Gizmo Lovers Blog » Logitech

Refurbished Logitech Revue with Google TV Just $79.99 At Amazon

MegaZone — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:39:22 +0000

It launched at $299.99, then the price was slashed to $249.99, $199.99, and finally $99.99. You can’t really call the Logitech Revue a success. But you can call it a solid product, and much improved now that the Google TV 2.0 update has been deployed. Google TV is really a pretty solid streaming STB platform, and I only expect it to get better. Google seems to be very solidly committed to it. The Logitech Revue is a good product, and at $80 for a refurbished unit it is a steal.

With the release of SlingPlayer for Logitech Revue it can act as a SlingCatcher – only better than the SlingCatcher ever was, and a lot less expensive. Logitech is getting out of the Google TV game, and when the existing stocks of the Revue are gone, that’s it. So if you think you might be interested, now is a good time to grab one cheap.

SlingPlayer for Google TV Now Available

MegaZone — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:26:05 +0000

During the lead up to the holidays Sling slipped out something we’ve been waiting for, SlingPlayer for Google TV. OK, they actually call it SlingPlayer for Logitech Revue for some reason, but it runs just fine on the Sony Google TV systems as well. This follows the launch for Boxee Box in November, and other recent client releases. As with the other recent launches you’ll need a Slingbox SOLO or PRO-HD, as SlingPlayer for Google TV only supports H.264 streaming.

Right now Amazon is selling a refurbished Logitech Revue for $79.99. So for $80 you can have a roll-your-own SlingCatcher with all of the features of Google TV. That’s a pretty solid deal.

There is one potential hitch. In a recent email newsletter Sling stated:“During this introductory period SlingPlayer for Logitech Revue is free! So, give it a try — you’re going to love it.” and“SlingPlayer for connected devices is free of charge in North America during this introductory period.” This seems to imply that after the introductory period is over, SlingPlayer for Logitech Revue will no longer be free. That’s not too surprising, they charge for all of their mobile clients too. Though it is getting a little ridiculous for us Android users as they now have three different versions, one for phones, one for tablets, and now one for Google TV, and they cost $30 each. It is perfectly feasible under the Android APIs to develop one client that works well on all three platforms. It is starting to feel like they’re milking the Android users for extra revenue.

Dave Zatz over on Zatz Not Funny noticed this as well. Dave thinks they may introduce monthly, or annual, subscription fees for these clients. I’m more inclined to think they’ll be priced as one-time purchases, just like the mobile clients. One-time purchases are more in-tune with the market on these devices and they’re easier for customers to swallow. Ongoing costs add up, and they’re harder to justify. I’d probably pay $30 for SlingPlayer on my Revue; even if I would resent it a bit since I’ve already purchased it for my phone, and will likely be purchasing it for my Transformer Prime when it arrives as well. But I’m not going to subscribe to it as a service. I just wouldn’t use it enough to justify that cost.

Black Friday Deals Over? Time for Best Buy’s Cyber Monday Deals

MegaZone — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:15:55 +0000

We just got done with the Thanksgiving Weekend, aka Black Friday, Deals and now Best Buy is hitting us with their ‘Cyber Sale’, or Cyber Monday Deals. And they have a healthy list of them.

Cyber Sale, 2 Days Only, Sunday-Monday. Online Only.
Sunday-Monday Only: Free $10 e-Gift Card with Store Pickup Orders of $100 or More.

Sunday-Monday Only: LG 32” Class ED 720p HDTV for $299.99.
Sunday-Monday Only: Great Home Theater Deals.
Sunday-Monday Only: Great iPod and MP3 Player Deals.
Sunday-Monday Only: All iPods on Sale.
Sunday-Monday Only: Great Music and Movies Deals.

Sunday-Monday Only: Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor, Sale $99.99.
Sunday-Monday Only: Select Kinect Games On Sale.
Sunday-Monday Only: Select Pre-Owned Games, $19.99.
Sunday-Monday Only: Buy Any Sims 3 Base, Expansion, or Stuff Pack, get the Second Item Free.
Sunday-Monday Only: $50 Off GoldenEye 007: Reloaded Double ‘O’ Edition Bundle for OPS3, Sale $99.99.
Sunday-Monday Only: Great Gaming and Gadget Deals.

