Apple TV's new user interface: Hands-on
The new Apple TV is getting 1080p, but the redesigned user interface is coming to both new Apple TV models and existing 2nd-gen models. The software update for 2nd-gen Apple TV boxes is already available today, so I installed the update and was able to take the new interface for a spin.Not everyone realizes that the Apple TV actually runs on the same iOS software that powers the iPad and iPhone, but this latest update make it a lot more obvious. Gone is the "list"-type menus from the old interface, replaced with a grid of icons that makes your TV look a little like a giant iPad. It's a much more colorful look, but the giant grid of icons looks a little less organized to our eyes. At the very top of the main screen is cover art of "top content" that changes depending on what media type is selected (movies, TV shows, music).The new interface betrays its iOS originsSarah Tew/CBS InteractiveIf you jump into the iTunes Store for either movies or TV shows, the interface has also been somewhat updated. Along the top is a carousel of popular content, followed by the traditional grid of cover art underneath. Once you select a movie, the summary page looks identical, although that's not a bad thing since it's the best presentation we've seen on a streaming video box. While you've been able to re-stream purchased TV shows for quite some time, the same functionality has also been added for movies, with a new "Purchased" menu options running along the top.The iTunes store features prominent content as well as Genius recommendationsSarah Tew/CBS Interactive Related storiesAll iPad coverage from CNETFirst Take: Apple's new iPadApple iPad with Retina Display makes its debutApple's new iPad gets 4G LTEApple TV announced, with 1080pApple iOS 5.1: First TakeThe other new feature in the top menu bar is "Genius", which is Apple's recommendations engine for content. It's easy to to see this as a ho-hum feature, especially since recommendations are such an integral part of Netflix already, but it's a needed addition to the content browsing experience. I'd have to use it quite a bit more to see if the suggestions are consistently worthwhile, but the initial picks for TV shows (based on the fact that I bought an episode of "Louie") seem on the mark: "Party Down", "Parks and Recreation", "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret", "Wilfred", "Bored to Death" and "Running Wilde".The Genius system appears to work quite well with useful recommendationsSarah Tew/CBS InteractiveBeyond the main user interface, the update is only skin deep. Services like Netflix and MLB.TV have the same user interface as before, which is a bit of a disappointment, especially for Netflix, since I prefer the more visual interface available on other devices like the Roku LT, Sony PS3 and countless Blu-ray players. The iTunes Match interface is also the same and it's a little surprising that you still can't purchase music from the iTunes Store on an Apple TV.While the new interface supports resolutions up to 1080p, it's locked to 720p on the existing modelSarah Tew/CBS InteractiveI've only spent about an hour or so with the new user interface, but there doesn't seem to be much more beyond that. I'll be doing a full review with the new hardware when it become available next Friday, but right now it seems like the major advantage to the new hardware will be the 1080p interface and 1080p content (both Netflix and iTunes Store). (Perhaps higher resolution AirPlay mirroring will be available too, but I haven't seen confirmation of that yet.) If you have a 2nd-gen Apple TV already, that's not much of an incentive to upgrade.Apple's new Apple TV hands-on (photos)See full gallery1 - 4 / 9NextPrev
MP3 Mailbox Monday- JetAudio and server-based music
MP3 Mailbox Monday: JetAudio and server-based music
A:If you're looking for something for basic digital audio playback that's a pretty light application, I like JetAudio.It plays a huge variety of audio formats and offers some appealing extras, such as CD burning and conversion between audio formats. There are also several skins available for personalization, cross-fade capability, a feature that lets you create your own Internet radio station, and sound effects such as X-Bass and reverb. It's a fun little application that's pretty simple to learn. Windows Media Player comes standard on all Windows machines and is just fine for MP3/WMA playback and CD ripping/burning, as well as some video playback. Personally, I use Rhapsody, but that's mostly because of the service aspect and for transferring to my MP3 player.Q: Is there a reasonably simple solution for this challenge described below?Different members of our family have different MP3 players, and we have been trying to discover the best way for everyone to be able to share tunes, all from home. It seems that when we use either iPods, or Zunes, they lockdown the music files on the PC you manage the MP3 player from.Recently, I migrated from an older desktop, and trying to move the Zune stuff was a wrestling match--the winner has still to be identified.I've considered MS Home server, or just having everyone not purchase (if this can be done) their music through each player's service provider, and keeping a separate but shared file folder.Haven't tried it yet, but something tells me that as soon as you identify the folder to share, the respective MP3 player will lock it down. We have several different iPods, a Zune, and another less-well-known brand MP3 player. -- Jay, via e-mailA: Well, your issue is two-fold. The first part has to do with the players that you use, and the second applies to how you get your music. Any music that is ripped from CD or was purchased in the unprotected MP3 format--which more and more stores are starting to sell, even iTunes and the Zune Marketplace--should be able to live on a server, with the networked computers pinging it when necessary. This should work just fine for those that use the iPods (and iTunes) and the less-well-known brands. However, I have heard of the Zune Software having problems when it comes to music stored on a server.However, an update just came out that might have fixed it.Now, if you have people purchasing protected AACs from iTunes or protected WMAs from Zune Marketplace, you'll probably have some issues with the server method. The songs from both stores can be authorized on up to five computers (and an amount of players deemed "reasonable for personal use"), but I believe they have to live on each computer that is authorized if you want to keep transfers to portable devices relatively hassle-free. Of course, it'd be easiest if none of the players were iPods or Zunes, since closed software relationships tend to want to "lock things down" as you mentioned, but it might be tough to convince your family members on that logic.CNET Networks/<br />Corinne Schulze" /> MP3 Mailbox Monday is a recurring feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, but if you prefer to remain completely anonymous, please state as much in your e-mail.)
