How to turn Sky’s £10 Now TV box into a networked media player with Plex
At just £10, Sky’s Now TV box is pretty good value for money as is. The idea, of course, is that cash continues to flow in Sky’s direction by means of the film, TV and sport subscription packages, but there’s nothing to stop you from forking out the hardware fee and using it simply as a window to BBC iPlayer, 4OD and other free services. Understandably, the selection of channels is limited — Sky would prefer you use the box for its paid content — but with only a few minutes of tinkering, you can easily turn your Now TV into a robust network media player capable of pulling video and audio from your personal network and several internet sources. You see, Sky’s hardware is basically a re-branded Roku LT player with a heavily curated app store, but as long as you have the correct file, you can push apps to a Now TV box that otherwise shouldn’t be there. Being able to run software like Plex immediately makes the cheap set-top box an even more compelling proposition, and better yet, side-loading apps couldn’t be much easier.
Assuming you’re all set up, logged in and faced with the Now TV channel screen, the first step is basically like entering a video game cheat code. With the remote, punch in:
Home, Home, Home, Up, Up, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right
You should be sent to a “Developer settings” page (shown below) with a prominent IP address centre stage, and the option to “Enable installer.” Jot down the digits, follow the prompts to accept the T&Cs, and your Now TV box will reboot and look completely unchanged. (Note that our screenshot shows “Disable installer,” as we’d already performed the step by this point.)
Now, head to your PC, load up a browser window (we’ve heard Internet Explorer doesn’t work, for some reason), and plug the Now TV box’s IP into the address bar — so, for us, it was http://192.168.1.65. This will take you to the rather bland “Development Application Installer” page. From there, you choose the app file (we’ll come to those shortly), hit install, and within a few seconds it’ll launch on the Now TV box and will be found in your channel list thereafter, just like any other app.
Unfortunately, while the actual installation process is a cinch, finding app files isn’t so easy. Sure, the Roku channel store is full of apps capable of running on Now TV boxes, but it’s up to the developers to package up the app for side-loading, and you won’t find the likes of Netflix and Amazon doing that. Furthermore, you likely won’t care for most of the apps that do actually have neat .zip files for you to install, but that doesn’t really matter. After all, you can only have one side-loaded channel running on your Now TV box at any one time, and you’re going to want to fill that slot with a media manager like Plex.
The latest build of Plex we could find for Now TV boxes can be downloaded here, but we’d sooner recommend RARflix, a modified Plex client with some UI tweaks, to serve as your front-end (you’ll find that file here). Another polished option is MediaBrowser (.zip file here), which also streams content from your local network, but lacks some of Plex’s bells and whistles.
First and foremost, Plex is for pushing video, music and pictures from your computer and wider local network to your TV. You’ll need to have Plex Media Server running on a machine at home to talk to the Plex app on your Now TV box, but it’s no trouble to set up. From the web interface, you can tell it what folders to look for media in, all of which is then available to stream through the Plex app — you can also agree to let it scrape your iTunes library if you’ve got a Mac. It’ll associate movie posters, synopses and the like with your files, making for a pretty slick user experience on the TV. What’s more, Plex has plug-ins (likes apps within the app) that allow you to stream from places like YouTube and Twitch. Admittedly their UIs are extremely basic, but they work well and video loads fast.
Other cool features include the “Plex It!” bookmarklet for browsers, which can be used to add video from various sources and websites to a queue in the Plex web app. From there, you can fling them to the Now TV Plex app for big-screen viewing. For power users who want to add media sitting in cloud storage, free mobiles apps and other benefits, there’s the paid Plex Pass subscription.
Whether you choose Plex, MediaBrowser or any other manager you might find a .zip for on enthusiast forums, you’re effectively turning that cheap Now TV box into a legit media centre and getting more out of it than Sky ever intended. Not bad for a tenner and 10 minutes of your time.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD
Via: Plex forums (1), (2), MediaBrowser forums, Digiex
These plastic pipes filled with warm water help Airbus test passenger comfort on the A350
Airbus has been flying A350 test aircraft with passenger seating since February, but the European manufacturer has just now welcomed journalists (and its own photographers) on board at Germany’s Aircraft Interiors Expo. The plane is outfitted with an array of test equipment, including plastic pipes filled with warm water mounted on each seat. Temperature-controlled pipes are used to simulate a full cabin after hours of flight, likely to give Airbus an idea of how ventilation systems work to keep the interior comfortable and cool. This is also one of the first A350s to be outfitted with proper coach and business seats, giving us an idea of what we might experience on Airbus’ answer to the Dreamliner once it begins scheduled flights later this year.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Airbus
Flying high above Vegas with the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ drone
There’s been a lot of killer gear here at NAB, from Sony’s Alpha A7s to the Blackmagic URSA. But of all the gadgets that debuted in Vegas this week, I’m most obsessed with DJI’s Phantom 2 Vision+ drone. This year’s version represents a significant boost over 2013′s model, due to one brilliant feature: a three-axis gimbal. The flying craft sports an integrated 1080p camera that can shoot solid stills and video alike, but the gimbal adds serious stabilization, keeping footage impossibly still, whether you’re flying at 30MPH, caught in a gust of wind or simply hovering above the ground. The built-in GPS and compass keep the device on track at all times, letting you focus not on staying aloft, but on getting the shot.