Sunday-Monday Only: 25%-40% Off Select Digital Cameras.
Sunday-Monday Only: Free Bag and Memory Card with Select Digital Cameras.
Sunday-Monday Only: Free Bag with Select DSLR Cameras.
Sunday-Monday Only: 19%-41% Off Select Digital Camcorders.
Sunday-Monday Only: 5%-50% Off Select Digital Photo Frames.
Sunday-Monday Only: Great Digital Camera and Camcorder Deals.

Sunday-Monday Only: Motorola Droid 3 Mobile Phone, Free with a new 2-Year Contract from Verizon and Activation.
Sunday-Monday Only: HTC Wildfire S Mobile Phone, Free with a new 2-Year Contract from T-Mobile and Activation.
Sunday-Monday Only: Boost Mobile BlackBerry Style 9670 No-Contract Mobile Phone, Sale $149.99.
Sunday-Monday Only: Virgin Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8530 No-Contract Mobile Phone, Sale $99.99.
Sunday-Monday Only: Platinum Series MobileDock Dash/Windshield Mount, Sale $9.99.
Sunday-Monday Only: Great Mobile Phone Deals.

While the last round of deals included a link for the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer the link never seemed to work. The deal was only available in stores. I managed to grab one as a gift for someone else. I was still up at 4am Friday so I ran over to my local Best Buy. The Transformer was a ticketed item and all of the tickets were gone, but I managed to social engineer a tablet and keyboard dock from a Blue Shirt in a different department without a ticket. I normally wouldn’t go near a store on Black Friday, but $250 for the tablet and $100 for the dock was a very good deal.

Assorted Holiday Deals

MegaZone — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:40:26 +0000

A number of the site’s affiliates are running specials for holiday shoppers. Here’s a selection – and remember you can always support the site by using the links under the ‘Shop Gizmo Lovers’ entry in the top menu.

Some of these links may not yet be live, see the applicable dates!

Big Black Friday Savings on Select SanDisk Products! 11/25-11/28
Get Big Fish Game’s Be Richer for only 99¢ 11/25-11/28
$50 off Slingbox Pro HD with Free Shipping 11/25-11/28
30% – 50% off select Logitech products 11/24-11/30
Save $10 on PogoPlug Premium Software Download 11/21-12/2
Free 1 Year Upgrade when you purchase Lojack for Laptops 1 Year Subscription(Premium Only) 11/23-11/29
Save an extra $5 every month for 12 months on DIRECTV – through 11/30/11

Enjoy the specials!

SlingPlayer for Connected Devices Launches, Hits Boxee First

MegaZone — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:34:19 +0000

Sling Media seems to have woken up from their nap recently as they’ve started releasing new and updated products. Recently we’ve have SlingPlayer for Android Tablets, SlingPlayer for Facebook, and Chrome support added to watch.slingbox.com.

Things really seemed to slow down with Sling a couple of years ago. There hasn’t been a new Slingbox since the PRO-HD launched in late 2008. There was a flurry of mobile client development in 2008 and early 2009, but after the iPhone & iPad SlingPlayer released in May 2009 things really slowed down. All of the service provider products introduced at CES 2012 seem to have fallen flat. SlingPlayer Mobile for Android finally launched in June 2010 and versions for Windows Phone and an iPad optimized version shipped in November of that year. The Windows Phone version snuck out pretty much unnoticed, though that probably has something to do with the market share of Windows Phone being negligible, to put it kindly. There’s been some activity with Sling in India, and EchoStar launched a SlingLoaded Freesat DVR in the UK, but neither seems to have attracted much attention.

But now we have a flurry of new activity, and I hope it is a sign of what’s to come and not just another blip on the radar. The latest is SlingPlayer for Connected Devices, which is something of a redemption for the disastrous SlingCatcher. It can turn your Slingbox PRO-HD or SOLO (sorry, other models need not apply) into a ‘whole home’ solution by allowing you to access content from the living room on a TV in the bedroom. Or maybe the kids away at school can access the family DVR at home. It is what the SlingCatcher was supposed to provide, and much more since it is now part of a STB which offers other services.

