Engadget

Super Bowl internet debut breaks records, disappoints some viewers

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:11:00 EST

Not sure what this says about the state of streaming video online, but while the first live internet stream of the Super Bowl was watched by a record 2.1 million unique viewers, it didn't receive glowing reviews. The best indicator, though, is that the engagement for the three (plus) hour event was only 39 minutes. We think the folks over at Streaming Media got it right when they called it the Super Bowl Streaming Fail. It was bad enough that only Verizon Wireless customers could watch it on anything other than a laptop, but even those who could see it were left searching for a TV once they saw the quality. Big sports fans who might've been checking it out for the additional commentary and camera angles were also left wanting more, as the stream was plagued with lag. This meant that the other angle you were in search of was as much as a minute behind the big screen. Ultimately, we're sure everyone's glad the Super Bowl was extended to the smaller screens, but one thing sure seems true, broadcasting an event like this to millions of people is unlikely to ever be replaced by unicast internet streams.

Super Bowl internet debut breaks records, disappoints some viewers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Bowl 2012 Ad Roundup: Galaxy Note, Hulu Plus, Best Buy and more

Edgar Alvarez — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:21:00 EST

By now, we've become accustomed to the circus of elite advertising that takes place during America's biggest game, and this year was no exception. Last night's Super Bowl made room for over 50 commercials during its air time, some of which included the likes of Samsung's whopping Galaxy Note, the usual Go Daddy domain teasers, a bit of Best Buy "innovation" and the Hulu Plus Mushy Mush campaign, just to mention a few. Needless to say, we put together a small collection of some we believe you might enjoy, so take a virtual jump past the break to catch the big-ticket advertising in action. You can also find the rest of the ad pack at the source link below.

Continue reading Super Bowl 2012 Ad Roundup: Galaxy Note, Hulu Plus, Best Buy and more

Super Bowl 2012 Ad Roundup: Galaxy Note, Hulu Plus, Best Buy and more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Totally blow out the big game! Super Bowl XLVI

Richard Lawler — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:16:00 EST

With Super Bowl XLVI finally upon us all the pretenders have been shaken loose, leaving only the New England Patriots and New York Giants to compete for the NFL championship this weekend. While we're sure Indianapolis is lovely in February, we prefer to enjoy the game from the comfort of home where there's conveniences like affordable refreshments, central heating and of course our full loadout of equipment including HDTVs, computers, tablets and phones. Whether you're already set with equipment or are scouring the shelves looking for a new television in time for game day, we're back again in time for the 2012 game with a few suggestions to make sure you're getting the most out of what you've got -- feel free to drop in your own tips, chili recipes and the like in the comments below.

Update: We've added a few more HDTV deals from Samsung, Sears and Westinghouse, you'll find links after the break.

Continue reading Totally blow out the big game! Super Bowl XLVI

Totally blow out the big game! Super Bowl XLVI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three COWs descend on Lucas Oil Stadium, courtesy of Verizon Wireless (video)

Zachary Lutz — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST

When you think of Super Bowl Sunday, many images likely come to mind: malty beverages, nachos, high-budget commercials and -- oh, yeah -- football. Even amongst us mobile fanatics, however, cellular coverage rarely crosses the mind. Fortunately, that's not how Big Red rolls. The company has brought three of its LTE cell-on-wheels rigs to Indianapolis in anticipation of the Big Game, which is expected to draw 85,000 attendees. Amongst other things, Lucas Oil Stadium is now wired to the teeth with $69 million in Verizon gear to ensure that all subscribers will be able to tweet along with each touchdown, fumble and botched call -- like the Giants / Packers game, for instance. In addition to the COWs, the equipment includes 400 mobile antennas inside the stadium to carry voice and data, along with 600 WiFi stations to support a total of 28,000 simultaneous connections. The folks at GottaBeMobile have an excellent spread of how all this came together, but if you're more of the visual type, you'll find a quick video after the break.

[Thanks, Josh]

Continue reading Three COWs descend on Lucas Oil Stadium, courtesy of Verizon Wireless (video)

Three COWs descend on Lucas Oil Stadium, courtesy of Verizon Wireless (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Bowl to be streamed online and to Verizon phones for the first time

Donald Melanson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:20:00 EST

It looks like you'll have a few more viewing options than usual at your next Super Bowl party. The NFL announced today that the Super Bowl, plus wild card Saturday and the Pro Bowl, will all be streamed online for the first time on both the NFL's and NBC's websites. Mobile users will also be able to get in on the act, albeit only if they have a Verizon smartphone with the NFL Mobile app. What's more, those broadcasts will also give viewers access to quite a bit more than old-fashioned TV watchers have access to, including multiple camera angles, in-game highlights, and live stats. No word if the streams will include ads.