Camera-equipped drones are a dime a dozen these days, but assuming you have the $1,300 to burn, DJI’s Vision+ is the one you want. The autonomous features at play here enable very stable footage, while the intuitive control and Android and iOS apps make it easy to fly and get the shot, without any experience at all. The drone can shoot and fly for 25 minutes on a single charge, and while climbing can use a bit more power, you can move left and right all you want without accelerating drain. The camera, designed in-house by DJI, captures to a microSD card. You get a live preview from the app, though, making framing a shot, changing modes and snapping still photos a breeze. Take the Vision+ for a spin in our video below, complete with some fantastic aerial footage of the Vegas skyline.
Filed under: Cameras
Netflix begins 4K streaming with House of Cards, if you have the right TV
If you’re prone to skipping the intro on House of Cards, you might want to ease off the fast-forward controls in the future. Why? Because finally you can enjoy that scenic tour of Washington DC in glorious 4K (you have a 4K TV, right?). Actually, it’s not quite that simple, as TVs will reportedly need to have HEVC/H.265 decoding. While season two of Underwood’s evil scheming can already be enjoyed (as promised earlier this year) in the higher resolution, there’s no word on what content will be next to get upgraded (though there are some wildlife documentaries to enjoy also). Some reviewers apparently got a first look at the Frank’s sharp(er) suit on the weekend, but the rest of us mortals might have to wait a little longer.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Multichannel
5 Effective SEO Methods To Make Your Website More Visible This Year
It is a well known fact that Search Engine Optimization is an ever modifying process and this year, 2014, will mark the beginning of another age for SEO. In fact, there have been some radical modifications made in the Google algorithms in 2013 and this year also promises for carrying out more probabilities for each and every site. The way individuals search is altered; due to the reason that keyword based search is shifting towards the semantic hunt. The more intelligent or smart the search engine algorithm turns into, the more probably they are to offer the appropriate web page to the right user in the right location at the right time.
There are so many latest trends and techniques of SEO available in the industry that every SEO user or service provider knows about. Some latest and effective methods are mentioned below:
1. Concentrate on content, not keywords
It is important to understand the fact that keywords on the individual basis, are no longer going to bring your SEO Delhi. So, you have to invest the least amount of time in stuffing the keywords into your content and the large amount of time in writing the informative and unique content that the populace will discover interesting and useful. You have to get familiar with the phrase that content is king. So, you have to focus more on the quality and credibility of the content on your site.
2. Mobile searching and mobile websites
Mobile search is also an important modification in the Google’s Hummingbird algorithm. Also, it is an essential factor to keep your constant eyes on it. This algorithm was response made by the Google to the increase in the utilization of the internet on mobile devices and search results will acquire voice search and ASR into account in these days. So, web owners need to have more emphasis on the mobile website creation and mobile searching aspects.
3. Maintain Google Authorship
In recent times, in order to have a higher ranking in the search engines, it is important to set up an authorship of the Google for your blog post purposes. This is due to the reason that this displays the outside world that you are the proprietor of your blogs and articles.
4. Pay per click programs
Pay per click programs are one of the greatest methods of increasing your search engine ranking and visibility in an easy and quick manner. It is also, too much effective and reliable way of growing and marketing the services and products related to your business that you are offering to your clients. Programs, like Google AdWords, are characteristically simple to enter and provide too much flexible options for pricing.
5. Customer testimonials
Customer testimonials are one of the other effective methods of enhancing your visibility in the search engines. You can ask your previous clients to provide you with testimonials. These tools can do wonders to your site because these will illustrate that your previous clients are completely satisfied with your work, services or products.
These are some popular and effective SEO methods you can use for your website this year.
Author Bio
Samuel is an editor with a renowned content writing company. He has undertook various assignments about SEO Services Delhi to help readers.
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Amazon A9 Executive Joins Apple to Work on Maps, App Store Search
Benoit Dupin, the Vice President of Amazon A9′s Search Technology group, has left his position at the online retailer to join Apple, reports 9to5Mac. Dupin’s profile recently was removed from Amazon’s A9 website, and Dupin’s LinkedIn profile now reflects his new position as Director at Apple.
