Gizmo Lovers Blog » Windows Phone

Understanding the Bandwidth Needs of SlingPlayer

MegaZone — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:53:20 +0000

Sling Media’s SlingSupport channel released this video which helps explain the bandwidth requirements for SlingPlayer for streaming content. While tech geeks likely already understand everything in the video, I think it is useful for the less technical user who may not understand why their streaming quality will vary when streaming from their Slingbox.

The video also clearly states the requirements for streaming in high quality (HQ) mode. SlingPlayer for iPad and SlingPlayer for Android tablets require 800kbps over 3G or 4G networks, and 1200kbps over WiFi. SlingPlayer for iPhone/iPod Touch, SlingPlayer for Android phones, and SlingPlayer for Windows Phone requires 500kbps over 3G or 4G networks and 800kbps over WiFi. Note those are the minimum speeds required for streaming HQ, higher speeds will provide better quality. If you can’t get those speeds you should stream in standard quality (SQ) mode. If you leave SlingPlayer it ‘auto’ it should figure it out and set the mode correctly.

You Thought $111.11 Was A Good Price on a Droid RAZR? How about $.01? Other Phones Too!

MegaZone — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:07:24 +0000

If you thought the $111.11 launch pricing on the Droid RAZR on 11/11 was good, you’ll love the Amazon Wireless Penny-Pincher Sale. Well, unless you bought the RAZR for $111.11 and now realize you could’ve saved $111.10 by waiting a little while.

But that’s not all; if you buy a phone with mobile hotspot capabilities and you actually activate them, Amazon will give you a $100 Amazon Gift Card.

The catch? All of this is for new activations only. The official word:

For a limited time only, all phones from Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T with a new line of service are on sale for a penny and include standard FREE Two-Day Shipping. Offer valid between midnight PDT November 21, 2011, through 11:59 p.m. PDT November 28, 2011, while supplies last. Plus, if you buy an eligible hotspot-ready smartphone and activate the hotspot feature, you’ll get a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card

There are 97 different devices to choose from. Mostly Android, unsurprisingly, but also WebOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and even non-smartphones. But why would you get a non-smartphone with this deal? You have one week, start shopping.

Android Kicking Ass and Taking Names

MegaZone — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:40:15 +0000

Asymco has produced some graphs showing the amazing arc Android growth is on. These are units shipped, not sold, granted, but it is still a comparison between platforms. Smartphone market penetration is now over 30% of the total phone market. Android has a dominant lead with 17.6% of the overall phone market, the iPhone has a quarter of that with 4.4% of the total market. It is rounded out by Symbian with 4.3%, Blackberry with 2.76%, Samsung’s Bada with 1%, and Windows Phone brings up the rear with 0.5%. Android has really had a meteoric rise since it launched three years ago.

Looking at a graph of market share by smartphone vendor, the precipitous decline of Nokia is painfully obvious, and it looks like RIM isn’t doing so well either. On the other hand, you can see the rapid rise of Samsung. Samsung has claimed 26% of the global smartphone market, becoming the largest vendor. Apple slipped from 19% to close to 14%, but that could be due to anticipation of the iPhone 4S (the figures are from before the launch). Nokia has toppled from the top of the heap to under 14% in roughly a year. HTC overtook RIM with 11% to 9% as the former continues to gain market share and the latter loses it. Sony has approximately 6%, LG 5%, and Motorola 4%.

Unsurprisingly the units shipped by vendor closely aligns with the market share of each vendor. The sheer number of devices being shipped is really impressive.

Via Droid Life.

TiVoNetRemote for Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

MegaZone — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:59:00 +0000

I’ve posted in the past about TiVo Commander, TiVoRemote, RCX for TiVo, and other apps for Android. And iOS, of course, has official TiVo app support, as well as third party apps like i.TV and DVR Remote. (Android users continue to wait for the promised official apps from TiVo.) And now Windows Phone 7.5, aka Mango, users have a TiVo remote control app of their own, the $1.99 TiVoNetRemote.

Like most of the other apps, TiVoNetRemote works with the TiVo Series3, TiVo HD, and the TiVo Premiere family via the Network Remote Control feature. Also like the other apps, it includes a keyboard for easy text entry, like the TiVo Slide Remote. If you have a Windows Phone that’s been upgraded to 7.5, or you buy one of the new 7.5 devices, and you have a TiVo, it is worth checking the apps out. And there is a free trial version if you can’t bear to part with two bucks.

App screenshots:

Via WMPowerUser.com.