Super Bowl to be streamed online and to Verizon phones for the first time originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL renews TV deals with CBS, Fox, NBC for nine more years, money reportedly involved

Amar Toor — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:47:00 EST

Yeah, the NFL's really great and everything, but you know what would make it even greater? More. Money. Fortunately for Roger Goodell & Co., that's exactly what the league is due to receive, thanks to a slate of TV deals signed last week. The agreements, set to go into effect at the end of the 2013 season, effectively renew the NFL's current agreements with CBS, Fox and NBC, extending the league's TV contracts for a "record-setting" nine extra years. Not surprisingly, the deals will also funnel some extra pocket change through the NFL's coffers -- which will of course be coming from you, if you're subscribing to cable or satellite TV. Currently, the three networks pay a combined $1.94 billion in annual rights fees, but according to the LA Times, the league will now receive an average of $3.1 billion per year, as stipulated under its renewed agreements. In a statement, Commissioner Goodell said the deals underscore his league's "unique commitment to broadcast television," with CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves adding that his network will benefit from the NFL's "terrific, exciting programming," and from the consistently high ratings that "no other franchise delivers." The agreements, which come just a few months after the NFL inked a comparatively lucrative deal with ESPN, will also allow for the league to shift games between CBS and Fox, in order to bring "regional games to wider audiences." Each network, moreover, will air three Super Bowls over the course of the nine-year contract, continuing the rotation currently in place. Tebow past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading NFL renews TV deals with CBS, Fox, NBC for nine more years, money reportedly involved

NFL renews TV deals with CBS, Fox, NBC for nine more years, money reportedly involved originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filmmaker says Motorola's Super Bowl ad bears some striking similarities to his short film

Donald Melanson — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:54:00 EST

He's not going as far as to say that Motorola (or its ad agency) blatantly swiped his idea, but L.A.-based filmmaker Mike Sarrow thinks that the company's recent Super Bowl ad bears a few too many similarities to one of his short films to simply let slip by without a comment. That film, "Do Not Disconnect," was shot back in 2009 (and shopped around for a few years prior), and involves a world filled with "drones" wearing white earbuds who are oblivious to the real world around them and incapable of human interaction. Now, that in and of itself obviously isn't the most original of ideas, but Sarrow notes that there a few "striking" similarities beyond the general concept between the ad and his short film, particularly when it comes to the ending (which we won't spoil for you here). Adding a bit of meta-ness to the whole thing is the fact that Motorola's ad is of course a reference to Apple's famous "1984" commercial, and we all know Apple is no stranger to accusations that it's borrowed some ideas for its ads. Contrary to what you might think, however, Sarrow isn't seeking any compensation from Motorola (or even an attribution), he just wants people to see his film and make up their own mind. Judge for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Filmmaker says Motorola's Super Bowl ad bears some striking similarities to his short film

Filmmaker says Motorola's Super Bowl ad bears some striking similarities to his short film originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy Buy Back becomes official, free through February 12th

Vlad Savov — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:05:00 EST

Best Buy's gadget repurchase program has become official during the Super Bowl, courtesy of a silly commercial starring Ozzy Osbourne and Justin Bieber. The ad's actually a lot less cringe-inducing than it might have been, though the content of the program still doesn't seem to make much fiscal sense to us. You have to buy into it at the time of purchasing a gadget -- that requirement is set aside until this Saturday as a sort of grace / enticement period -- and Best Buy depreciates at a very aggressive annual rate, arguably cutting more of your trinkets' value than the incumbent options like online auction sites. Skip past the break to see the two gentlemen at opposite ends of their careers selling their souls to the almighty dollar, along with Best Buy's full press release and Buy Back Program details.

Continue reading Best Buy Buy Back becomes official, free through February 12th

Best Buy Buy Back becomes official, free through February 12th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson makes Xperia Play official in Super Bowl commercial, full launch coming February 13th

Vlad Savov — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 20:06:00 EST

Sony Ericsson has finally stopped teasing, winking, and nodding knowingly and has just come clean -- the Xperia Play is most definitely real and it'll be one of the first devices announced at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. We're treated to a date and time, February 13th at 6PM GMT, a pair of full frontal shots of the Gingerbread-running, gamepad-wearing smartphone, and the full version of that creepy ad we saw for it a couple of days back. Missed it on the Super Bowl? Scope it out after the break.