At Amazon, Dupin worked in the A9 group, which powers product search and advertising throughout Amazon’s international web stores. Dupin has experience working with search infrastructure, search experience and search relevance at Amazon. He also held positions at HP, Easyplanet and Canon Research France.
Dupin is joining Apple as a possible replacement for the exiting Cathy Edwards of Chomp, who joined Apple when the Cupertino company acquired the smartphone app search engine. Edwards served as the Director of Evaluation and Quality for Apple Maps, iTunes Store and App Store. Dupin will assume a similar role as Edwards, bringing his search expertise to those product areas within Apple.
Dupin’s exact role at Apple in not known, but his search expertise could be utilized in Apple’s Maps as well as its iTunes and App Store, all of which have been criticized for their undependable search results. The company regularly tweaks its search algorithm within its App Store, recently adding a new search suggestion feature for iOS owners. Apple also is rumored to be working on improving the Maps experience in iOS 8 with new transit Directions and improved points of interest data.
Apple Narrows Gap in U.S. Advertising Spending With Rival Samsung
Samsung is the leader in mobile advertising, significantly outspending all its rivals on commercials that target the U.S. market. Though still number one, the Korean company’s advertising dollar lead is shrinking, reports the Wall Street Journal, with Samsung’s rivals increasing their advertising spending by 33 percent year over year in 2013.
According to ad research company Kantar Media, the top seven U.S. smartphone makers spent over $1.3 billion in 2013 on advertisements for print, TV online, radio and outdoor venues. Apple spent $351 million last year, with the bulk of that money ($339 million) going toward TV ads.
While Apple increased its spending 5 percent year over year on mobile phone ads, Samsung scaled back its advertising efforts, reducing its U.S. advertising by 10 percent in 2013 to $363 million. The gap between Samsung and Apple now has narrowed to $12 million, which is less than the $68 million gap in 2012.
Samsung is known for its aggressive Galaxy marketing campaigns, which routinely target rival devices. Samsung’s clever tagline “The next big thing” reportedly infuriated Apple executives and lead to a tense email exchange between Apple’s head of marketing Phil Schiller and the company’s longtime ad agency, TBWA/Media Arts Lab.
Despite outspending Apple in advertising dollars, Samsung trails Apple in U.S. smartphone subscribers, with 26.7 percent market share as compared to Apple’s 41.6 percent. Apple’s market share continues to grow, but the overall rate of adoption is slowing as the smartphone market approaches saturation.
First episodes of ’24: Live Another Day’ to be simulcast with the US
Not wanting to be left behind by networks across the pond, Sky’s been pulling out all of the stops to broadcast big-budget TV shows at the same time as its American counterparts. Following the season four premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones, which saw 538,000 viewers opt to return to Westeros way past their bedtime, the broadcaster has confirmed it’s hashed out another simulcast deal, this time teaming up with with Fox to mark the return of Jack Bauer to UK TV screens. The opening double bill of 24: Live Another Day will air on Sky1 at 1am on May 6th, the same time as when US viewers will be tuning in. The 12-part series will revert to its traditional 9pm slot from then on, but it will also be available on-demand. After a surge in Game of Thrones streams managed to bring Now TV and HBO Go servers down yesterday, we wonder if Sky will be better prepared for when Jack comes back.
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Via: Digital Spy
Fitbit sees the future of wearables in advanced sensors, is still investigating skin irritation complaints
“We want to get to the point where we’re trying to launch all our products globally,” explains Fitbit founder and CEO James Park, when quizzed on why the company was in Japan, expanding the availability of the Fitbit Flex — a year-old device that possibly should have been surpassed by the recently-withdrawn Force. Fitbit is a company mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Nike and Jawbone, the scale is different: “We’re still a relatively small company… but we’re trying to do what’s right by our customers.” The company offered a voluntary free returns policy to customers that suffered an allergic reaction, although according to Fitbit, this affected around 1.6 percent of its customer base. It mentions that the older Flex still remains its best-selling wearable. Park “I don’t have anything more to add to what we’ve already said… We’re investigating it.” Problem-solving aside, the CEO mentioned the company is already at work on what’s next — and it’s unlikely to be a lifelogging app or a camera on the strap.
It’s sticking with the fitness schtick, but the technology is going to get an upgrade. “The future for Fitbit is advanced sensors, tracking more about your body. This is where we’re going.” Adding to the CEO’s comments, Fitbit’s Asian-Pacific VP Yolanda Chan said that when the Force [relaunches] in the USA, they intend to hit global rollout to soon after — if you’re still waiting on an OLED display-toting Fitbit, you might have to wait a little longer, but it might be capable of a lot more than the 2013 model.
Filed under: Wearables
AIVAnet 