Roku Releases Roku 3

Roku, Inc. has released the new Roku 3 streaming player. The Roku 3 replaced the Roku XS, and adds new features like an improved user interface and headphone jack in the remote for private listening in addition to a much faster processor. Reports indicate the the unit loads content faster and responds to input quicker than Roku 2 and LT units.
What else is new?

Some Myths and Misconceptions About Free OTA TV

There is a lot of bad information out there about free OTA TV and pay TV. Some of it is lack of information, some is misinformation. Some of it comes from a basic misunderstanding of free digital TV, and some of it even originates with pay TV providers themselves.

LET'S LOOK AT THESE MISCONCEPTIONS AND THE FACTS.

What's The Best Way To Watch The Superbowl?

GAME TIME!

Super Bowl XLVII—featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers—happens Sunday, February 3 in New Orleans. CBS has the broadcast rights to the game this year, and kickoff is 6:30pm Eastern. You can  Stream the game live online at CBSSports.com, or on a phone or tablet, you can download the NFL Mobile app at NFL.com/mobile. Of course, won't won't get the best  picture quality streaming on the internet, and as often happens when millions of people try to access the same stream, servers crash, and who wants to watch on a 3 inch screen?

So, if the internet doesn't have the best picture, who does have the best picture for the big game? DirecTV, Dish Network, Comcast, Time-Warner cable? Another cable company? The answer may surprise you.

AND THE WINNER IS:

Instant Watch Browser for Netflix

One thing that users of Netflix on smart TVs, Roku box, and other devices find annoying is that it's impossible to browse the whole Neflix catalog from the Netflix app for these devices. The official Netflix apps for these devices limit you to a few categories and Netflix's  "suggestions". For myself, this had always meant hopping on the laptop and adding movies to my queue from a browser to find new movies.

But now I've found a solution that allows me to find everything in the Netflix catalog without putting down the Roku Remote.

Wireless Keypad / Airmouse / Learning Remote

iPazzPort 2.4GHz Mini Wireless Fly Air Mouse Keyboard with IR Remote

The iPazzPort Mini Wireless "Fly Air" keyboard is a great all-in-one remote solution for your home theater PC. With it, you can put all your other remotes in a drawer except for some rarely used functions, or if you have more than two components. The "air mouse" functions similar to a Wii remote. There is also a touchpad version available, the Wireless Keyboard and Touchpad with Learning Infrared (IR) Remote, for those that would prefer a touchpad. Althuough the 2 device learning remote has a limited set of buttons, it can learn any function on your device. And if you have a HTPC or laptop connected to your TV, you really don't need a lot of functions - just on/off, volume, and channel up/down or guide for the TV, etc.

 I also own the Favi Wireless Keyboard With Built-in TouchPad and Laser Pointer without the IR remote function, also by iPazzport, and also sold under a number of different brand names. I've owned it for 2 years now and it has functioned flawlessly. I paid $40 for it 2 years ago, and considered it to be a great deal at the time. (Note: the laser pointer also makes a great cat toy!)

Features:

Indoor Antenna Review: Mohu Leaf Plus

Mohu Leaf Plus

Several people have asked me recently about indoor antennas. My advice to anyone installing an antenna is always "high and outside". Line-of sight installations are always the best way to go, and the closer you can get to that ideal the better and more dependable your reception will be. Walls block signals, and height clears obstructions.  "High and outside" is a firm rule, based on physics, and there's no magic antenna that can change the laws of physics.

But many people, mostly apartment dwellers, are unable to have an outdoor TV antenna for a variety of reasons. The FCC has issued "Over The Air Reception Device" (OTARD) rules that specify when outdoor antenna installations may be restricted.  You can read the FCC OTARD regulations here. If you find that you can't install an outdoor antenna after reading the OTARD rules, then your only option is an indoor antenna.

I recently was provided with a Mohu Leaf Plus amplified indoor antenna for review. I gave the Leaf Plus a spin and put it up against a Eagle Aspen Dtv2B uhf  2 bay outdoor TV antenna. I located both antennas on the top shelf of a bedroom closet and connected them to a 32" Coby TV.

Here's my results.

I Will Never Shop At a B&M Store On Black Friday

Screwed on Black Friday?

My daughter needed a laptop for college. Walmart had a Compaq for $179. We decided we could buy it and ship it to her for about $200+.

I spent over 2 hours in line Walmart Thanksgiving  night. My wife spent 2+ hours in a different Walmart, both trying to score the same $179 laptop. We arrived at the stores at 8:30 pm. Of course, we didn't get one. They only had less than 30 per store and started passing out tickets for them @ 6pm - for a 10pm sale! Dejected, I went and stood in line for the $279 HP laptop for 1.5 hours. And waited. And sweated. And then waited another half  hour in line to get to the front of the line, get handed a box, and pay for it. An obvious "Bait and Switch" as they had tons of the more expensive ones!

Over 2 hours, for 2 people, each with a young child, to get the laptop we didn't want.

The next morning I searched the net and found a Lenovo with the EXACT SAME SPECS for $199 and free shipping on an Amazon lightning deal. Yea, I paid sales tax because she lives in NY, but they ship it to her for free. I didn't have to leave the house, and I don't have to spend over $30 to ship it to her and insure it. I spent 30 minutes, in my pajamas, with a cup of hot coffee. I shopped 5 stores in a half hour.