P.S. - Missed our coverage of Super Bowl Media Day? Catch up here!

Continue reading Sony Ericsson makes Xperia Play official in Super Bowl commercial, full launch coming February 13th

Sony Ericsson makes Xperia Play official in Super Bowl commercial, full launch coming February 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Xoom Super Bowl commercial tips hat to Apple's '1984' spot (video)

Darren Murph — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:38:00 EST

We saw it teased right around 48 hours ago, and now Motorola's full Xoom Super Bowl ad is out and about for the world to see. It aired just moments ago during Super Bowl XLV, and it's fairly obvious where it took inspiration. It's easily one of the best tech spots we've seen in quite some while, and as much as Motorola has been hyping its Honeycomb-based superslate, we'd say it better sell quite a few to recoup what it's already lost in marketing -- even at $800 a pop, it'll still take a boatload. The real question, however, is this: will today's America even get it? Hop on past the break and mash play if you missed out.

P.S. - Missed our coverage of Super Bowl Media Day? Catch up here!

Continue reading Motorola's Xoom Super Bowl commercial tips hat to Apple's '1984' spot (video)

Motorola's Xoom Super Bowl commercial tips hat to Apple's '1984' spot (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola teases the real Xoom Super Bowl ad: George Orwell, flowers, iPhone-using automatons in white hoodies all involved

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:23:00 EST

We already got teased on this, but it turns out that the first teaser -- which, let's be honest, didn't have the highest production value -- was strictly a teaser. Now, Motorola's sent us a fragment of the real commercial they'll be debuting during the Super Bowl this Sunday, and it's got pretty much everything you'd expect: a handsome gentleman with flowers reading 1984 on a Xoom, white headphones, and thousands of emotionless drones "enjoying" their Apple products. The whole thing is an obvious swipe at Apple for seemingly endorsing the very homogeny it waged war against in its Ridley Scott-directed Super Bowl commercial for the Macintosh back in 1984, and we suspect you good folks are going to have some very strong opinions about it. Follow the break for the first 15 seconds of the ad.

Continue reading Motorola teases the real Xoom Super Bowl ad: George Orwell, flowers, iPhone-using automatons in white hoodies all involved

Motorola teases the real Xoom Super Bowl ad: George Orwell, flowers, iPhone-using automatons in white hoodies all involved originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy's Buy Back Program to be made official during the Super Bowl... by Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne

Vlad Savov — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:23:00 EST

We heard about this during the news avalanche that was CES early last month, but today Best Buy has started making its new Buy Back Program official in emails sent out to valued Reward Zone customers. The gist of the scheme is that Best Buy will offer you set "Buy Back" prices for goods you purchase from its stores, advertising it as a reassurance that your electronics won't depreciate too much during your ownership. The leaked info we saw in January showed that you'll have to pay an extra fee at the point of purchase to enroll into the Program and Best Buy's highest re-purchase offers were capped at 50 percent of the initial price, so don't expect this to be any great favor to you, Mr. Consumer. For more info, keep your eyes locked on the Super Bowl this Sunday, when Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne (no, seriously) will do their best to explicate Best Buy's new venture.

[Thanks, Jeff and John]

Best Buy's Buy Back Program to be made official during the Super Bowl... by Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Bowl XLV Media Day: Packers split on iOS / Android, Cowboys CIO talks mobility

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:55:00 EST

We woke up this morning in Dallas to 20 degree temperatures and a parking lot covered in ice. Not exactly the kind of weather the NFL was hoping for when it selected the new Cowboys Stadium to host Super Bowl XLV, but it didn't stop both teams and media from making their way -- however slowly -- to Arlington for Super Bowl Media Day. Naturally, the likes of ESPN were there in full force, but rather than picking apart defensive schemes and seeing who could outgun Troy Polamalu for the longest mane in North Texas, we spent our time asking about mobile OS preferences and soaking up knowledge from Cowboys CIO Pete Walsh. With a price tag well north of $1 billion on the new Cowboys Stadium, the home to the world's largest HD display is certainly one of the most technologically advanced in the world. It's packing 884 wireless access points throughout (not to mention an internal network operations center that constantly monitors activity on each one), 260 miles of fiber optic cabling, capacity to handle over 100,000 simultaneous wireless connections, over 3,100 IPTVs and micro cell towers for each major carrier within -- you know, so that kickoff video that just can't wait actually sees its way onto YouTube prior to the start of the second half.

