As each year goes by, all the gadgets and gizmos get smaller and smaller. And more and more start to become obsolete. You would never think that the cable box could disappear. Well, think again.

The wonderful folks over at Microsoft has showed us that the process of elimination has begun. With the most recent update, the Xbox 360 will now be able to do more than just play video games, watching movies using Netflix. Besides Hulu Plus, there will be more selections of what you can watch now on your system. MSNBC’s The Today Show and Epix, cable movie channel, are a couple of the first channels to be added. More are expected to join, such as Youtube, DailyMotion, and HBO GO (coming sometime in 2012) are just some the the channels coming.

Of course, not all are free. You need an Xbox Live Gold membership to be able to use the new features, which is understandable. That is the easy part. There are, and will be some channels that you will need separate service accounts to use, such as Netflix and HBO GO. Now if you think you can get rid of you cable provider, hold on for now.Verizon FIOS and Comcast Xfinity will be bringing their services to Xbox, but not until later. Verizon will be using the gaming system as a limited set top box, which will start later this month. Comcast is hoping to have their system ready by early 2012. They will be offering ther “On-Demand” services, but not live television.

The other part of this update is for the Kinect. With advanced terchnology now at hand, you will now have the ability to search through your xbox using voice activation. The system uses Bing search engine to find what you are looking for. With everything squeezing into our Xbox 360, certain products like Boxee and Google TV might have some good competition.

Tags: boxee, comcast, Epix, ESPN, Fios, Google TV, HBO, hulu, kinect, Microsoft, movies, Netflix, sony, TV, verizon, Xbox 360, Xfinity

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Bringing lots of fun pieces of tech knowhow and liquid cheer to the masses with CaffiNation episode 389

Tags: bad code, code, Coffee, comcast, cruft, Crufty Claus, cryptozoology, cyrptid, drinks, flask, fruit punch, hulu, Lego, nbc, USB, usb outlets, Utensils, yanko design

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Today’s Show: Whales, NFL, Olympics, jetpack, tie-fighter, Comcast, running, pizza, coffee, Dunkin Donuts

Today’s Episode finds me a little hot under the collar about some topics floating out there, and add in a bit of musical theater to round out the title. I apologize in advance for bleeding ears or shatter speakers due to my musical stylings. But its still not stopping the show. Enjoy

Back channel tidbits over at my Tumblr Blog Grinds

The Everything Feed: Friendfeed

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Tags: caffeine, Coffee, comcast, dunkin donuts, healthy, jetpack, NFL, Olympics, Pizza, running, tech, tech news, tie-fighter, Whales

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On Today’s Show: Wii, Exercise, Olympics, robots, decaf, ice cream

Gardening refreshes the mind, and bring you this episode

Real News Bytes

• Back to the Drawing Board with Form over Function Fridays
• Olympic issue, Cyborgs up next
• History of Exer-Gaming
• PC for Teens
• This deserves attention Plaxo bought by Comcast

Tech Cruft

• You sunk my powerstrip
• Console mod that freaks me out, Beware of the Croc
• High Tech: Robot Love
  • Batteries not included, but this bot is pretty cute
  • Vitruvian Man, robot style, to the rescue
  • Bots for Art, will paint for energon cubes
• Low Tech Dennis the Menace
• Cool Tech, Misting spray bottle

Caffeine & Food

• Portable Ice Cream Floats, Nostalgia on the go
• Nespresso Design contest winners announced
• Vaccuum Fresh Beans
• Enjoy your tea later, with steps on Natural Decaf Methodology

Contact Me:

• Phone Me: 215-240-1319 :: Email Me @ CaffiNation@gmail.com
• Skype Me thecaffination :: Full Contact Details

Thanks and Stay Caffeinated People!

Tags: Coffee, comcast, decaf, Exercise, ice cream, nespresso, nespresso design contest, Olympics, PC, plaxo, Robots, tech, tech news, Wii

I am not a stupid man. But I need a little clarification here. I’m currently enjoying the fantastic Stanely Cup Playoffs. I am being told that the game is being broadcast in “Hi Def” Thats just great. I’m a comcast cutomer. I don’t pay the extra money for Hi Def service, because i have a 19 month old son whose needs are greater than a Hockey crazed dad’s need to see thread on a jersey.

Here is my problem, This game looks just as crisp as the rest of the channels. I’ve been told I can get Hi definition signals from Cable for my local channels for free. But they seem to be blocked. Even with the tuner in my spiffy TV, a 32″ Samsung LCD. But for some reason the otherwise crisp clear picture on ABC looks like trash when it comes time for Lost, and Football. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: comcast, football, hidef, hockey, lost, lowdef