Jailbroken Apple TV Plex(es) its muscles
There’s been a few Apple TV jailbreak stories that have done the rounds but they’ve all been pretty, well…naff.
But Plex on Apple TV – now that is big.
If you’re not familiar with Plex, allow us to fill you in. Plex is a Mac OS X based media platform that is based on the popular, open-source, XBMC Media Centre.
What it does is uses your Mac as a media server base, and lets you play media content across compatible devices. As well as local storage Plex can also act as a media server for content streamed on the web and it boasts compatibility with the likes of the BBC iPlayer, Hulu, YouTube and 4oD.
So, in theory, a Apple TV running Plex means that you’d be turning your hobby box into a full-blown Google TV-killing machine.
At the moment the hack is just a “proof of concept client” and there are a few known bugs. However, if you do fancy giving it a try yourself, then check out the Plex forums for advice.
Binatone brings Android to the iHomePhone
The Binatone iHomePhone has been announced, and its makers are claiming that it is the world’s first Android powered home phone.
Running Android 1.6, the iHomePhone is made up of a DECT digital cordless phone, with Wi-Fi b/g/n on board, a microSD card slot and a 2.8-inch, 320×240, touchscreen display.
Built-in you’ll get a YouTube app, a contacts manager, an email client, a picture viewer, an MP3 player and a personal organiser. It also functions as an internet radio and has an RSS feed reader.
Battery life is 8 hours for talk-time, 80 hours for standby, and it comes with a docking station that also has built-in stereo speakers.
There’s two things that stand out with the Binatone iHomePhone. Firstly, what a simple and obvious idea. And secondly, there’s no way the lawyers at Cupertino are going to be happy with that name – especially given that its an Android touting device.
Available in time for Christmas, the Binatone iHomePhone will cost £99.99.
Facebook Mobile event: Software updates explained
Last night’s Facebook mobile event left a lot of journalist cold as rumours that the company were due to launch a branded handset we quelled by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. That’s not to say, however, that the event was a washout, with Facebook revealing and cementing its plans for further mobile integration over the course of the next few years.
The big announcements were threefold: ‘Single Sign-on’, ‘Location APIs’ and the ‘Deals Platform’. We’ve got a run down of what each actually means after the break:
Single Sign-on
Similar to how Android Devices sync your calendars and contacts from Gmail, this is basically a system Facebook is setting into place so that you need only sign in to facebook once for your info to appear across calendars, apps and websites.
Location APIs
Essentially: further integration for Places. Facebook’s APIs will allow app developers to capitalise on information about where you are and where you’ve been. This could be in the form of FourSquare-style offers or even games – it’s up to the developers, but the point is that it’ll now be easy to take that data and transfer it to other uses.
Deals Platform
Bsically a more advanced advertising strategy, the Deals Platform will help those eking money from Facebook ads to do so more effectively thanks to increased location, likes, friends and personality data.
Those are the major headlines, then, but what else? Zuckerberg did give Android lovers some good news, adding that the platform’s app is due for a much-needed update to stay in line with the more polished iPhone app. “Traditionally the Android app has always been a little bit behind,” he conceded. “We didn’t have a full team working on it, but now we’re back on track.” Lastly, Zuckerberg took a swipe at the iPad, declaring that it’s not portable. He said: “the iPad is not mobile… It’s a computer.”
Sharp Galapagos 003SH and 005SH bring glasses-free 3D to Japanese Android lovers
Hey, what could the maker of the 3DS’ autostereoscopic display be doing in its spare time? Why, stealing a bit of thunder for itself, by the looks of it. Sharp has just trotted out a pair of glasses-free 3D Android handsets for Japan’s Softbank network in the form of the touchscreen slate 003SH and QWERTY-slidin’ 005SH. A 1GHz Snapdragon powers Froyo on both, with the 3D-capable displays stretching to 3.8 inches and 800 x 480 resolution. The 003SH also comes with a 9.6 megapixel camera capable of 720p video, while the 005SH settles for 8 megapixels. There are also bundled 3D content deals in place, such as the one with Capcom that will see Mega Man, Resident Evil and Ghosts ‘n Goblins titles coming preloaded on the handsets. Intrigued? The 003SH is coming in this December, to be followed by the 005SH in February next year.
AIVAnet 