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Google teams up with Intel, Sony to make Google TV set-top boxes

Google is pushing to get Android into other hardware, such as set-top boxes, and in turn to get their ads into more markets and in front of more eyeballs. To that ends, they have teamed up with Sony and Intel to develop something called, naturally, Google TV.

google tvGoogle TV is pretty much a re-imagining of the ill-fated WebTV, where a set-top box brings the Web to your TV screen. Of course, today, there are many different set-top boxes vying for your dollars and space in your AV shelf, including but not limited to media centers, DVRs, place-shifting boxes (like the Slingbox) and much more.

Who knows? Perhaps this version could fare better (think Palm vs the Newton). Of course, the Internet’s pervasiveness is exponentially greater than when WebTV first appeared.

One additional difference will be that the Google Android platform will allow for the software to be embedded in more devices than just the set-top box.

Press Release

Netgear’s PTV1000 puts your laptop’s display on your HDTV wirelessly

netgear ptv1000Without needing a media streamer device, the Netgear PTV100 Push2TV gadget can display anything from a laptop with Intel’s Wireless Display technology.  The PTV1000 is a small lightweight box that connects to your HDTV via HDMI and connects to your laptop wirelessly via 802.11.

The PTV1000 can also connect via AV composite.

Buy now!

More info from the manufacturer
Price: $99.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed) is Fast! What to Expect and When

usb 3.0 superspeed logoAlthough the specs for USB 3.0 were nailed down in late 2008, production of devices that support or run USB 3.0 have really only now started showing up. Here’s a bit of insight as to what you can expect in the next 2 years.

At CES, a few manufacturers showed off their USB 3.0 wares. In particular, a few like Gigabyte and Asus have motherboards with USB 3.0 ports, while laptop makers HP, Asus and others joined the party, and of course external hard-drive makers like Western Digital and Seagate had their new gadgets with USB 3.0.

CES 2009: NVIDIA Ion platform makes for smallest PC

NVIDIA is touting its new Ion platform as they’ve demonstrated how it can be used to make the world’s smallest Vista capable premium PC. By plugging the Ion board into a case that is just slightly larger than the board and adding a hard drive, the PC is complete.

What’s more interesting is that the Ion with its GeForce 9400 (with built-in North- and Southbridges) coupled with an Intel Atom processor can be used to power even smaller netbooks that can push 1080p HD video and 7.1 surround sound audio via HDMI.

This video shot at CES shows how small the board is:

Even Intel says no to Vista

As an IT guy myself, I do find it rather telling when a prominent business partner of Microsoft’s, Intel, has decided that they’re not going to ‘upgrade’ to Windows Vista. I can’t say that I blame them. The change isn’t compelling and according to most reports, more of a pain than a benefit.

For those home users buying a new computer, Vista isn’t an absolutely terrible thing to stomach, but for those power users who are now fully acclimatized to XP, Vista doesn’t offer them true advantages.

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