Right now ‘Connected Devices’ means the D-Link Boxee Box and… that’s it. However, as Sling says:“More connected devices will be added soon. Watch this space for updates in the upcoming weeks.” We already know that Google TV is a planned platform for SlingPlayer, hopefully soon. Coming on top of the Google TV 2.0 update (still pending for the Revue, admittedly), it might be another reason to pick up a Logitech Revue Google TV box or bundle. The Boxee Box is $174.95 at Amazon while the Revue is only $99.99. Right now those are the only two ‘Connected Devices’ Sling has discussed for SlingPlayer.

Of course, the question a lot of people are asking is – Will this come to Roku? Roku is the 800 pound gorilla in the streaming STB market, and the new Roku 2 units are certainly more capable app platforms. They also clearly have the highest market penetration, and some of the lowest prices. I really have to think Sling would want to get SlingPlayer for Connected Devices on Roku, but we haven’t heard anything about it to date so don’t get your hopes up.

I wouldn’t bet on seeing it on AppleTV either, not unless/until Apple opens it up for 3rd party apps. Everyone expected them to do that after updating it to be based on iOS, but it still hasn’t happened. Maybe Sling can work with Apple to get the client on the box, like Netflix, but I’m not holding my breath. As for other streaming boxes – Popbox, Western Digital, etc. – no idea. None of the other devices really have much of a user base so it may not be worth the effort.

Sling’s released a video showing off SlingPlayer for Connected Devices on the Boxee Box:

I have to say I’m gratified to see this, and maybe even a bit vindicated. Back in 2008 when I worked at Sling Media the SlingCatcher was two years late and still unreleased. I argued that we should kill it and just not release it. While the design was leading edge when it was announced, the market had changed a great deal in the interim. The SlingCatcher’s inability to handle HD H.264 and limited WMV/VC-1 support, and general reliance on MPEG-2 for HD, was a major issue. Also, the PC software’s requirement that content be playing on the desktop to stream, while innovative when announced, had been surpassed by software like PlayOn and the ability to stream content directly from disk. I just felt that it was basically a two year old product at launch, and two year old consumer electronics products are no longer market leaders.

Instead I argued that Sling should take a different route. Roku was already hot and I suggested making deals with Roku and other companies to embed SlingPlayer in existing products. Put it on Roku, Media Center Extenders (which were more popular at the time), etc. Write a version in Blu-ray Java and distribute it on disc. That would turn any BD-Live Blu-ray deck into a SlingCatcher (I still think that’s a viable idea), and get it embedded into players when the vendor is willing. Netflix later used the exact same approach – using disc-based player software for platforms like the PS3 until they could get an official client embedded in the firmware. Speaking of the PS3, game consoles were another platform I argued Sling should pursue – and I still believe they should.

Of course, in the end I lost the argument, the SlingCatcher shipped and bombed, and I got fired for something else. It is three years later, but it is still good to see SlingPlayer finally hitting other platforms. I think place shifting companies like Sling Media and Monsoon Multimedia need to take a different approach. Stop charging, or at least charging so much, for client software, and get the clients on as many platforms as possible. Ideally, publish the APIs so 3rd parties can build in client support to their platforms, developers can create unique clients for niche platforms, etc. My idea is to get the clients out there, as much as possible.

You want ubiquity. Because once the clients are everywhere, people have a reason to buy your hardware to feed those clients. And that’s where you make your money. If the consumer already has devices with SlingPlayer functionality, it gives them more reason to buy a Slingbox. Create a demand – the player – that only you can supply – with the box – and then sell the supply side.

Maybe this is the start.

Google TV Updated – Three Weeks Ago

MegaZone — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:23:55 +0000

Sometimes there is just too much to cover and not enough time in the day and things get backed up. I’ve actually had tabs open in Chrome for this news for weeks, and I’m finally getting it out.

Back on October 28th, Google officially announced the update to Google TV. Good news for those who snapped up the Logitech Revue when the price was slashed to $99.99. Or maybe this is what you were waiting for to grab one yourself – or bundled with the web cam for $199.98. It is a very capable streaming STB and Google seems committed to it, even if it wasn’t a smashing success out of the gate. They did just add Google Music support to it as well.

