We knew Orb was working on an iPhone port of its media-streaming app, and it looks like Orb 2.0 just stealthily went live in the App Store. The $10 app lets TV junkies watch live TV from a tuner connected to a Windows PC, as well as stream music, videos, and photos from their libraries. Even cooler, Orb allows you to monitor a webcam, so you can finally nail those Diet Coke thieves from the comfort of your cube (or keep an eye on your infant, whatever.) Sadly there’s no date for the Mac and Linux versions, but Orb says they’re on the way. Alright Sling, looks like the ball’s in your court.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Filed under: Cellphones

Orb 2.0 streams live TV to your iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz has already toyed around a bit with some internet-connected in-car systems, but it looks to really be going all out with its new myCOMMAND system, which it’s now showing off at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Among other things, it would constantly pull various traffic information off the internet and take it into account for route selection, as well as give you access to internet radio stations, let you make VoIP phone calls, and even give you a browser that’ll let you ” surf the internet in the accustomed way.” Mercedes is also promising that the entire system will be completely intuitive, with most of the primary functions controlled with a single rotary pushbutton, and two secondary buttons provided for things like menu operation. Of course, it’s all still very much a demo at this point, and Mercedes itself says it’ll be least a “few more years” before it actually winds up in a production vehicle.

[Thanks, Jason]

Filed under: Transportation

Mercedes-Benz shows off internet-connected myCOMMAND system originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz has already toyed around a bit with some internet-connected in-car systems, but it looks to really be going all out with its new myCOMMAND system, which it’s now showing off at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Among other things, it would constantly pull various traffic information off the internet and take it into account for route selection, as well as give you access to internet radio stations, let you make VoIP phone calls, and even give you a browser that’ll let you ” surf the internet in the accustomed way.” Mercedes is also promising that the entire system will be completely intuitive, with most of the primary functions controlled with a single rotary pushbutton, and two secondary buttons provided for things like menu operation. Of course, it’s all still very much a demo at this point, and Mercedes itself says it’ll be least a “few more years” before it actually winds up in a production vehicle.

[Thanks, Jason]

Filed under: Transportation

Mercedes-Benz shows off internet-connected myCOMMAND system originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re a BlackBerry user or a prospective user, and also happen to be a Gmail enthusiast, you’re going to be a lot happier than you were yesterday, because Google’s just added over-the-air contact syncing to its Google Sync application. Previously, the app was only able to sync up calendars between the cloud and RIM devices every two hours. Now you can get your names and numbers in the mix, so it looks like the nightmare days of having one list of contacts in Gmail and another, totally different one in your ‘Berry are apparently at an end. Sure, Google’s timing on this seems a little convenient to us, coming as it does just before the BlackBerry Storm launch, but we’re not going to complain about something that makes ours lives easier, okay?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones

Google Sync for BlackBerry gets into your contacts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you believe the rumours circling around the music industry at the moment then Apple may be close to securing a long-overdue deal to provide DRM-free music from major recording studios. It is currently in talks with Universal, Warner and Sony BMG to secure the rights for its iTunes website, which aside from the obvious advantages also means that it’ll no longer be providing tunes exclusively for its own audio players.Everyone seems a little hesitant to offer any solid details at this point as any deal is reliant on Apple being reasonable enough to play ball, but with rivals like Play.com and 7Digital already offering such content it would seem like a necessary move to consolidate its position. More unsubstantiated rumours suggest that Sony could be looking to abolish DRM on its catalogue altogether, and if this is true then it would make sense for others to follow suit. Hopefully the success of those who have already adopted the new model will prove that people are more than happy to pay for music as long as they don’t feel like they’re being taken advantage of or ripped off, then we can wave goodbye to this whole DRM debacle for good. - Paul Lester [CNet] Apple iTunes DRM

If you believe the rumours circling around the music industry at the moment then Apple may be close to securing a long-overdue deal to provide DRM-free music from major recording studios. It is currently in talks with Universal, Warner and Sony BMG to secure the rights for its iTunes website, which aside from the obvious advantages also means that it’ll no longer be providing tunes exclusively for its own audio players.Everyone seems a little hesitant to offer any solid details at this point as any deal is reliant on Apple being reasonable enough to play ball, but with rivals like Play.com and 7Digital already offering such content it would seem like a necessary move to consolidate its position. More unsubstantiated rumours suggest that Sony could be looking to abolish DRM on its catalogue altogether, and if this is true then it would make sense for others to follow suit. Hopefully the success of those who have already adopted the new model will prove that people are more than happy to pay for music as long as they don’t feel like they’re being taken advantage of or ripped off, then we can wave goodbye to this whole DRM debacle for good. - Paul Lester [CNet] Apple iTunes DRM

If you believe the rumours circling around the music industry at the moment then Apple may be close to securing a long-overdue deal to provide DRM-free music from major recording studios. It is currently in talks with Universal, Warner and Sony BMG to secure the rights for its iTunes website, which aside from the obvious advantages also means that it’ll no longer be providing tunes exclusively for its own audio players.Everyone seems a little hesitant to offer any solid details at this point as any deal is reliant on Apple being reasonable enough to play ball, but with rivals like Play.com and 7Digital already offering such content it would seem like a necessary move to consolidate its position. More unsubstantiated rumours suggest that Sony could be looking to abolish DRM on its catalogue altogether, and if this is true then it would make sense for others to follow suit. Hopefully the success of those who have already adopted the new model will prove that people are more than happy to pay for music as long as they don’t feel like they’re being taken advantage of or ripped off, then we can wave goodbye to this whole DRM debacle for good. - Paul Lester [CNet] Apple iTunes DRM

If you believe the rumours circling around the music industry at the moment then Apple may be close to securing a long-overdue deal to provide DRM-free music from major recording studios. It is currently in talks with Universal, Warner and Sony BMG to secure the rights for its iTunes website, which aside from the obvious advantages also means that it’ll no longer be providing tunes exclusively for its own audio players.Everyone seems a little hesitant to offer any solid details at this point as any deal is reliant on Apple being reasonable enough to play ball, but with rivals like Play.com and 7Digital already offering such content it would seem like a necessary move to consolidate its position. More unsubstantiated rumours suggest that Sony could be looking to abolish DRM on its catalogue altogether, and if this is true then it would make sense for others to follow suit. Hopefully the success of those who have already adopted the new model will prove that people are more than happy to pay for music as long as they don’t feel like they’re being taken advantage of or ripped off, then we can wave goodbye to this whole DRM debacle for good. - Paul Lester [CNet] Apple iTunes DRM

If you believe the rumours circling around the music industry at the moment then Apple may be close to securing a long-overdue deal to provide DRM-free music from major recording studios. It is currently in talks with Universal, Warner and Sony BMG to secure the rights for its iTunes website, which aside from the obvious advantages also means that it’ll no longer be providing tunes exclusively for its own audio players.Everyone seems a little hesitant to offer any solid details at this point as any deal is reliant on Apple being reasonable enough to play ball, but with rivals like Play.com and 7Digital already offering such content it would seem like a necessary move to consolidate its position. More unsubstantiated rumours suggest that Sony could be looking to abolish DRM on its catalogue altogether, and if this is true then it would make sense for others to follow suit. Hopefully the success of those who have already adopted the new model will prove that people are more than happy to pay for music as long as they don’t feel like they’re being taken advantage of or ripped off, then we can wave goodbye to this whole DRM debacle for good. - Paul Lester [CNet] Apple iTunes DRM