A:If you're looking for something for basic digital audio playback that's a pretty light application, I like JetAudio.It plays a huge variety of audio formats and offers some appealing extras, such as CD burning and conversion between audio formats. There are also several skins available for personalization, cross-fade capability, a feature that lets you create your own Internet radio station, and sound effects such as X-Bass and reverb. It's a fun little application that's pretty simple to learn. Windows Media Player comes standard on all Windows machines and is just fine for MP3/WMA playback and CD ripping/burning, as well as some video playback. Personally, I use Rhapsody, but that's mostly because of the service aspect and for transferring to my MP3 player.Q: Is there a reasonably simple solution for this challenge described below?Different members of our family have different MP3 players, and we have been trying to discover the best way for everyone to be able to share tunes, all from home. It seems that when we use either iPods, or Zunes, they lockdown the music files on the PC you manage the MP3 player from.Recently, I migrated from an older desktop, and trying to move the Zune stuff was a wrestling match--the winner has still to be identified.I've considered MS Home server, or just having everyone not purchase (if this can be done) their music through each player's service provider, and keeping a separate but shared file folder.Haven't tried it yet, but something tells me that as soon as you identify the folder to share, the respective MP3 player will lock it down. We have several different iPods, a Zune, and another less-well-known brand MP3 player. -- Jay, via e-mailA: Well, your issue is two-fold. The first part has to do with the players that you use, and the second applies to how you get your music. Any music that is ripped from CD or was purchased in the unprotected MP3 format--which more and more stores are starting to sell, even iTunes and the Zune Marketplace--should be able to live on a server, with the networked computers pinging it when necessary. This should work just fine for those that use the iPods (and iTunes) and the less-well-known brands. However, I have heard of the Zune Software having problems when it comes to music stored on a server.However, an update just came out that might have fixed it.Now, if you have people purchasing protected AACs from iTunes or protected WMAs from Zune Marketplace, you'll probably have some issues with the server method. The songs from both stores can be authorized on up to five computers (and an amount of players deemed "reasonable for personal use"), but I believe they have to live on each computer that is authorized if you want to keep transfers to portable devices relatively hassle-free. Of course, it'd be easiest if none of the players were iPods or Zunes, since closed software relationships tend to want to "lock things down" as you mentioned, but it might be tough to convince your family members on that logic.CNET Networks/<br />Corinne Schulze" /> MP3 Mailbox Monday is a recurring feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, but if you prefer to remain completely anonymous, please state as much in your e-mail.)
