbuster @Home entertainment package. DISH will add more than 3,000 titles suitable for children ages three to 13 as part of its growing line-up of family entertainment, including programming from partners Vivendi Entertainment, Cookie Jar, Lions Gate Films and Scholastic Media. The way it works is that families that subscribe to the Blockbuster @Home package by DISH can now enjoy that content on-demand, including shows such as “Veggie Tales,” “Inspector Gadget,” “Goosebumps,” “Heathcliff,” “I Spy,” “Madeline,” “Strawberry Shortcake” and many more. Yes, we said it. "Strawberry Shortcake". There.Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:00:00 -0000/news/industry-news/dish-blockbusterIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/svs-and-audioholics-team-up-to-bring-you-a-free-sub-maybeSV Sound is giving away either a PB12-NSD or a SB12-NSD (winner's choice) Subwoofer to one (1) lucky entrant in our forum contest! You've heard about them, you've read about them, you've probably drooled over them. Now it's time to take a stab at getting one for free! All you need do is answer a few questions in our forum contest thread and cross your fingers that your answer is the one randomly selected to win one of these great subs!Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:25:00 -0000/news/industry-news/svs-and-audioholics-team-up-to-bring-you-a-free-sub-maybeIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/dish-test-drive-free-tv-everywhereDISH Network wants everyone to check out their online streaming services. Today they introduced "DISH Test Drive". This program allows anyone in the US the ability to sample TV Everywhere technology from DISH and watch a selection of popular TV programming online or on mobile devices at no charge for 24 hours. DISH Test Drive begins Feb. 1, and TV viewers can visit www.dish.com/testdrive from a computer, tablet or smartphone and sign up. In a sense, DISH is restating its commitment to being the dominant online streaming service provider for satellite content, having been the first pay-TV provider to introduce TV Everywhere technology. TV Everywhere gave subscribers the ability to watch all of their live and recorded television programs on compatible smartphones, tablets and computers. DISH is now demonstrating to prospective customers how convenient and easy it is to watch TV while on the go. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:15:00 -0000/news/industry-news/dish-test-drive-free-tv-everywhereIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/kopimism-piracy-religion-swedenWell, I suppose if the Scientologists could make a science fiction author their spiritual leader and be granted religious status in America, it wouldn't be long before others would go through the same hoops and form alternate (and equally bizarre) churches. According to... um, just about every tech news outlet on the Internet... a new "church" has finally succeeded in its efforts to be officially deemed a religion in Sweden of all places. Both an official press release and a news article on Torrent Freak are saying that a group started by philosophy student Isak Gerson has formed an officially sanctioned religion with one core belief: it's okay to copy information, in any form.Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:00:00 -0000/news/industry-news/kopimism-piracy-religion-swedenIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/hulu-netflix-original-seriesHulu, the online streaming bastard-child of ABC, Fox and NBC is launching a salvo at competitor Netflix with the announcement of its own original scripted series. Netflix' highly anticipated new show Lilyhammer hits the stream early next month. Hulu CEO Jason Kilar says the company will pour about half a billion dollars into original TV shows in 2012. It's part of the rapidly growing company's new aggressive attitude, making a stand against its rival. Hulu has been quietly growing in the wake of recent Netflix difficulties and now proudly boasts one and a half million subscribers just a little over one year into its existence. Hulu's first scripted series, a political comedy, will go online next month just in time for the Republican primary.Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:55:00 -0000/news/industry-news/hulu-netflix-original-seriesIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/boardwalk-empire-season-1-blu-ray-reviewIf there is one disappointment in the first season of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire it’s that there is simply no way for any dramatic series created by mere mortals to live up to this show’s expectations. Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, written by Terence Winter (writer/producer of The Sopranos) and staring Steve Buscemi - in a big-budget series that features the rise of prohibition-era Atlantic City, the pedigree is just too much for a mere TV show to live up to. But Boardwalk Empire nearly pulls it off – the result is must-see premium-TV.Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 -0000/news/industry-news/boardwalk-empire-season-1-blu-ray-reviewIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/dish-expanded-hbo-on-demandCES has been a big deal for DISH announcements so far, including a new whole-home DVR system dubbed Hopper and Joey. Turns out, DISH wasn't done. After breaking that news, they and HBO announced an agreement to give DISH customers expanded access to HBO programming. The agreement enables DISH customers (with or without Internet) who subscribe to HBO and Cinemax, to watch expanded selections of HBO content instantly from the comfort of home. The new programming will give them instant access to virtually every episode of every season of the best HBO shows – most of which are available in high definition as well as popular Hollywood hit movies, documentaries, stand-up comedies, sporting events, and independent films. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:03:53 -0000/news/industry-news/dish-expanded-hbo-on-demandIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/hbo-netflix-dvdsBefore we get into the who and what of this article, let's just put a few things into perspective. First of all, Netflix has around 20 million streaming customers and HBO has around 28 million pay TV customers. That means that HBO has some clout, and so it's new HBO Go service, while limited in scope, is certainly something to consider for those people who consistently pay for the service. And really that's where this issue gets dicey. Cable and satellite companies that hate Netflix are to be expected - I mean, the company represents the era of new media and content delivery in a way that they are just now starting to appreciate (and get consistent at). But when content providers start hating on Netflix, it's a concern. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:00:00 -0000/news/industry-news/hbo-netflix-dvdsIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/aperion-giveawayAperion Audio is giving away a pair of their award winning Verus Grand Bookshelf Speakers ($598 MSRP) to one (1) lucky entrant! Perfect for use as front speakers in a small home theater or as surround speakers in a larger home entertainment center, the Verus Grand Bookshelf Speakers will bring your music, movies and games to life. With gorgeous curved cabinets—finished in either gloss cherry wood veneer or gloss piano black—these bookshelf speakers are sure to swivel heads for both their stunning sound and looks. To be eligible to win, you must be an active registered member of the Audioholics Forum and answer the 3 questions in the Aperion Verus Bookshelf Contest Giveaway. Entry deadline is January 31st, 2012.Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:19:10 -0000/news/industry-news/aperion-giveawayIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/2012-super-thin-oled-displaysIt's no secret that televisions have extremely low profit margins. In fact, there seems to be very little differential between models as more and more products acquire similar features and move towards a convergence of thin, 3D, streaming media-centric devices. But what if there were a way to "apple-ize" the TV industry? What if OLED were finally to become a reality this year and television manufacturers were able to get a new technology to market that was both appealing and beneficial? That seems to be happening - at least if reports are to be believed about LG Electronics and its pending 55-inch television that will measure a scant 3/16" thick and weigh just 16-1/2 pounds. That's pencil thin. And they're not alone. Samsung is making similar claims and both companies intend to announce - ANNOUNCE, mind you, not just show a proof of concept, OLED TVs this year at the CES Expo in Vegas.Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 -0000/news/industry-news/2012-super-thin-oled-displaysIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/enter-to-win-a-free-velodyne-impact-10-subwooferVelodyne is offering you the chance to win one (1) Velodyne EQ-Max 10 Subwoofer to one (1) eligible Audioholics forum member! The award winning EQ-Max is the first subwoofer line to offer remote controlled, one-touch Auto-EQ and maximum bass performance at an affordable price. Made possible only by Velodyne’s 28 years of subwoofer innovation, EQ-Max’s rich feature set and advanced technologies combine to deliver high performance bass, simply and affordably. This contest represents a $579 value! Contest ends December 31st, 2011. This is your last chance, so ENTER NOW to Win!Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:15:00 -0000/news/industry-news/enter-to-win-a-free-velodyne-impact-10-subwooferIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/zvox-z-base-220-320-420ZVOX has been an enigma to us. While their original boxy under-TV speakers may not appeal to the aesthetically-minded, their newer models seem to be taking a slightly more streamlined approach. On top of that, there is a clear downward spiral to the quality of audio that is emanating from flat panel TVs these days, with most speakers firing out the back and producing very limited output. This week, ZVOX announced three new models that take into account a smaller footprint and do a better job at blending in with smaller, tabletop-mounted flat panel televisions. The new models are the Z-Base 220 ($199.99), Z-Base 320 ($249.99) and the Z-Base 420 ($299.99). Each system is smaller than its predecessors and uses high quality speakers and amplifiers. They also have MDF cabinets and use ZVOX's proprietary PhaseCue II virtual surround sound system.Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:30:00 -0000/news/industry-news/zvox-z-base-220-320-420Industry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/lg-magic-remote-voice-recognitionPerhaps the next movement in remote controls is just around the corner. With rumors of an Apple-branded TV pending, LG Electronics (LG) wanted to beat everyone to the punch and release a new and innovative remote control for its newest Cinema 3D Smart TVs. It's called the Magic Remote and it employs voice recognition, wheel, "magic gesture" and pointing functions. LG's Cinema 3D Smart TVs provide access to over 1,000 apps as well as premium content. The Magic Remote difference from a conventional remote controls in that it all-but eliminates the standard push-button methodology of control. LG claims that buttons are merely one dimension of an intuitive user experience. By implementing voice recognition technology into the Magic Remote, users can use their voice to enter text such as search terms.Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 -0000/news/industry-news/lg-magic-remote-voice-recognitionIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/ultra-d-glasses-free-3d-debuting-at-cesStream TV Networks is a rather obscure company, but it's making a splash at CES this year by announcing that it is debuting a new glasses-free 3D technology called Ultra-D. To add fuel to the fire, the fledgling company is claiming that Ultra-D "surpasses all 3D viewing experiences offered to date." That's a bold claim. Instead of using active or even passive shutter glasses, Ultra-D uses proprietary hardware and software to create fully autostereoscopic 3D imagery in both 2D and 3D-native content. That means that Ultra-D not only performs 2D-to-3D conversion, it even takes normal 3D content that would require glasses, and renders it in its autostereoscopic form to remove all need for glasses. Now, we've seen this in mockup displays dating as far back as 2007, but to see a product actually hit the market will be fascinating. Of course, as no one I know has even heard of Stream TV Networks, it's anyone's guess as to whether the system will take off, either as a product or licensable technology.Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:41:37 -0000/news/industry-news/ultra-d-glasses-free-3d-debuting-at-cesIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/superbowl-streamed-online-freeFinally. Each year we throw our annual Super Bowl Party and it's typically a big hit. The thing is, though, we've never been able to get TVs into those little nooks and crannies... like bathrooms and closets because you could never really stream the game online, save for placeshifting it with Sling via Dishonline.com. OK, that's not really a compelling reason to want it streamed online, but it's still cool that after all these years the NFL is finally going to broadcast the big game on the Internet. That's right, 2012 marks the very first time you, or anyone for that matter, can pull up the NFL website and catch the game anywhere you have access to the Internet. And the NFL is even going to throw in some post-season games as well (mainly the Wildcard play-offs and the Pro Bowl) - hopefully to test out the system and work out the kinks before the big game.Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:05:00 -0000/news/industry-news/superbowl-streamed-online-freeIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/yamaha-pdx-11The PDX-11 is a easy-to-carry, powerful speaker system that frees your iPod/iPhone music for your active lifestyle. Enjoy your entire content library whenever you want, wherever you go. The PDX-11 houses a unique two-way speaker system and a large 4 in. woofer (well large for the enclosure size at least) that ensures adequate bass and solid mid-range, plus a dedicated tweeter for the higher frequencies. Yamaha claims this system was created and tuned by Yamaha professional audio experts, to deliver extremely accurate bass along with crystal clear highs. Remember this statement to use as bragging rights when you show up at a beach party with your PDX and want to impress your friends. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:55:00 -0000/news/industry-news/yamaha-pdx-11Industry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/wisa-wireless-speaker-audio-associationWireless speakers aren't typically thought of as high-quality, high-end solutions for home theater and listening spaces. However, what if that thinking were changed - as well as the reality of what could be achieved with wireless technology? WiSA, the Wireless Speaker and Audio Association, is aiming to change all of that. We were able to speak with Jim Venable, President of WiSA LLC, who tells us that the new standard is aiming to truly change the way we think about wireless audio in the consumer and commercial space. But possibly the greater reason we're excited is because the group contains some heavy hitters that makes this more likely to be a true standard - one that goes further than just a "neat idea". Included as Advisory Board Members are such companies as Klipsch, Aperion Audio, Pioneer, Sharp, Polk Audio, Silicon Image, Summit Wireless, and others. That's a solid group that isn't going to be casual about this new specification and the products which result from it.Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:26:07 -0000/news/industry-news/wisa-wireless-speaker-audio-associationIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/verizon-streaming-netflixWhen Verizon launched Fios several years ago, it was one of the newest challenges to traditional cable or satellite TV that had occurred in recent history. Then came the onslaught of streaming media services like Netflix, VUDU, Hulu Plus and others like Amazon Video on Demand. But since then, the cable and satellite companies have been merely presenting Slingbox-style solutions for relocating their existing content to the Internet and mobile universe. With that said, Verizon's announcement of plans to launch a standalone service that would let customers stream content like TV and movies would appear to directly take on the media streaming giants.Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:10:00 -0000/news/industry-news/verizon-streaming-netflixIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/hdcp-master-key-crackedApparently HDCP has been cracked. Now, Blu-ray content protection has been cracked before. At least, it's been cracked such that you can rip and store the files to hard drive if, you know, you're a glutton for punishment and have enough hard disc space to make this practical. Our thought has been that picking up a Blu-ray Disc jukebox like Sony's BDP-CX7000ES ($750) or the Pioneer DV-F727 ($600) makes a lot more sense, even though it's not as nifty as having a smooth digital interface for all your movies. But "researchers" at the Secure Hardware Group of Ruhr University of Bochum (RUB) in Germany claim to have cracked Intel's HDCP using hardware.Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:30:00 -0000/news/industry-news/hdcp-master-key-crackedIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/new-audioholics-giftsTell us about the best audio/home theater related Holiday gift you have ever received and be entered to win a pair of Moshi headphones! Three (3) participants will be chosen at random to receive one (1) pair of Vortex premium in-ear headphones. Entries accepted until 11:59 pm PST Thursday, December 8th. So Enter NOW! To be eligible to win, you must 1) Be a registered Audioholics forum member 18 years of age of older and 2) Be a resident of the USA.Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:55:00 -0000/news/industry-news/new-audioholics-giftsIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/kinect-xbox-360-interfaceWell, I guess Microsoft is serious about Kinect. According to an Associated Press report today, the company is rolling out its newest Xbox 360 interface tomorrow (Tuesday) which will completely integrate the motion-sensing system for navigating music, movies, TV shows and games. Actions will be enabled so that you can simply wave your hand or speak commands in order to navigate the system. While what we've seen is very impressive, we can only hope that the reality of the system yields the "coolness" factor of the hype. Microsoft can be really innovating something new that will bring in the era of voice and motion-control, or it could be jumping the gun on Apple's (or more specifically, Steve Jobs') revelation that it had "cracked the television". You see, Microsoft is absolutely at the forefront of motion-sensing technology, but will it be successful and pull off a new way of browsing its game console - let alone sparking a new way or platform for browsing television and movie content more efficiently?Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:55:10 -0000/news/industry-news/kinect-xbox-360-interfaceIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/spotify-platform-appfinderSpotify is a fast-growing music service that allows you to build radio stations from your favorite artists. Spotify Platform is something new, however, and it gives 3rd party developers the chance to build music apps that take advantage of the Spotify music platform. The free apps are designed to integrate with Spotify, both visually and functionally, and users can use and download the apps via the new App Finder available at www.spotify.com/us/download/previews/. Spotify Platform beta is now live as a preview. For more information about the apps please visit www.spotify.com/apps. The full consumer rollout will take place later this month (December).Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:35:00 -0000/news/industry-news/spotify-platform-appfinderIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/twelve-south-bookbook-iphone-4The Twelve South BookBook for iPhone 4 is every bit as cool as the BookBook for the MacBook Pro that we reviewed last year. Except that we don't carry that thing around all over the place and use it for holding our license and credit cards. Lately, I've taken to wearing cargo shorts and cargo pants - originally because my Ballistic iPhone 4 case was too stinkin' big to fit in my jeans pocket. Now, however, I've just grown to like them. So if I have the space to store a bulkier case, why not use something like the Twelve South BookBook for iPhone 4? I mean, this way the case offers some protection AND it delivers a simple way to store and retrieve your most commonly-used cards, drivers license, business cards, etc.Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0000/news/industry-news/twelve-south-bookbook-iphone-4Industry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/extreme-makeover-audioholics-storeThe guys at the Audioholics Store have completely redesigned the storefront to take them into the 21st century with a bang. Recent upgrades include not only a complete aesthetic redesign, but a fundamental reworking of the entire infrastructure so that customers can have an easier, and more flexible shopping experience. This new system ties in better with inventory, for real-time data on both warehouse and manufacturer/distributor inventories. It also lets you research and build custom systems that you can store for later purchase.Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:35:00 -0000/news/industry-news/extreme-makeover-audioholics-storeIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/enter-to-win-moshi-headphonesMoshi is giving away the chance for three (3) eligible forum members to win one (1) pair of Vortex premium in-ear headphones! To enter to win, submit an image of your home theater setup. Along with the picture, please feel free to include a list of the specifics of your system. The top three (3) participants with the most impressive home theater setups will receive one (1) pair of Vortex premium in-ear headphones. Entries will be judged based, not solely on the quality of the equipment used, but also on creativity of use, ambiance created, and overall feel and aesthetics. Entries accepted until 11:59 pm PST Tuesday, November 23rd. To be eligible to win, you must 1) Be a registered Audioholics forum member 18 years of age of older and 2) Be a resident of the USA.Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:29:25 -0000/news/industry-news/enter-to-win-moshi-headphonesIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/sony-blames-tv-dwindling-profitThe maker of Bravia TVs is feeling the pinch from market and natural forces lately. The Japanese electronics giant just announced its second-quarter earnings and surprised investors that it’s in the midst of a fourth straight year of losses. Sony blames dwindling profit margins for TVs and the strong Yen for its loss. But recent flooding in Thailand hasn’t helped either, forcing work stoppages at some Sony factories. News of Sony’s pain came at an unfortunate time as it just announced to investors that it’s buying-out Swedish communications partner Ericsson's stake in the Sony-Ericsson line of handheld devices. The Ericsson buy-out will cost Sony $1.5 Billion but gives Sony the opportunity to use Ericsson patents to stuff phones into its own network-connected devices. While investors expected reduced profit forecasts for the year, they didn’t anticipate the massive losses Sony has announced.Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:40:00 -0000/news/industry-news/sony-blames-tv-dwindling-profitIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/sonance-landscape-outdoor-speakers-subwoofers-previewContinuing with the LifeStyles series of products displayed at CEDIA this year, we could not leave out another important part of our homes; the outdoors. The great outdoors are an integral part of family gatherings, hobbies and relaxation, especially for us Floridians. What could be better than some nice alluring tune while you sway and relax in your hammock enjoying the cool breeze? Better yet, enjoying a succulent BBQ with family and friends at the table listening to the Beach Boys tunes with no other worries other than calming an appetite. Sonance has you covered with their Landscape series of outdoor speakers and subwoofers that appear to be top notch in terms of aesthetics and build quality. We are confident they won't disappoint audibly as we hope to test next spring. Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:20:00 -0000/news/industry-news/sonance-landscape-outdoor-speakers-subwoofers-previewIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/aperion-audio-price-intimusWe're used to loudspeaker manufacturers raising the prices of their speakers over time to combat increasing shipping and manufacturing costs. Sometimes manufacturers even begin experimenting with cheaper components in order to cut costs while simultaneously raising prices. But it is a rare day indeed when a manufacturer announces largely cosmetic changes to lower the price of their loudspeakers to make them more affordable. Aperion Audio apparently doesn't mind bucking the trend - and perhaps that;s why the Internet-direct company is wreaking havoc on their direct competition. The company announced this week that their new Aperion Intimus line of home theater speakers will feature a price drop of up to 20 percent across the line. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:20:00 -0000/news/industry-news/aperion-audio-price-intimusIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/nintendo-3ds-wii-hulu-plusStreaming media is actually beginning to get ubiquitous - and that's a good thing. Now, Nintendo announced that its 3DS handheld gaming platform and its popular (but waning) Wii console will acquire the ability to stream movies and television shows from Hulu Plus by the end of the year (Christmas, presumably). Netflix is already present, but Hulu Plus marks the first time these two systems will be able to stream currently-running television shows. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:11:42 -0000/news/industry-news/nintendo-3ds-wii-hulu-plusIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/fanny-wang-monster-lawsuit-endsIt seems ages ago that we reported on Monster Cable suing Fanny Wang over their headphones which had a passing similarity to their Beats by Dr. Dre. The lawsuit has been going on for more than a year but the process, which began by a lawsuit filed in December of 2010 by Beats Electronics, LLC and Monster Cable Products Inc. (Beats by Dr. Dre) against Fanny Wang Headphone Co, has come to an end. The suit, which we felt was extremely frivolous, was based on a design patent, not any proprietary technology, and accused Fanny Wang of infringing on US Design Patent D552,077. Last week, the lawsuit was settled by both parties. Of highest note, there was apparently no award assigned and neither of the two headphones companies paid the other any money. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:10:00 -0000/news/industry-news/fanny-wang-monster-lawsuit-endsIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/spotify-boxee-d-linkIf you haven't yet experienced Spotify, well, you really have to re-evaluate your commitment to music. Spotify is an incredibly on-demand streaming music service that is sweeping the nation, after having swept a lot of international consumers over the past few years. Spotify is incredibly cool, but it keeps getting better. It's taking on such software as Rhapsody and Pandora and honestly, while it's a different animal altogether, it's very compelling. Instead of being a relational, synthetic, adaptive Internet radio, Spotify grants you access to exactly the music you want, when you want it. Today, Spotify announced that the Boxee Box by D-Link is now making Spotify available on it's platform. Delivering playlists and enabling consumers to discover new tracks and artists from your TV, Spotify provides access to over 15 million tracks. With a premium Spotify account, Boxee Box users can now do even more:.Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:48:59 -0000/news/industry-news/spotify-boxee-d-linkIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/new-energy-star-requirementNew Energy Star requirements for televisions are the strictest yet. Version 5.3 has come into effect this month and has removed many of our largest HDTVs from compliance – chances are your 50+ inch plasma didn’t make the cut. New requirements carry a hard cap at 108-watts for any television, regardless of screen size. A joint program from the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Star compliance label on consumer goods is designed to save energy, reduce greenhouse emissions and money through compliance to energy saving practices. Energy Star says it’s been a highly successful campaign claiming that in 2010 alone, it saved consumers some $18 billion in electricity costs and prevented the equivalent of 33 million cars worth of greenhouse gasses.Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:20:00 -0000/news/industry-news/new-energy-star-requirementIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/velodyne-2011-rocky-mountain-audio-festVelodyne is showing off its new EQ-Max line of subwoofers at the 2011 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, giving attendees an up-close and personal look at the new technology behind the brand new line of subs. Velodyne's EQ-Max claim to fame is its remote control operation and inclusion of built-in processing that lets users configure the product easily and simply. The sub comes in 4 different models depending upon the frequency response, output and size you want: 8", 10", 12" and 15". The EQ-Max is aimed at more budget-conscious consumers and custom installers who want a product that has advanced features, high output, and the ability to provide one-touch calibration for adjusting to room acoustics anomalies.Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:59:56 -0000/news/industry-news/velodyne-2011-rocky-mountain-audio-festIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/star-trek-next-generation-blu-rayStar Trek: The Next Generation is finally getting a digital facelift seventeen years after the show's seven-year run. CBS Paramount says it's pulling out the stops on the show's HD upconversion that will include digital touch-ups and an audio upgrade with a production that employs some 25,000 rolls of the TV series' original negatives. It's the show that never seems to go away and now that new interest has been piqued in the franchise with the 2009 film, Star Trek by JJ Abrams, many are looking for a TV comeback. Meanwhile 20-million plus users of Netflix get their Trek Fix with ad-free streams of every TV series. Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation will be thrilled to learn that all 178 episodes are coming to Blu-ray… eventually. To whet our appetite however, digitally upgraded versions of select episodes of the series will arrive January 31, 2012. The upcoming sampler platter features three of the series best episodes and according to CBS Paramount - years of labor intensive remastering.Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0000/news/industry-news/star-trek-next-generation-blu-rayIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/spotify-facebook-integrationIf by now you haven't heard about Spotify, you must be living in a cardboard box or... no, no, I'm pretty sure even my homeless friend Robert has heard of Spotify (he has an MP3 player, oddly enough). Spotify is rapidly becoming one of the most popular ways to stream on-demand music anytime, anywhere. It's been overseas for quite some time, but hit the states this year and is really drumming up a serious amount of interest. So what's next? Facebook, apparently. Spotify knows that music is about the most social media there is, so they are jumping in with the social media giant - so much so that Mark Zuckerberg asked Spotify to showcase their new social experience at the f8 conference in San Francisco. Check out what Spotify has done to integrate music and Facebook in a way we hadn't yet seen...Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:30:00 -0000/news/industry-news/spotify-facebook-integrationIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/dreamworks-dumps-hbo-for-netflixIt’s a sure sign that online streaming is a new force that threatens the big traditional networks. DreamWorks studios, creators of animated hits like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, has accepted an exclusive offer with Netflix to stream its movies and TV shows and forgo the pay-TV network HBO. DreamWorks CEO Jeffery Katzenberg says of the deal, “We are really starting to see a long-term road map of where the industry is headed. This is a game changing deal.” Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:25:00 -0000/news/industry-news/dreamworks-dumps-hbo-for-netflixIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/netflix-dvd-by-mail-becomes-quicksterWe got this letter today from Netflix - part apology, part revelatory explanation of their recent price increase and plan-separation between DVDs-by-mail and streaming movie services. Turns out, Netflix has a lot more up its sleeve than we thought, though it all makes sense given recent moves and the rumors that have been cycling of late. In short, Qwikster will be the same website and DVD service that everyone is used to. It is just a new name, and DVD members will go to qwikster.com to access their DVD queues and choose movies. One improvement we will make at launch is to add a video games upgrade option, similar to our upgrade option for Blu-ray, for those who want to rent Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 games. Members have been asking for video games for many years, but now that DVD by mail has its own team, we are finally getting it done. Other improvements will follow. A negative of the renaming and separation is that the Qwikster.com and Netflix.com websites will not be integrated.Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:16:37 -0000/news/industry-news/netflix-dvd-by-mail-becomes-quicksterIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/blockbuster-canada-closes-storesWell, it was only a matter of time, and we're certain the US stores will quickly follow: Blockbuster Canada has announced that it will be closing its remaining stores. This was announced after 150 Blockbuster Canada stores were already closed this past June. This is bad news for the local economies, since the company employs approximately 2500 full and part-time workers throughout the country. Blockbuster led the market but was consistently slow to innovate in the dawn of the digital era. Instead, they played it slow and cautious, all but avoiding streaming services until they became reactionary as Netflix began to dominate the marketplace to a level that began to quickly decimate the stores.Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:19:46 -0000/news/industry-news/blockbuster-canada-closes-storesIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/vizio-oovoo-8-tabletVizio just announced today that its new 8" Tablet with Wi-Fi is now supporting ooVoo. For those who don't know, ooVoo is a competitor to Skype and offers video conferencing for up to 6 people at once. That means you can use the new Vizio tablet to call your family and friends - and perhaps all at the same time! The service is available provided you have a WiFi connection and ooVoo is available on a variety of platforms, including Mac, PC, iOS and Android. What makes this compelling is that ooVoo works with desktop units, tablets, iPhones, Android phones, Android tablets and more - so you're locking into a system that's all but ubiquitous to the digital marketplace. It even works to landlines (voice only, of course) so nobody is left out.Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:09:28 -0000/news/industry-news/vizio-oovoo-8-tabletIndustry NewsNews & Opinionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/free-cedia-2011-expo-passes20,000 home technology professionals will converge on Indianapolis at CEDIA EXPO 2011 in September. Will you be there? If you are interested in the home technology industry, already in the industry or just simply love technology you need to be at CEDIA EXPO! CEDIA is making it easy for you to get schooled and learn about new products… and let’s not forget that if you like home theater, well, it's the coolest show out there! It's not too late - register now at www.cedia.org/expo. If you are a CEDIA member use code “indyvalue” to take advantage of the Members' Only Education Pass for only $299. That's a pass that gets you all of the education you can fit into your schedule PLUS full tradeshow access. If you're not a member, just use code “Twitter1” to save 25% off of your total registration. Interested in product knowledge only? We got a code for that, too. Enter code “2011GP” for complimentary tradeshow access. That's right. Get to Indy and it's free!Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:47:36 -0000/news/industry-news/free-cedia-2011-expo-passesIndustry NewsNews & Opinion