Head on past the break to catch of a video of us talking smartphone platforms with Green Bay Packers center Scott Wells, as well as a lengthy (and insightful) interview with the Chief Information Officer of the Dallas Cowboys. Everything from the Cowboys' rejection of FanVision to their hopes to blanket the stadium with gratis WiFi is covered, and we're even given a hint that contactless payments and mobile food ordering systems could be just a season or so away.

Gallery: Super Bowl XLV Media Day 2011: on the field with the Packers and Steelers

Continue reading Super Bowl XLV Media Day: Packers split on iOS / Android, Cowboys CIO talks mobility

Super Bowl XLV Media Day: Packers split on iOS / Android, Cowboys CIO talks mobility originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Xoom lands in Chad Ochocinco's safe hands, is 'pretty awesome'

Vlad Savov — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:51:00 EST

The Motorola Xoom's release is close, very close. How do we know that? Well, Moto has just handed one to Chad Ochocinco -- one of the NFL's most recklessly loquacious players -- and you don't do that with an unfinished product. For his part, Chad's finding the Honeycomb tablet to be "pretty awesome" and regretfully informs Motorola that it "won't be getting this back." Tracking Chad's tweets reveals that he's just landed in Dallas, site of this year's Super Bowl, where he's received the Android-driven hardware. Something tells us neither he nor Motorola's tablet will spend the next week hiding in the shadows -- look for a lot more screen time for both in the buildup to the big game (and Moto's big halftime ad). One last note? Chad's image above was taken using an iPhone 4. Guess he's holding out for the Atrix 4G.

[Thanks, Zizo]

Motorola Xoom lands in Chad Ochocinco's safe hands, is 'pretty awesome' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Totally blow out the big game! Super Bowl XLV

Richard Lawler — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:20:00 EST

It's been confirmed, Super Bowl XLV will not be the first one with a full HD 3D broadcast (no gimmicky 3D commercials this year either, you can put the paper glasses away) despite featuring a halftime show by James Cameron's BFFs, the Black Eyed Peas. Still, considering what happened the last time they tried 3D at the House That Jerry Jones Built it's probably for the best. Still, just because you don't have one of Cowboys Stadium's record breaking HD screens you should still enjoy the game in style. In 2011 that means going beyond just the screen, the sounds and the seats -- we'll tell you how after the break.

Continue reading Totally blow out the big game! Super Bowl XLV

Totally blow out the big game! Super Bowl XLV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola teases Xoom Super Bowl ad: '2011 looks a lot like 1984'

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:13:00 EST

Moto hasn't been shying away from the Apple jabs this year, and it's got another one in store for the Super Bowl this week with a commercial that'll poke fun at Cupertino's 1984 Macintosh ad, perhaps the most famous Super Bowl spot of all time. In it, the company says that "2011 looks a lot like 1984" with "one authority, one design, one way to work" while showing Planet Earth wearing a pair of shiny white iPod / iPhone buds. Boom, here comes a new planet -- a red, gaseous one with an "M" logo on it -- that pimps a bunch of wild features we'll be seeing in the Xoom like a dual-core processor, upgradeable 4G, and Honeycomb out of the box. In closing, Moto says "it's time to live a free life." We would've liked to have seen Motorola follow a format closer to that 1984 commercial, but it's a pretty well-played jab nonetheless -- and it's conceivable that this is just a teaser for the actual ad that'll air next weekend. Follow the break to check it out.

Continue reading Motorola teases Xoom Super Bowl ad: '2011 looks a lot like 1984'

Motorola teases Xoom Super Bowl ad: '2011 looks a lot like 1984' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIZIO Super Bowl ad pushes internet connected HDTVs in a big way

Richard Lawler — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:36:00 EST

We weren't sure exactly what Beyonce, David Goes to the Dentist and Chocolate Rain all had in common, but VIZIO squeezed them all into its Super Bowl ad. Still striving to remake its reputation from being merely a cheap HDTV manufacturer to a premium one offering lots of features, the ad (embedded after the break) shows how it's bringing "the best of the internet" with VIZIO Internet Apps. We still need to see if its picture quality will measure up and whether the widget experience has gotten any better (read: faster) in 2010 to be truly convinced, but a slick ad never hurt.

Continue reading VIZIO Super Bowl ad pushes internet connected HDTVs in a big way

VIZIO Super Bowl ad pushes internet connected HDTVs in a big way originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget HD: Is this the best time to buy a new HDTV?