The Google TV update bumps the platform to a base of Android 3.1 Honeycomb and brings a whole new UI which adopts a lot of the conventions from Honeycomb. It is much cleaner and simpler, and I think it is a needed improvement. There is a new TV & Movies app which helps users find content across all sources – TV or OTT. There is also a new YouTube application which greatly improves the experience. But, of course, the biggest, and most anticipated addition, is 3rd party app support via the Android Market. There are already a number of apps optimized for Google TV, with more to come. And general Android applications can run on Google TV as long as they don’t have HW needs it doesn’t support – such as a touchscreen, GPS, or telephony.

They released a short video highlighting the changes for those who already had Google TV:

They’ve also released several videos promoting the new Google TV in general, or highlighting specific features, such as Search or Photos:

They also did a Google+ Hangout Q&A with Google TV Product Manager Jurek Foryciarz and the video is available on YouTube, though embedding is disabled so you’ll have to watch it there. There is some interesting info in there, such as that they’re working on NDK support so more Android apps, especially games, will be able to run on Google TV. He also states that Google TV will be moving to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is something I’ve seen a lot of questions about around the net. If you’re interested in the future of Google TV it is really worth watching – or at least listening too since the video is just him talking.

A Peak at the Coming Google TV Upgrade

MegaZone — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:45:45 +0000

As I’ve mentioned before, Google TV stumbled out of the gate due to a combination of factors – high prices, limited features, lack of polish, etc. Google TV efforts were effectively put on hold once it became obvious it needed an overhaul to compete, and we’re been waiting for that upgrade for many months now. The overhaul will take the form of an OS upgrade to one based on Android 3.1 Honeycomb, which will bring a new UI with new functionality, most importantly access to the Android Market for apps. Running apps will really bust Google TV open on the feature front, and could inject new life into the platform. There are already a number of apps specifically for Google TV. It seems like Google is willing to keep plugging away at it, as they did with Android on smartphones, and integrating new services like Google Movies and Google Music are likely to be a big part of it.

Of course, first we need the update. And while it was promised for ‘summer’, that came and went with nothing more than a rough leak. Now there are indications that the upgrade will finally land in November, and Zatz Not Funny got their hands on a number of screenshots from the new software. Personally I think it looks pretty good and I’m looking forward to it.

Save $50 on a Logitech Revue Google TV Unit Bundled with a Logitech TV Cam

MegaZone — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:46:12 +0000

Logitech recently slashed the price in their Revue Google TV box to just $99.99. Now you can save an extra $50 on a Logitech Revue with Google TV + TV Cam Combo. The combo is just $199.98, instead of the full $249.98 – $99.99 for the Revue and $149.99 for the TV Cam. That’s a 20% savings.

The TV Cam allows you to make high-definition video calls via your HDTV and Revue. You can connect with people on other Google TV units, on on a PC. All they need is a Logitech Vid account and you can easily connect with them.

And while you’re at it, check out Logitech’s “scratch and dent” sale – cosmetically marred or refurbished items at a discount.

Honeycomb for the Logitech Revue Leaks, Adventurous Apply Within

MegaZone — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 06:25:06 +0000

If you’re like me and you jumped on the Logitech Revue at the new $99.99 price, then you may be interested in this news. While the new Android Honeycomb-based OS is due for official release later this year, the Android hacking community got Honeycomb running on the Revue already, and the install process has leaked out. It is, unsurprisingly, quite similar to rooting an Android phone and installing a custom ROM.

Phandroid has all of the details:

Copy the update.zip to a Fat32 formatted USB drive, place it in its root (ie /mnt/usb/update.zip or E:\update.zip)
Plug USB drive into Revue. Fully unplug revue. Plug it back in, count to One (a long one, say one mississippi), then hold down the connect button (keep it held). The Revue logo will come up, and the box will reboot, your tv will lose signal, and come back to the Revue logo. At this point, let go of the button.
The GTV logo will then show up, with an arrow and a horizontal “barbershop scroll”. At this point, on your Revue’s keyboard, press the FN key (in yellow) and the left arrow (to the left of the OK button). It will then come up to a recovery menu.
Hit “Apply update from sdcard:/update.zip”
The box will verify the update, and reboot. This is normal. It is installing an updated bootloader and recovery image (both, heavily encrypted).
Then, the box will come back on, and flash the latest kernel and system files. Once this is done, the box will reboot again.
This bootup may take a few minutes, at first you will see the Revue logo, then the Google TV logo, then the “new” logo (a grey tv over a ball glowing red). Just wait it out.
You can then begin setup, as normal. You may notice some crashes – this software is still beta, you should be able to force close and continue.

