Gizmodo: locationfree

Sony Planning to Drop $30 LocationFree License Fee

Sean Fallon — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:00:38 EST

According to Maximum PC, sometime between now and the end of the month Sony will formally announce the end of their obnoxious $30 LocationFree PC serial key license fee (rhyming!). Currently, if you want to install the software on multiple PCs you would have to cough up the extra dough. The move is believed to be in response to the stiff competition Sony faces from companies like Sling Media, who have always offered software for their Slingbox free of charge. [Maximum PC]

Sony LF-V30 LocationFree Video Streamer Reviewed (Verdict: Not Bad)

Charlie White — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:06:57 EDT

Ever since Sony introduced us to the LF-V30 LocationFree Base Station last summer, we were wondering if this place-shifting Slingbox precursor could deliver the goods. Now our buddies at Maximum PC have taken the VAIO-branded video streamer for a test drive, calling the image quality from its new HD-source-handling component inputs "excellent" even though it's downscaled to a puny 320x240 pixels. They also dug its Wi-Fi connectivity and ability to act as a wireless access point, a feature retained from the earlier Sony LocationFree LF-B20.

However, the Max PC guys told us behind the scenes that this LF-V30's feature set is still "markedly inferior to the Slingbox." They also smack down clueless Sony for charging $30 for the necessary PC viewing software, an uncalled-for ripoff. Even so, the Maximum PC verdict is still respectable, giving the LF-V30 a 7 out of 10. [Maximum PC]

Sony LocationFree, Now in HD

Mark Wilson — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 08:33:19 EDT

Sony is stepping up their LocationFree game, now supporting HD transmission through this new transmitter/receiver pair, the LF-W1HD kit. The catch? Well, there are two, actually.

First, the HD signal is not your source signal but an MPEG4 compressed product. Sony claims the picture has somewhere near 96% fidelity, which is still pretty good in our book.

Second, the transmitter doesn't have HDMI input. The receiving unit supports the format, but apparently Sony can't deal with transcoding and transmitting the HDMI data—or finds the prospect too expensive. Ugh. Deal breaker? I think so.

The LF-W1HD kit is slated for a December 1st release at about $430. Japan only. [press release via impress]

Sony's Location Free LF-V30 Gets HD and Vaio Branding

Brian Lam — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:01:39 EDT

It won't stream HD, but Sony's newest LocationFree TV (and Slingbox competitor) will take HD video sources by component cables, down sample them to QVGA, and spit em across your network or the internet to laptops running the Location Free TV clientware. (I believe Sling does higher res on a LAN, and their Pro unit already does HD by component.) Oh, this one gets VAIO branding, too. The question is, who will be the first to do HDMI?

NetFront LocationFree Player For Windows Mobile PPC

Jason Chen — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:40:57 EST

If you've managed to buy yourself a Sony LocationFree to stream your TV to wherever you are, you might as well hock up another $19 and watch shows on your Windows Mobile phone as well. NetFront's LocationFree player for Pocket PC lets you stream MPEG4 over the air—or more likely, over Wi-Fi—from your Sony LocationFree at home to your phone on the go.

Using the phone, you can also operate external devices, fast forward and rewind—same as on any other LocationFree streaming device. Not a bad looking player UI-wise, and the video quality actually looks somewhat watchable consdering that you're stuck on a 320x240 screen. – Jason Chen

Pinnacle PCTV To Go: Slingbox Fighter?

Brian Lam — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:07:15 EST

Slingbox and Sony's Location Free TV have a Placeshifting competitor on their hands. And let's face it, Location Free TV isn't really competition to Slingbox, so really the question is, will Pinnacle have the balls to bring it to Sling?

This media streamer isn't HD, like the Slingbox Pro. It is wireless, and sends MPEG-2 over the home network, and MPEG-4 over the internet. For now, it seems as if it only works with PCs, while the Slingbox works with Macs, Windows Mobile devices like the Moto Q, and soon, Nokia devices running Symbian.

Let's see: Pinnacle has tons of experience in processing video, but very little in the networking game. Both are important when it comes to building a solid placeshifting gadget. But given the sometimes shoddy consumer equipment that I've seen out of Pinnacle, I doubt this will be a worry free setup.

So, the odds are in Sling's favor, but we shall see when the reviews roll through. Jump for another picture.

–Brian Lam

Pinnacle PCTV To Go [Pinnacle]

Sony LocationFree Gets Delayed

Travis Hudson — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:18:33 EDT

Wow, Sony. Two delays in one day. Things must be getting bad. Our buddy, Zatz, points out that Sony's Slingbox competitor, the LocationFree, is getting delayed and no new release date has been announced. This device was originally slated for a release next week, but pushed back because of remote problems.

Is it back to start feeling sorry for Sony? – Travis Hudson

Sony Delays Sale of LocationFree TV Box [Via Zatz]

Sony LF-PK1 Wireless LocationFree LCD TV

Gizloco — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 10:57:26 EDT

Sony's showing off a bunch of stuff this week in Japan as part of an electronics show and this wireless LCD TV is one of the items that caught our eye here. This 12-inch LCD TV, the LF-PK1, is compatible with a wireless TV unit, hence, it's a "location-free" TV, or LocationFree in Sony speak. The gist of it is that you're able to use the LCD as a sort of satellite anywhere in your house to receive high quality digital entertainment from the broadcasting unit. Don't worry, Sony's Web site has plenty of flow charts and pretty colors explaining the birds and the bees of LocationFree. The wireless range right now is expected to be somewhere around 100 feet.