Richard Lawler — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:30:00 EST

It's the week of the Super Bowl and with the sales pages full of shiny new HDTVs one of the most frequent questions has risen again - is this the right time to buy a new HDTV? We'll let Manu put this one in the atmosphere:

"With the Super Bowl coming up, it got me thinking - what's the best time to buy an HDTV with regards to price? I'm assuming right before the new ones come out, but when exactly is that? Or is that not even the right time?"

There it is, simple and plain. Is this the time to buy, do you wait a few months for 2009's HDTVs to thin out and the new 2010 models to hit, or are you bargain hunting on Black Friday? Of course, if anyone has spotted a particularly sweet deal, feel free to let us all know where in the comments.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Ask Engadget HD: Is this the best time to buy a new HDTV? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Level 3 to deliver uncompressed HD broadcast from Super Bowl XLIV

Richard Lawler — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:39:00 EST

We're still not sure if this has any noticeable result on picture quality, but Level 3 has announced its going to assist in delivering Super Bowl XLIV's feed uncompressed from the site back to CBS headquarters in New York. Instead of being compressed onsite in a production truck then sent to the studio and stations where it's compressed again, this could help CBS bring a more high quality signal home. If you've been watching Denver Broncos home games, you've seen Level 3's Vyvx broadcast network at work, we'll see how beautiful it keeps things looking in Miami on Sunday.

Level 3 to deliver uncompressed HD broadcast from Super Bowl XLIV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Best HD sporting event this month?

Richard Lawler — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST

Yeah we know March has laid claim to the Madness title, but for such a short month the sports lineup for February is out of control. Kicking off with Winter X Games 14 this weekend and leading into the Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and Winter Olympics there's more than enough reasons for us to stay inside and out of the cold than ever. So which event are you most excited to see?

View Poll

Poll: Best HD sporting event this month? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Totally blow out the big game! Part V: Super Bowl XLIV

Richard Lawler — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:51:00 EST

Sure, the Wall Street Journal says there's only 11 minutes of actual action in every NFL game, but on Super Bowl Sunday we'll be prepped to catch every one of them -- and all the commercials, play stoppages and halftime shows in between -- in the best quality possible. The Colts and Saints both came close to racking up undefeated regular season records but missed, due either to lackluster play and late season injuries or just a decision to play Curtis Painter. While that means the '72 Dolphins get to hang onto a glorious past for one more year, these pass-happy offenses of the future are expected to light up the scoreboard all night and we'll need to make sure our equipment is up to par for a 2010 Super Bowl experience.

Continue reading Totally blow out the big game! Part V: Super Bowl XLIV

Totally blow out the big game! Part V: Super Bowl XLIV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CBS lays out its HD broadcast plan for Super Bowl XLIV

Richard Lawler — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:06:00 EST

We're still working out our attack plan for the Super Bowl but CBS is more than ready for the big game with a significantly larger outlay of cameras and equipment than it brings to regular season games. Broadcasting & Cable learned from VP of engineering, operations and production services Ken Aagaard that its setup is "eerily similar" to the one CBS used for SB XLI two years ago, upping the number of HD cameras to 50 from 48 including a healthy mix of manned, unmanned handheld, fixed, RF and super-slo-mo setups among them. New for 2010 are cameras capable of up to 450 fps for replays, plus "HyperZoom" graphics tracking to magnify the smallest details of a play -- like whether or not Meachem made that catch in overtime -- a new virtual system to extend the goalposts upwards on field goals and an impressive network of servers for replays.

CBS lays out its HD broadcast plan for Super Bowl XLIV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola buys Super Bowl ad spot

Nilay Patel — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:46:00 EST

Looks like Motorola's fully back in the game: not only does it have the hottest Android device you can (currently) buy in the Droid, word today is that the company's dished out somewhere between $2.5 and $3 million for at least one Super Bowl commercial. It's been a while since Motorola last spent so lavishly on an ad campaign, so we're super curious to see what device the ad is for -- the safe bet is obviously the Droid, but CES could bring both the AT&T-destined Backflip and Sholes Tablet, so it's all up in the air. Our main hope? The return of HELLO MOTO.