 I am going to Walmart and return the unopened laptop today - after the the stupid, smelly, and rude Black Friday shoppers leave. Bite me, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. I will never step foot into another B&M store on Black Friday weekend again.

Antennas Direct DB8e: The Next BIG Thing in TV Antennas.

How To Get OTA Program Guide Info After The End of TVGOS TV Guide On Screen

 Breaking News:

If you have a TV or device that uses TVGOS (TV Guide On Screen) you are about to lose your program guide. ROVI, the creator of TVGOS, has announced the end of the service.This is a post from AVS forum on the subject:

Originally Posted by RobMeyer1  

I received a reply from KNME:
"Mr. Meyer,
We were instructed by the distributor for TV Guide to disconnect the
equipment which distributes the TV Guide information last week. For more
information, you may contact them as follows:
Call Gemstar/Rovicorp Consumer Electronics Product Support at 800-386-7380.
Email can be sent to ce_customer_support@rovicorp.com.
Thank you for writing and thank you for watching New Mexico PBS."
Looks like most of New Mexico will no longer get TV Guide.

I called the above phone #. The engineer I talked to confirmed that TV Guide is being discontinued. Approximately 20% of markets have been terminated as of Nov. 1st and the rest will be discontinued over the next 6 months!

Note that TV Guide itself is not being terminated, just the ROVI provided TVGOS.

Now, what are you going to do if you have a TVGOS device? Too bad a lot of channels don't use their PSIP, or under-use it. PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol ) is the program data transmitted by the TV stations themselves, using a small bit of their bandwidth to provide program listings for free. Some channels populate their guide out several days and include program details (PBS stations usually do it best), but most only go out about 12 hours with no description. The worst stations are the minor players, like LP stations. You're lucky if they display the station name / network, let alone program info.

Funny thing is, most cheap converter boxes have a better program guide than even the most expensive TV sets. (That's why my DTVpal converter is hooked up to my 52" HDTV!) Now, if $50 converter boxes can have a guide, then why not a $1000+ HDTV? It would only add about a dollar or two to the price of a new TV.

A couple work-arounds for no program guide:

Budget Priced Tablet Buying Guide

Undeniably one of the most popular items for holiday shopping this year is tablet computers. Many manufacturers and sellers have jumped on the bandwagon this year to cash in on the popularity of the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Google Nexus, and hybrid reader / tablets like the Kindle Fire and Nook Color. A quick search turns up literally hundreds of devices ranging in price from about $50 on up, and B&M stores are pushing inexpensive low-end tablets in their Black Friday sales this year. Unfortunately, many of these budget offerings fall short in at least one, if not multiple, areas.

So, what can you expect from one of these low priced tablets, and what can you do to avoid getting stuck with a useless tablet / paperweight? Face it, when you're looking for a device for under $200, you're going to accept some compromises. So the first thing to ask yourself is - "What is most important to me, and what limitations can I live with?"

32-inch 720p 60Hz LED HDTV for $147 AMAZON lightning deal

I just discovered this one - starts 3pm 11/19/2012, ends 4pm.

AMAZON lightning deal 3pm 11/19/12 - 32-inch 720p 60Hz LED HDTV for $147

Remember, that's PACIFIC TIME. No details yet, but I'm in for a new bedroom TV!

UPDATE!
 It is - or was - a Coby LEDTV3216 32-Inch 720p 60Hz Slim-Bezel LED HDTV (Black). Amazon.com: Coby LEDTV3216 32-Inch 720p 60Hz Slim-Bezel LED HDTV (Black): Electronics  I know a lot of you may be thinking "Coby? No way!" but I've been happy with Coby products lately. I got 3 Coby media players (4gb) under $25 each (one each for my wife, daughter and myself) and they're pretty decent.

Sold out in under 5 minutes. I missed out, too. Sorry!
UPDATE!
It's on again at Amazon, 3pm today,

32-Inch 720p 60Hz Slim-Bezel LED HDTV for $147

Try again, anyone? it's from 3-4 pm PST, but since yesterday they were gone in 5 minutes, I expect the same thing to happen today.

Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - Episodes Now On YouTube

For those who have been waiting for the next installment of the Battlestar Galactica universe, the show is now here. Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - episodes one thru four - is now streaming on YouTube.

The plan is for several short episodes to be streamed online. If the show is successful, these short segments would be combined into a single episode. There are going to be 10 of these short episodes, and each runs a very short 7-10 minutes.

You can watch the trailer here:

and the first installment is here, after the page break:

Weather Channel LIVE on YouTube

The weather Channel is currently broadcasting LIVE on their YouTube channel. I'm not sure if this will continue, but I suspect that it is just temporary and related to tropical storm Sandy coverage, and the live feed will end after the storm passes.

Even if it is only temporary, it does bode well for the future. Perhaps future major weather events will receive similar live coverage.

Here is the live channel embedded for your convenience:

   

 For Roku users, you can use PlayOn to stream the video from your computer to your television. YouTube is included in the free version of PlayOn. 

You can download PlayOn FREE here.