WWE Network to stream choke slams 24 hours a day for $10 a month
CES isn’t all about new devices. It’s about programming too, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has an event of its own to announce plans for the year. Those plans include a subscription-based network that will provide grappling coverage 24/7 in the US. WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon made the announcement here in Vegas with a smattering of wrestlers (like Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin) lending a hand. The $10-per-month price tag will include 720p streaming all 12 of WWE’s live pay-per-view events — including the popular WrestleMania. In addition to the live content, you’ll also be able to access past pay-per-view events from WWE, WCW and ECW cards on-demand at your leisure. Yes, that means you can rewatch your favorite Royal Rumble whenever you like.
The network’s original series WrestleMania Rewind will allow subscribers to relive classic bouts with commentary from the wrestlers themselves. There will also be a one-hour Countdown series that will rank the top finish moves, submissions and more. If you lived through the rivalry between WWE and WCW like this editor did, Monday Night War runs down the battle for beginning-of-the-week supremacy. In terms of access, the WWE Network will be available on the desktop with iOS, Kindle and Android apps for mobile devices. The content can also be streamed to PlayStation consoles, Xbox 360 and Roku set-top boxes at launch, with support for Xbox One and smart TVs being added sometime this summer. A second screen icon will pop up when the program you’re viewing offers that functionality on a mobile device for accessing that complimentary content. While the launch is slated just for the States for now, the company has plans to extend the offering beyond by the end of the year.
The WWE is set to go live after Monday Night Raw at 11:05 p.m. on February 24th and WrestleMania 30 will be the first pay-per-view event to be streamed on the service. If you’re looking to take it for a spin, you can nab a limited-time one-week free trial when the switch is flipped next month.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: WWE
Airtame wireless dongle mirrors your computer onto any HDMI display
Here’s yet another option for wirelessly mirroring your computer screen to another display, but don’t worry, this one rather impressive. Airtame, the creation of a group of Danish folks, is an HDMI dongle that links your PC — be it running on Windows, OS X or Linux — to whatever display it’s plugged into over WiFi. Installation is a breeze: all you need on the PC side is just the software, and from there you can choose which dongles to beam your screen to. Yes, dongles, because you really can beam one PC to multiple screens, thus beating Miracast. We also played a game on one of the laptops, and the response time on the remote display was surprisingly good.
Airtame’s Indiegogo campaign has long reached its $160,000 goal, but you can still pre-order this $89 dongle in the remaining nine days left. Do also check out our video from the CES show floor after the break.
Apple and Samsung CEOs Agree to Mediation Meeting in U.S. Patent Fight [iOS Blog]
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung Electronics CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon have agreed to attend a mediation session on or before February 19, in advance of a March court battle over smartphone patents, reports Reuters.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon will attend the session with in-house lawyers only, according to a Wednesday court filing. Their legal teams had met on January 6 to “discuss settlement opportunities,” the filing read.
In late December, The Korea Times reported the two companies had resumed settlement talks in their ongoing negotiations over their patent-infringement dispute and that Samsung Mobile CEO Shin Jong-Kyun could be heading to the United States to meet with Cook.
Cook had met with former Samsung CEO Choi Gee-Sung in 2012 to discuss the subject, but talks fell through because Samsung would not accept Apple’s patent royalties demand. The two companies also met last year in Seoul, Korea but discussions failed to progress.
This is yet another turn in the long, ongoing patent battle between Samsung and Apple, which began in 2011 and continued into 2012 when Apple was awarded $1 billion in damages in a U.S. trial. A judge voided nearly half of that award in March 2013, and then ruled in November 2013 that Samsung was to pay Apple $290 million for willfully violating multiple patents. Another infringement lawsuit between the two companies will be held on March 31, with another trial centering around Apple’s call for a U.S. ban on Samsung products. This is all in addition to other patent trials between the two companies taking place all over the world.
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Live from the Engadget CES Stage: The Engadget Podcast
Missed the announcement of the finalists for our first ever Best of CES? No worries, we’ll be breaking down all the nominees competing for one of those really cool new 3D printed trophies.