Motorola buys Super Bowl ad spot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blu-ray releases on June 2nd 2009

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:49:00 EST

What an improvement from last week's unimpressive slate. Not only do we have a few day-and-dates like Defiance and He's Just Not that into You, but we also have the greatest Blu-ray demo disc since Planet Earth from the BBC in the way of Nature's Most Amazing Events -- yes they are very amazing, but we still prefer the original name Nature's Great Events. But that's not all, as we are also getting the fourth season of Weeds as well as a number of classic catalogs worth checking out like The Gradute and Fletch.

Defiance (Paramount)
Revolutionary Road (Paramount)
Nature's Most Amazing Events (BBC)
He's Just Not That Into You (Warner)
NFL: Road to Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers (Warner)
Spring Breakdown (Warner)
Weeds: Season Four (Lionsgate)
Home (Fox)
Air Force One (Sony)
Anaconda (Sony)
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Sony)
Glory (Sony)
Bruce Almighty (Universal)
Inside Man (Universal)
Fletch (Universal)
Dark Blue (MGM)
Navy Seals (MGM)
The Graduate (MGM)
Out of Time (MGM)
Road House (MGM)
Rollerball (MGM)
Walking Tall (MGM)
Direct Contact (First Look)
Elsewhere (E1)

Filed under: Blu-ray

Blu-ray releases on June 2nd 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio Super Bowl ad kicks off million dollar 55-inch LCD giveaway

Richard Lawler — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:58:00 EST

Forget the 3D, Vizio's "If your TV doesn't say Vizio...you spent too much" ad (embedded after the break if you haven't seen it yet) probably had viewers nodding knowingly at their V nameplate, being restrained from throwing objects through their (presumably overpriced) display, or wondering where the upstart manufacturer turned premium brand got the stones to call out THEIR high quality HDTV. Whatever your reaction was, you probably like free stuff, and Vizio apparently didn't blow it's whole marketing load on a plain-jane $3 million Super Bowl ad, stashing away another million dollars worth of 50,000:1 contrast ratio 55-inch XVT model LCDs in 28 weekly drawings from now until August 14. Check the website for details (visits are apparently up 400% since the ad, hopefully not too many of those were offended plasma owners), unless you're holding out for the new models.

[Via PR Newswire]

Continue reading Vizio Super Bowl ad kicks off million dollar 55-inch LCD giveaway

Filed under: Misc, Others, LCD

Vizio Super Bowl ad kicks off million dollar 55-inch LCD giveaway originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did NBC's promotional shove help or hurt 3D?

Richard Lawler — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:44:00 EST

Love it or hate it, 3D has been on a tear in 2009, and it enjoyed the biggest audience yet over the last two nights with a quick Super Bowl ad and follow up hour long 3D episode of Chuck, both on NBC. However, given the mixed opinions, and the questionable tech used to bring 3D to homes that aren't really equipped to deal with it, we're not sure if the movement went forward or backwards last night. Our friends at Cinematical and TV Squad have chipped in opinions on the Monsters vs. Aliens promo (embedded after the break) and special TV event, but what about you? As a glasses-only affair it required an audience a bit more prepared than usual than usual for TV, and there were plenty of chances for problems and misunderstanding. PR reps for theater 3D companies were quick to point out their stereoscopic technology provides much higher quality (we agree) than you saw on NBC, and while that begs the question why bother at all, it seems like the chance to seed the potential of 3D -- even with a subpar anaglyph display -- was too big of an opportunity to ignore.

Read - I don't care what NBC is saying... 3D on TV still doesn't work
Read - Poll: Did You Like The 3D Superbowl Movie Commercials?

Continue reading Did NBC's promotional shove help or hurt 3D?

Filed under: NBC, Primetime

Did NBC's promotional shove help or hurt 3D? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon's FiOS playing big role in Super Bowl XLIII

Darren Murph — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:18:00 EST

If you can't quite afford a ticket to attend Super Bowl XLIII, you may still be able to get close enough to feel the noise. If so, there's a decent chance you'll be enjoying the action nearby courtesy of Verizon. This year, said operator has become the first ever "non-partner" vendor allowed in the NFL Experience, as it was selected to wire the Tampa Convention Center and several affiliated hotels in the area with its FiOS fibers. All told, the outfit laid some 14,000 years of fiber in downtown Tampa is preparation for the big game, and FiOS TV will power 143 TVs throughout five downtown venues. Additionally, 116 FiOS TV set-top-boxes were installed along with 138 data lines, though there's no telling if any of this will remain after fans pack up and head home. More details are just past the break.