The LF-PK1 will go on sale in Japan on November 15 for around $850. No word on a stateside release just yet. – Nicholas Deleon

Sony LF-12MT1 LCD Location free [New Launches]

Sony LocationFree [Sony]

Sony LocationFree TV LF-B20: A Wireless Place Shifter

Brian Lam — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:39:29 EDT

What's going on with placeshifting watch-your-tv-from-anywhere-in-the-world gadgets? I'll tell you what's going on: Sony's LocationFree TV line gets the LFB-20 wireless video-streaming base station, and the LFB-10, which is an ethernet only version. The systems both use H.264 codecs to put video across your network to a PC, Mac, PSP, and Sony's dedicated display. And now, a regular old TV. *cough*obvious*cough* What will they think of next!? Jump, and I'll tell you the secret.

They're cheaper than the last generation, at $250/$200, and the updated codec lets it jam video across a network at a mere 300kbps.

John Falcone, over at CNET, hints that Sony is working on a client for mobile devices, and maybe a PS3 client. That would put it directly in direct competition not only with Sling Media's place shifting equipment, but the Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center's setup, too. Any competitive situation that makes it easier for me to watch TV while I'm taking a poo, I'm excited about.– Brian Lam

Sony LocationFreeTV LF-B20 [Via Cnet]

PSP System Update 2.70 Released Today

gizmodo.com — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 13:40:34 EDT

Sony released the 2.70 System Update for the PSP today, so if you're still using yours—all of our friends who own one put theirs away again after finishing Me & My Katamari—consider downloading it through the PSP Browser over WiFi or from yourpsp.com. The ~~three~~ four key features of this update:

1. They never use the word "podcast" in the documents, but yeah, the PSP plays nicely with them now through the RSS feature. You can choose to either stream or play new audio content on sites you've subscribed to, or save them onto a Memory Stick.

2. Better file compatibility with popular music file formats, including MP3, ATRAC, AAC and WMA, meaning Sony uncrippled the PSP in less time than they semi-uncrippled the MiniDisc. Good job! Now stop trying to force us to use proprietary formats already, we don't like it and you will eventually bend anyway, so why not just give us what we want from the start?

3. The PSP is now a receiver for Sony's LocationFree TV, which they tout as "A completely new way of seeing TV. Instead of going to the television set, the TV comes to you (via your home TV tuner) wherever you are. You can watch live TV, play back recorded programmes and even set up future recordings, all from your PSP." LocationFree launches in May ~~but only~~ in Europe, even though it's been out in Japan and in the US for a while now.

4. Macromedia Flash 6 support for the PSP browser.

PSP System Update 2.70 [Playstation.com, via Evil Avatar]

Sony, Sony and More Sony

gizmogo — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 13:49:04 EDT

Sony released several new products at the CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis recently, of which three are from its brand new strangely-named BRAVIA line.

The three BRAVIA products in question are flat panel LCD televisions, in 40, 32, and 26 inches (Model numbers are KDL-V40XBR1, KDL-V32XBR1, and KDL-V26XBR1 respectively). All three are HDTV-ready, have 1366 x 768 resolution, 13 watt speakers, and a special backlighting system that apparently produces "purer white light." The 40 and 32-inch models will also have some kind of super alignment that will result in wider viewing angles and faster response times, while the 26-inch will sit in a corner and feel really left out. Prices are $3,500, $2,700, and $2,000 respectively, and will be available later this month.

Sony's new projector and LocationFree TV updates after the jump.

Next is Sony's new SXRD 1080P Home Theater Front Projector. The VPL-VW100 features a 1920 x 1080 progressive high-def projection, and will have a contrast ratio of 15,000:1. This baby will cost a whopping $10,000 and will be available this November.

Finally, there are two products that we already kinda knew about: the LF-X11 12-inch LocationFree TV and the LF-PK1 LocationFree Player Pak for PC users. The LF-X11 is a simplified version of the LocationFree TV, with an expanded wireless range of up to 100 feet. The base station for the TV can connect to a set top TV tuner, a DVD player, and even a PVR if desired. Then there's also the LF-PK1 LocationFree Pak which we've already mentioned, that beams the TV signals to your PC. The LF-X11 will run you about $1,500 and the LF-PK1 will cost you $350. The LF-PK1 is currently available, while you'll have to wait until later in the month for the LF-X11.

Press Release on BRAVIA XBR flat panel LCD televisions [Sony]
Press Release on SXRD 1080P Home Theater Front Projector [Sony]
Press Release on Sony LocationFree Devices [Sony]

Sony LocationFree: Big Brother Anywhere

Noah R — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 10:00:11 EDT

So you've just returned from a long weekend at the beach house thinking: 'If only I could have watched Big Brother from inside the cabana.' Well, lucky for you Sony has just updated its LocationFree line with the LF-PK1 place shifter. Unlike the previous LocationFree devices, which were essentially WiFi TVs, this does not have a screen. It wirelessly beams the signal to a PC, much like the Slingbox. The hitch is that Sony's ~~steaming pile of~~ proprietary media streaming software has to be installed on the receiving machine. Available in Japan this October for around $300.

Streaming
Video by Sony [Akihabara News]
New Sony Locationfree LF-PK1 TV Place Shift Device [I4U]