Auris Skye adds AirPlay and DLNA to 30-pin speaker docks (hands-on)
Auris Skye adds AirPlay and DLNA to 30-pin speaker docks (hands-on)
If you've been vested in the iDevice ecosystem for a while, you probably own a speaker dock that has a 30-pin connector -- one that is now incompatible with your current-generation iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Those newfangled Lightning ports make docking out of the question.So, what happens to that perfectly good speaker? Craigslist? Garage sale? Landfill?! (Horrors.) If it's a higher-end speaker that you want to keep using, consider giving it a wireless makeover. The Auris Skye is a small receiver that endows 30-pin speaker docks with AirPlay, DLNA, and Wi-Fi Direct capabilities.If that sounds familiar, you might be thinking of the Dolry HiFi Stone, a similiar product. But the Skye promises at least two advantages over the Stone, including versatility and price.About the size of a matchbook, the Skye slips onto the 30-pin connector, which powers the receiver. From there you run through a pairing process via the Auris Skye app, after which your speaker appears as an AirPlay device -- easy-peasy.Well, in theory. I had trouble with my initial AirPlay pairing, as the app (which was and still is in beta) kept asking me for my Wi-Fi network password, even though it doesn't have one. What's more, I found it difficult to see the tiny status LED atop the Skye, which isn't very bright (perhaps because it's emanating from a tiny hole). Ultimately I had to reset the unit by inserting a paperclip into that hole. Thankfully, after that the Skye setup went smoothly, and I was able to stream tunes from both my iPhone and iTunes on my PC.Unfortunately, I had problems getting the gizmo to work with DLNA sources. Windows Media Player (in Windows 8) could detect the Skye, but any attempts to play music resulted in error messages about media compatibility. (I was testing with ordinary MP3 files.) Likewise, I tried several Android apps that offer DLNA features, including 2Player 1.0, BubbleUPnP, and Streambels. The results, respectively, were total failure to play; sporadic playback; and the same error as Windows Media Player. Auris recommends using iTunes (and AirPlay) if you want to stream music from your PC and could offer no remedies for the issues I encountered.Your mileage may vary, but if you're purchasing the Skye expressly for use as a DLNA receiver, I would advise against it.But as an AirPlay receiver, it works quite well. And there are a couple advantages to choosing this over, say, a Bluetooth receiver that plugs into your speaker's line-in jack. For one thing, audio fidelity: Bluetooth relies on compression to transmit audio, while AirPlay does not. For another, range: While Bluetooth has an effective range of about 30 feet, AirPlay keeps the music playing so long as both your device and your receiver are within range of your router. That means you can easily move between rooms without the music cutting out.The Skye is available now for preorder, with an expected ship date of January 2014. (Backers of the original Kickstarter project can expect theirs next month.) The price is set at $73.99, though you can get two for a slight discount of $139.98.Your thoughts? Would you like being able to convert an old speaker dock to AirPlay? If so, is this a reasonable price to make that happen?
If you've been vested in the iDevice ecosystem for a while, you probably own a speaker dock that has a 30-pin connector -- one that is now incompatible with your current-generation iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Those newfangled Lightning ports make docking out of the question.So, what happens to that perfectly good speaker? Craigslist? Garage sale? Landfill?! (Horrors.) If it's a higher-end speaker that you want to keep using, consider giving it a wireless makeover. The Auris Skye is a small receiver that endows 30-pin speaker docks with AirPlay, DLNA, and Wi-Fi Direct capabilities.If that sounds familiar, you might be thinking of the Dolry HiFi Stone, a similiar product. But the Skye promises at least two advantages over the Stone, including versatility and price.About the size of a matchbook, the Skye slips onto the 30-pin connector, which powers the receiver. From there you run through a pairing process via the Auris Skye app, after which your speaker appears as an AirPlay device -- easy-peasy.Well, in theory. I had trouble with my initial AirPlay pairing, as the app (which was and still is in beta) kept asking me for my Wi-Fi network password, even though it doesn't have one. What's more, I found it difficult to see the tiny status LED atop the Skye, which isn't very bright (perhaps because it's emanating from a tiny hole). Ultimately I had to reset the unit by inserting a paperclip into that hole. Thankfully, after that the Skye setup went smoothly, and I was able to stream tunes from both my iPhone and iTunes on my PC.Unfortunately, I had problems getting the gizmo to work with DLNA sources. Windows Media Player (in Windows 8) could detect the Skye, but any attempts to play music resulted in error messages about media compatibility. (I was testing with ordinary MP3 files.) Likewise, I tried several Android apps that offer DLNA features, including 2Player 1.0, BubbleUPnP, and Streambels. The results, respectively, were total failure to play; sporadic playback; and the same error as Windows Media Player. Auris recommends using iTunes (and AirPlay) if you want to stream music from your PC and could offer no remedies for the issues I encountered.Your mileage may vary, but if you're purchasing the Skye expressly for use as a DLNA receiver, I would advise against it.But as an AirPlay receiver, it works quite well. And there are a couple advantages to choosing this over, say, a Bluetooth receiver that plugs into your speaker's line-in jack. For one thing, audio fidelity: Bluetooth relies on compression to transmit audio, while AirPlay does not. For another, range: While Bluetooth has an effective range of about 30 feet, AirPlay keeps the music playing so long as both your device and your receiver are within range of your router. That means you can easily move between rooms without the music cutting out.The Skye is available now for preorder, with an expected ship date of January 2014. (Backers of the original Kickstarter project can expect theirs next month.) The price is set at $73.99, though you can get two for a slight discount of $139.98.Your thoughts? Would you like being able to convert an old speaker dock to AirPlay? If so, is this a reasonable price to make that happen?
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