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Filed under: Fiber, Sports

Verizon's FiOS playing big role in Super Bowl XLIII originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Bowl XLIII airing in 230 countries, over half in HD

Darren Murph — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:03:00 EST

Man, what a difference a year makes. In 2008 we saw that Super Bowl XLII would be aired in 28 countries around the world, and this year that number is increasing substantially to 230. A grand total of 61 international broadcasters will televise the game in 34 languages, with the high-def signal going to 19 broadcast partners in 152 countries. DTS also notes that its Neural Surround technology will be tapped in order to deliver "5.1-channel" sound to international viewers through "any consumer surround sound system." The live action kicks off at 6:00PM ET this Sunday, and given the abundance of partners, you should be able to catch it (even in HD) almost anywhere in the world.

Filed under: Other formats

Super Bowl XLIII airing in 230 countries, over half in HD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIZIO does it big time with own Super Bowl ad

Darren Murph — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:01:00 EST

We've always respected those who practiced what they preached, and we've got to give it to VIZIO here -- it's definitely standing by its word of switching marketing gears from discount to high-quality. The company famous for delivering HDTVs at rock bottom prices has just announced that it will air a commercial in this year's Super Bowl, and at around $3 million per slot, you know it'll be worth watching. Of course, you probably shouldn't expect scantily clad females or overdone explosions, as the company's co-founder and VP of sales and marketing Laynie Newsome has stated that the spot is one that's "simple and speaks directly to its customers." Low-key and Super Bowl? Those don't mix, do they?

Filed under: Displays, Others, Advertising, Sports

VIZIO does it big time with own Super Bowl ad originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What recession? CEA sees the Super Bowl selling 2.6 million HDTVs

Richard Lawler — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:16:00 EST

Despite the economy, it looks like a lot of people love their in-laws, with things looking good enough for a Consumer Electronics Association survey to indicate 2.6 million HDTVs will be sold as a result of the Super Bowl (are you ready?), up from the two million predicted last year. For the year the group sees sales rising to 29.8 million (out of 34.5 million total digital TVs), topping 2008's tally by a good three million, mostly because prices have continued to drop. Probably due to that price factor, plasma TVs are expected to make up only 10 percent of the year's sales. Still not buying an HDTV for the Super Bowl? Don't worry, there's always March Madness, the Oscars, World Cup, World Table Tennis Championships, the day after next Tuesday...

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Sports

What recession? CEA sees the Super Bowl selling 2.6 million HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Surface being used to coordinate Super Bowl security

Nilay Patel — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:36:00 EST

If you've been watching the news this week, you might have caught NFL security VP Milton Ahlerich saying that Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will be "one the safest locations you can possibly be" during the Super Bowl on Sunday, and it looks like Microsoft Surface will be a big reason why: it's being used to coordinate security forces around the site. It's seriously slick -- maps are integrated with planning and voice communications software so the field commanders can immediately assess incident responses and personnel deployments, with the ability to initiate radio contact directly from the interface. Definitely much cooler than zooming in and out of photos and ordering drinks, we'd say -- video after the break.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Microsoft Surface being used to coordinate Super Bowl security originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey finds that HD Super Bowl could bring families together

Darren Murph — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:53:00 EST

We've seen some pretty outlandish survey results before, but this might just take top honors. A Samsung-commissioned poll has revealed that "an HDTV can entice your spouse to visit the in-laws, even for the Super Bowl, if it means viewing football in high-definition." Heard that? Your family could actually grow fonder of one another if your in-laws are showing the Super Bowl in high-def. The actual results were that 43 percent would make the trek to their in-laws if they could count on watching the big game in HD, with 50 percent of that subset being men and 34 percent being women. The survey also found that 81 percent felt image quality was more important than food, and we're left to wonder what on Earth those other 19 percent are drinking so heavily. Check the read link for even more laughs.

[Image courtesy of PBase]

Filed under: Industry, Misc, Sports

Survey finds that HD Super Bowl could bring families together originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prepared for Super Bowl XLIII? Here's how.

Darren Murph — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Believe it or not, Super Bowl XLIII is but days away. If you've been putting off that home theater expansion, the time to get serious is now. We've hosted up a handy guide to get your abode totally ready for hosting a rather monumental bash, so why not head over to Engadget Classic and check it out? We're not responsible for the condition of your wallet should you follow each and every recommendation, but we are guaranteeing that it's a darn good recipe for joviality.