Toshiba’s 5-in-1 laptop concept debuts at CES with a detachable keyboard
Sure, notebook makers crow about their 2-in-1 hybrids, but Toshiba’s brought something to CES that’ll humble its competition: a 5-in-1 laptop. The transforming device comes with a slick magnesium alloy case reminiscent of a MacBook, and a 13.3-inch touch screen. So, just what can this laptop transform into? On the tamer side of things are a run-of-the-mill notebook configuration and tablet mode, the latter of which is achieved by pushing the display all the way back, much like with Lenovo’s Yoga line of devices. The next three forms are where things get interesting, and they’re made possible by a detachable keyboard and a bit of metal left attached to the screen’s hinge, which acts as a stand and houses stereo Harman Kardon speakers.
In “canvas” mode, the laptop is lifted from the table at an angle helpful for drawing, particularly handy since the hardware’s display packs a digitizer and its top half holds its own stylus. “Presentation/TV” mode is the fifth and final form, which props the display upright. When it comes to connectivity, the laptop sports two USB ports, a microSD slot and a spot to jack in a mini-HDMI cable. Since the hardware’s still a concept phase, there’s no word on detailed specs, price or if and when it’ll see the fluorescent lights of your local electronics store. For now, you can take a peek at three of its forms in the neighboring gallery.
Filed under: Laptops
PulseWallet lets you pay for things using palm recognition, but only if you’re a returning customer
PulseWallet is going to get a lot of attention at CES this week, thanks to its point-of-sale system that allows you to pay for things with a wave of your palm. The interesting thing, though, is that PulseWallet already has a setup that lets customers pay with their fingerprints. The problem, say company reps, is that fingerprints can potentially be lifted. (Also, they’re a bit messy.) So, the outfit is moving to a Fujitsu-made palm sensor, which is more secure and supposedly faster, too. Here’s how it works: after you visit a store once, you can register your palm and link it to the credit card of your choosing. Then, the store will have it on hand (har) the next time you stop by. When it comes time to pay, you can swipe your palm, after which point you’ll need to enter your phone number to verify it’s really you. Et voilà! You’ve managed to pay without digging our your credit card, and without getting (as many) greasy fingerprints all over the point-of-sale system. No word on when you’ll start seeing these in stores, though the company says it will only be available in the US to start.
Filed under: Misc
24 hours at CES
CES, it’s a thing. A big thing. For us here at Engadget, it’s kind of a big deal. For you, the gadget-loving public, it’s a chance to see what the year in tech will look like. But enough about you already… what about poor old us? There’s so much you don’t get to see: the work, the constant scrums of people surrounding products, the late nights and cold trailer food. We figured you all probably wanted to experience those joys for yourselves, albeit vicariously. We hooked up one of our editors, Michael, with a GoPro and a FuelBand, and set him off into the wild with a photographer in tow, so you can get a taste of what 24 hours at the craziest tech show on Earth feels like. Hop past the break to see for yourself.
Day One
15:12
We hook our lucky journalist Michael up with the high-tech conference-tracking technology — namely a GoPro Hero 3+ and a Nike FuelBand SE. This is the sort of cutting-edge motion- and activity-monitoring kit we expect MIT, or NASA likely uses too.
15:12
Michael: “Does it look weird?”
Dan and James: “No, definitely not. Not at all.”
15:13
The pre-event, late lunch, of cold pizza isn’t going down too well. The Engadget trailer currently smells of oregano, coffee and bodies. Take a long moment to really consider what that cocktail would smell like.
15:25
Time for a little research before heading out to CES Unveiled, one of the show’s earliest events. Imagine a ballroom filled with crazy inventors, eager salesmen and flustered bloggers, and you’re not far off what goes on at these things.
15:28
A rare glimpse of daylight as Michael leaves the fug of the trailer behind, and heads out toward CES Unveiled. The show is not even open, and it’s a Sunday, and already the parking lot is pretty much entirely occupied by trailers, tents and trucks. Walking about it means taking your life into your own hands, as forklift trucks and electric carts zip through any available gap.
15:30
While the Las Vegas Convention Center is huge, there’s still not enough space to fit absolutely everything in. There are off-site events, shows and other CES-related fun held all throughout Las Vegas. Unveiled is a short drive away at the Mandalay Bay hotel.
