Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Domino’s and TiVo have gotten together to allow kids to prank their parents by ordering up to $100 in pizza.  Either that or give TiVo users the convenience of ordering their pizza from the comfort of their couch.  Taking advantage of TiVo’s widgets, Domino’s is bringing ordering options to broadband-connected TiVo Series2/3/HD owners. 

Truth be told, I’ve not eaten a Domino’s pizza since I was in college, but for sake of gadgetry and the same reason I order brochures after watching 2 minute BMW ads on TiVo because I just think it is cool, I might just do this.  Imagine watching a football game and a link comes on screen that says, “you look hungry, how about a pizza?“  You click yes and 30 minutes or so later you are chowing down.  That is a utopia we all can aspire to.

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After a bit of a delay, Dish Network has confirmed that they will be releasing the DTVPal DVR mid-December.  However, you can pre-order it starting next week.  Originally introduced as the EchoStar TR-50 when it was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show the beginning of the year, the slightly modified HD personal video recorder now has a spiffy new name to match its new look.  Continued after the break.

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Let’s say you’re on an important business trip and have to stay in a hotel for a couple of days.  During those days, a couple of your favorite TV shows are playing, however, you’re busy delivering an important presentation and don’t have time to catch the show.  Luckily for you and the guests of the Mondrian hotel in South Beach, Florida, you can TiVo your favorite shows right from your hotel room!

TiVo and Morgans Hotel Group Co are teaming up in order to provide this great service for their guests staying at the Mondrian in South Beach.  As you know, TiVo can record, pause, and rewind live TV.  In addition, you are able to schedule recordings of your favorite TV shows to watch on your own time.  In case you love watching TV, you can opt to record two shows simultaneously, while watching a previously recorded show.  TiVo even adds in their WishList feature, which does a search to find TV shows with your favorite actors/actresses as well as directors.  Find out more after the break.

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I came across the chart above thanks to betfair.com.  The chart shows “the most accurate, up-to-the-minute prediction of who will win the U.S. Presidential election based on millions of wagers placed in the world’s largest betting exchange.“  Neat stuff.

But look closer and you see a divergence on September 15th (a Monday).  Something happened on this date that reversed both Obama’s downward trend and McCain’s comeback.

Find out what I theorize this to be and how YouTube has political blood on its hands.

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One for the “impressive moments in tech history”: I just received a Dash GPS device for a review last week.  I’ve played with the device for a couple of days and now learn the product is out of production.  Even odder, driving around on lunch today, I was thinking they’ve nailed the connected idea for GPS and traffic, but lack in what Navigon has dialed: awesome guidance.  I was going to suggest a change in business models to something similar to TiVo, an alternative to pay more for a service you desire—like the best traffic info on the planet.

Sure, that is easy to say now.  Now it isn’t helpful or ground breaking.  In fact, it probably looks like I am lying out my rear end.

But no.  I would love to marry the traffic info and POI search of Yahoo local thanks to Dash to the Navigon unit.  To me, that is the best of both worlds as Navigon is top dog in my book for clear, concise guidance and I can’t say enough good things about the Dash traffic info.  And I am still going to review it as the tech is going to be licensed into other products (come on Navigon!).

A sad day for the Dash GPS team as they had the dream, delivered the product and then find perhaps the concept wasn’t spot on.  Here’s to hoping their brand of traffic and connectedness lives on.

Read [Wired}

• Yahoo finally getting their act together
• Who’s On Crack in tech: 11.21.08 edition
• Some GPS deals to consider on Black Friday

Each year we are offered tricks and treats by tech companies.  Some products turn out better than we hope and some far worse than we ever imagined.  For this Halloween Who’s on Crack, let’s take a look at who has offered more treats than tricks.

As promised, I am not including Motorola in this list, though I think we all know they belong here.  With that, I give you my trick or treat list.

See who made my list by following me.

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Whoa, Netflix!  First came the Watch Instantly on the PC, then dedicated boxes, then Mac, then yesterday’s announcement of Xbox and now this one: TiVo will stream Netflix content on series 3, HD and HD XL receivers and up (sorry DirecTV users, no soup for you).  Hot dang, what is next for Netflix, streaming on my toaster?

For TiVo, this is huge news.  TiVo’s loyal army surely has been considering their options as aged equipment, user interface and attractive alternative offers have been rolling in from providers.  TiVo begins testing the service in select markets today and plans to offer it nationwide by early December so you’ll have plenty of time to go back and forth on deciding for a holiday gift.

No news yet on if the HD recievers TiVo offers will get Netflix HD content.

Read [NewTeeVee]

• How to get your Mac to talk to your PS3
• Who’s On Crack in tech: 11.21.08 edition
• YouTube testing HD video and improved audio

Disney movies, independent films, anime and Bollywood flicks have something in common – starting soon, you’ll be able to download them directly to your TiVo.  TiVo has struck deals with Disney, CinemaNow and Jaman.com to get new downloadable content to TiVo boxes everywhere. 

The content will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks.  Stuff from Jaman.com, like indy films, anime, and Bollywood flicks, will be available today.  CinemaNow brings the Disney content and that won’t be available until next week.  More information, including pricing, after the break.

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TiVo has won their patent infringement lawsuit against Dish Network.  The DVR service provider claimed victory after the Supreme Court refused to hear Dish Network’s request to invalidate the 2006 Texas District Court ruling that Dish was indeed guilty of violating TiVo’s patent for the technology that allows a TV viewer to tape a program while watching another.

TiVo filed suit in 2004, saying Dish (then known as EchoStar) was violating its patent for the technology, known as “time warping.”  The court agreed and awarded them a settlement totaling nearly $74 million.  Dish immediately filed an appeal but lost.

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Think of how many people have become very used to the ease of having TiVo.  And now, it’s going to be available for your computer as well.  Nero and TiVo are working together to launch LiquidTV, which basically is TiVo, just for a computer.

You’ll still get many of the same basic functions you know and love on regular TiVo.  You can watch live or recorded TV. You are able to burn videos to DVD if your PC has a DVD burner.  As long as your LiquidTV is networked with other TiVo boxes you have in your house, it even plays nice with those.

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