Filed under: Displays, Media PCs, Other hardware, Recorders, Speakers, Sports

Prepared for Super Bowl XLIII? Here's how. originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monsters vs. Aliens 3D promo gets detailed

Darren Murph — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:25:00 EST

For those searching for a few more details on how exactly the Monsters vs. Aliens 3D trailer will be seen on Super Bowl Sunday, you've arrived at the right place. According to a new AP report on the topic, around 150 million 3D glasses will be given away for free at Pepsi / SoBe Life Water displays at 28,000 locations including grocery, drug and electronics stores and big-box retailers -- in other words, you shouldn't have to look hard to find 'em. The three minute promo will utilize Intel's InTru 3D and ColorCode 3-D technologies, which are said to be far superior to the old red-blue Anaglyph system. In fact, those without 3D glasses will still be able to make out what's going on. Oh, and if you were even the slightest bit curious as to how serious DreamWorks Animation is about pulling this off, get a load of this: the outfit's CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg is calling the stunt "perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history," noting that it will involve "tens of millions of dollars." Gulp.

[Image courtesy of AP Photo/Matt Sayles]

Filed under: Other formats, NBC, Primetime

Monsters vs. Aliens 3D promo gets detailed originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monsters vs. Aliens trailer, Chuck to air in 3D in February on NBC

Darren Murph — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:27:00 EST

This won't come as any surprise to folks watching the absolutely thrilling Chargers vs. Colts matchup on NBC, but 3D has officially hit the mainstream. NBC has been feverishly pushing a 3D airing of a Monsters vs. Aliens trailer on Super Bowl Sunday, and a 3D episode of Chuck will follow later in February. We were even blasted with a shot of Jerome Bettis rockin' some super ugly 3D glasses, of which you'll be able to procure yourself for free in the coming weeks at select Pepsi and Sobe kiosks. Obviously, since the ads were shown to all watching tonight's tilt, no special television will be needed to enjoy the eye-popping content; now, let's just wait and see if any 3D clips are snuck into the actual Super Bowl.

[Via TVByTheNumbers]

Filed under: Other formats, NBC

Monsters vs. Aliens trailer, Chuck to air in 3D in February on NBC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Bowl XLIII to boast interactive commercials

Darren Murph — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:07:00 EST

For years now, companies have sought to produce the most engaging advertisement on the eve of the Super Bowl here in America. In just a few months, however, they'll be vying for something else -- your clicks. Canadian sportscaster Le Réseau des Sports has confirmed that both SD and HD broadcasts of Super Bowl XLIII will feature commercials that are "enabled with interactive functionality permitting viewers to opt-in and hyperlink directly from the RDS network to long-form video content." Additionally, viewers will be able to bookmark that content for future viewing. Details of how the links and on-demand material will work are still fuzzy, but it's apt to function a lot like the TV-to-Internet ad platform that's already out courtesy of Backchannelmedia. The bar just got raised a few rungs higher, and we're pretty stoked to see what happens next.

Filed under: Industry, Advertising, Sports

Super Bowl XLIII to boast interactive commercials originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Micro Matic v-POD weds beer dispenser and LCD TV

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST

It's two things that are inevitably tied to one another each Sunday -- LCD TVs and alcohol. Now, Micro Matic is bringing them together like never before, and only the most serious of in-home bartenders need apply. The v-POD comes in a couple of shapes and colors to best suit your needs, with the stainless steel Kool-Rite boasting a half-dozen taps, stereo speakers and an inbuilt 10-inch LCD. Now, if only these were available with slightly larger HDTVs and price tags nowhere near the three grand mark, we'd be talking.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, Household

Micro Matic v-POD weds beer dispenser and LCD TV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Micro Matic v-POD weds beer dispenser and LCD TV

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Misc, Displays, Other hardware, LCD

Micro Matic v-POD weds beer dispenser and LCD TV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's Hot Ticket program brings live events to theaters at $20 a pop

Joshua Fruhlinger — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:21:00 EST

If you're a live event nut but live in the sticks, listen up: Sony is about to bring live performances to digital theaters with its new Hot Ticket program. Sony will broadcast Broadway shows, concerts, and sports events to around 500 digital theaters, live and in HD digital projection for about $20 a seat. The venture will launch with Cirque du Soleil's final performance of Delirium from London and for the two of you who haven't seen it yet, Rent's final Broadway performance will be shown in September. We have to admit, though, this could create some fun SuperBowl parties with rival factions on either side of the aisle, Congress style.

Filed under: Industry, Sony, Projector, Sports

Sony's Hot Ticket program brings live events to theaters at $20 a pop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 May 2008 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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