15:51
Fellow Engadgeteer Billy Steele pulls up some details on his phone as our team makes its way to the hotel. That, or he could be looking down to avoid the intense glare reflecting of the hotel’s tasteful gold mirror windows.
15:57
With so much going on, you gotta grab every moment you can to stay on top of email. An escalator ride proves the perfect moment.
16:08
While there’s always something going on, you do also find yourself hanging around an awful lot. Usually with nowhere to sit, or at the back of a long line. If you’re lucky, you can use the time to get some work done…
16:32
…until they let everyone in. And then it’s straight back to work, you know, pounding the floor, bringing you the hottest gadget news, that kinda thing. Also, how wild is that carpet?
16:35
Sometimes finding the tables with Ethernet and power outlets is like dashing for the front row as a concert opens. Engadget’s the official online news source this year though, so we’re lucky enough to get a dedicated spot to work from. That doesn’t mean there are enough seats, and a strict no-WiFi policy (it can interfere with exhibitors’ demos) means we’ve got to cable up. We hate cables.
16:52
Once we’re done doing that though, we spring into action and bring you things like… inanimate rod 3.0. It has an Android and iOS app (no Windows Phone support just yet) and comes in dark gray and black. Only kidding, it’s actually Tobii’s new sensor bar…
16:58
Just let us get these facts straight…
17:14
…and then we’ll take it for a spin if that’s alright with you. This is honestly still work. Honestly.
17:22
Hands-on demo in the bag, and photos taken (we often head out in pairs), it’s back to the wild carpet to find a spot against the wall and write that up for you the dear reader. Repeat this up to 10 times or more.
19:52
Unveiled runs from 4 – 7 PST, so the day is far from done. Instead of going home afterwards (chance would be a fine thing), we decided to head over to a Samsung press conference. Samsung likes to keep things interesting by having the whole thing bathed in low light. Working in low light is clearly much more helpful. Sorry, we didn’t mean to sound bitter.
20:14
It’s even more fun working in the dark, when it’s followed by a scrum of tech journalists, trying to get the first look at the huge (honestly, so very huge) curved TV that Samsung brought along to Vegas with it.
20:29
Are you sensing a theme yet? After getting a look at the 105-inch behemoth we’d really prefer to stand around chatting about it, but the people (that’s you) need to know. And so it is, back onto the laptop. This time, at least, there are some comfy chairs and no wild carpet (unless we can’t see it because of the dark). With that black light, it almost looks like a nightclub doesn’t it? It isn’t a nightclub.
21:02
Now that the crowd has finally dispersed, we get to take a second look. It’s huge. And curved. Huge and curved, that’s what the TV fans can expect this year at CES. And yes, that is the Eiffel tower in the background. #vegas.
21:15
After filing our eyes-on, there’s another brief window to check our email while someone films a hula-hoop performer. Fairly standard for a Vegas press conference. Also, our last external work commitment for the night, we can finally head back to the trailer. Once back, we can look forward to dry, boxed food to replenish our reserves, before — if we’re lucky — knocking off around midnight.
SLEEP (not much).
Day Two
05:14
Gorman gets his early face on…
05:23
…and moments later, shares it with America.
07:14
One interview in the bag means a little time to freshen up before heading out again.
07:40
Judging by the smile on Billy’s face as he waits for Michael in the lobby, he got more sleep.
07:30
Time to jump in a cab and head over to Mandalay Bay (again) for, you guessed it, more press conferences.
07:30
One positive thing about being in the desert is that the sun is usually out providing much-needed vitamin D between dimly lit, body-filled presentations.
07:52
Like this one, causing us to reach straight back into those vitamin D reserves. THANKS LG.
09:12
Exhibit A: Mat Smith went in with a full tan. He apparently now needs either some time in the sun, or some water. Probably both.
09:27
While our guys head out to dose up on sol again, they spot one of CES’ lesser-expected exhibitors… Hilti?
09:29
Vegas hotels aren’t known for their reserved decor, but is it art?
10:52
A quick dash over to CNBC Studios, and it appears they have a… body shop?
10:56
Before you know it, we’re back in front of the camera again. Look how excited Michael looks to be addressing the nation again.
11:30
The real business of the show won’t wait in our absence, so it’s straight back to the trailer for a quick battery change in the GoPro, courtesy of Ben and Todd, our video guys.