If the above update.zip download link doesn’t work try this one.

So, if you want to live life on the wild side, go for it.

Via Akihabara News, from Phandroid, which got it from GTVHacker.

Logitech Revue Google TV Box Pricing Drops to $99.99

MegaZone — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:06:12 +0000

Initially launched last October at a $299.99 price point, later reduced to $249.99, and then further reduced to $199.99 this May, the Logitech Revue Google TV box hasn’t been what one could call a sales success. Logitech has suffered from extensive returns from their distributors and resellers, taking a big hit to the bottom line in the process. To help improve the sales prospects of the unit last week Logitech announced that they’d be dropping the price again, to $99.99. And today the new price went into effect.

You can now buy the Logitech Revue for $99.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, or direct from Logitech. At the original $299.99 price I thought it was way too expensive to recommend, or bother getting one myself. But at the new $99.99 price I think it is a viable contender, and I just ordered one to play with.

Google TV is certainly rough around the edges today, but it has a lot of potential. It is based on the Android operating system, but the first version, what is available today, is pretty limited. You have some of the standards we’ve come to expect – like Netflix, Pandora, and Amazon – but compared to a unit like Roku it is a pretty limited selection. Fortunately, that’s expected to change in a big way later this summer. Google TV is getting an update to a new version based on Android 3.1 Honeycomb, the latest & greatest version of Android, as used on tablets. Along with this update the Android App Market will be hitting Google TV, and you’ll be able to download apps just as you can on your Android smartphone. And 3rd party developers will be able to develop apps to do anything, just like the phones. And all existing Google TV devices, including the newly affordable Revue, will get this update. So it isn’t just what it can do now, it is what it will do in a few months that makes it a decent value at the new price.

I’d love to see Google TV integrated tightly with TiVo, as it is with Dish Network DVRs today. The potential is certainly there, with TiVo’s network remote control functionality on the Series3 and later boxes. I’m not a developer, so I don’t know if this is something the Google TV API would allow 3rd party developers to do, but I suspect not since it is more a core feature of the platform.

I think Google really stumbled out of the gate with Google TV, but they’re not stupid and they learn from their mistakes. Everything
they’ve shown relating to Google TV 2.0 looks pretty impressive. They’ve learned several lessons from the tepid response and harsh reviews of the first version, unfortunately Logitech took a real financial hit to help drive those lessons home. I think Googleis learning that the physical world is a bit different than operating online, where you can launch an incomplete product and get away with it by calling it a ‘beta’ and making it free. People aren’t as happy with half-baked products when they have to pay real money for them, especially several times what competing products cost (such as Roku). You really need to get it right the first time, then continue to improve it. Not ship something functional but overly limited, then make it awesome in a later update. First impressions are important. Google is big enough to recover from a fumble, but it doesn’t serve them to get their partners, like Logitech, beat up in the market due to product shortcomings.

One odd quirk caused by the repricing, the optional Mini Controller for the Revue at $129.99 now costs more than the Revue with it’s included full size keyboard. But then, it is optional and the keyboard that comes with the Revue is all you really need. Not to mention the remote control apps available for Android or iOS devices.

It will also be interesting to see what happens with pricing on the Boxee Box by D-Link. The MSRP is currently $229.99, and with the reduction on the Revue and the existing low pricing on Roku boxes, the main competition, it stands out as a high priced box. The Popbox is $129.99, which is a bit high but still close. It really looks like $99.99 is the new price to match, or beat, in the media STB market, thanks mainly to Roku.

As a big fan of Android on my phone, and Google products in general, I’m looking forward to having my own Revue so I can play with Google TV. For $300 I was curious but reserved, for $100 I’ll bite.

Initial announcement spotted last week in Engadget.