11:46
While Michael’s been out “working,” some of the team have been stuck indoors doing the heavy lifting.
11:51
No time to stop for long of course; it’s back off over to the North hall where the Engadget stage is.
11:57
Here is a sneaky look at the backstage area/green room. Some of the biggest names in tech will pass through here over the week. As well as Michael Gorman.
12:14
Today is technically day “0″ of the show. Everything kicks off properly tomorrow, so some of the stands (well, most of them, actually), are still setting up.
12:23
…and because of that, security is tight.
12:27
We guess it’s some lucky person’s job to peel the covers off all of those triangular tiles?
12:31
If you’re wondering why we’re just aimlessly walking around at this point, it’s because Engadget is hosting some tours of CES for a few select partners. A couple of the team wanted to get to know the lay of the land in advance. Shrewd thinking, as this place is — as they say in Spanish — enorme.
12:35
And, unsurprisingly, it doesn’t take them long to get lost.
13:58
Getting lost means our reporters regroup at the trailer for directions, earning them a welcome-back kiss from Jamie. Which is reason enough on its own not to bother coming back at all.
14:05
The next stop back out on the ground floor trek is a booth tour from LG. Once again, that tight security makes an appearance.
14:14
The good news is, all this walking means we smash through our daily goal, reaching it by early afternoon.
14:24
Back at the LG booth we’re given a full-spec rundown of some of the many new products the firm released. Mostly those that weren’t 77-inch curved OLED TVs.
14:46
They seem happy with it, though we’re not entirely sure about their taste in movies.
At this point, our 24 hours come to an end. This means Michael can remove his chest-mounted GoPro, and finally go to the bathroom. But of course, as they say, the show goes on, and the work continues. Many of us landed here around the 2nd or 3rd of January, and won’t leave until the 12th. That’s a long time to be in Vegas, but we do it with pride and a sense of purpose. We hope you enjoy the coverage just as much as we do making it — despite all our moaning to the contrary.
Some photos provided by Will Lipman.
Filed under: Alt
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: WowWee CTO Davin Sufer
More robots? Don’t mind if we do. Davin Sufer is the CTO of WowWee, the company behind toys like Robosapien and Roboraptor. He’ll be joining us on stage to discuss what the company has up its sleeve.
Filed under: Robots
Forget gesture cameras, here’s a wireless armband that senses your muscles
2013 saw the rise of gesture cameras for TVs and various smart devices, but Canadian startup Thalmic Labs thinks its MYO armband is the way forward. During our meeting at CES earlier, co-founder and CEO Stephen Lake explained that his Bluetooth 4.0 device features a new type of biosensor, which can pick up minute electrical impulses in our arm muscles. This allows any wrist movement, finger twitch or fist clenching to be interpreted as a gesture, so long as the inner side of the MYO has skin contact. There’s also an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer, so arm and body movements are accounted for as well.
The idea of MYO traces back to the co-founders’ university days, where they explored various wearable technologies while working on a navigation aid for the blind. Lake said since brain control isn’t quite there yet, his team found muscle sensing to be the next best thing. From what we saw and tried today, Thalmic Labs seems to be on the right track: We watched co-founder Aaron Grant play Call Of Duty: Ghosts using just a pair of MYOs, and he was able to make his avatar run, crouch, jump, fire weapon and reload. Lake also gave a demo on music playback control and slideshow presentation on an iPad, both of which worked just fine. But it doesn’t stop there; the CEO also sees opportunity in industrial robotics, space application and even gesture-based authentication.
The retail version of the MYO will arrive within the first half of 2014, and not only will it be half as thick as the MYO Alphas shown today, but it’ll also feature at least two core applications that will make full use of the armband. Lake said he’ll be showing the final design in the next couple of months, but if you’re game, you can now head over to Thalmic Labs’ website to pre-order a black or white one for $149. Need more convincing? Then check out our in-depth demo video after the break.
Filed under: Peripherals
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: Samsung Mobile App Academy scholarships
Presenting the awards for Samsung’s Mobile Boot Camp was far and away one of the highlights of last year’s CES stage, so naturally, when the company asked if we’d be game to give it another go, we jumped at the opportunity. You can watch the awards tonight at 7:30PM ET
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
AIVAnet 