Filed under: Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Portable Video

Got yourself an Archos TV+? How’s about a WiFi-enabled 605 / 705 PMP? Even if you’re sadly answering “no” to the latter question, folks with a Windows or Windows Mobile-based machine can still get in on the placeshifting action, as Archos has just announced a swank new TV+ plug-in that brings Slingbox capabilities to those devices. The May-bound TVportation application, which will be available gratis for those who register their Archos TV+ on the firm’s website (it’s $49.99 otherwise), simply enables users to control their set-top-box from anywhere where WiFi is accessible, giving users the ability to watch live TV on their handheld. Sure, it’s more of the same, but for the Archos faithful who refuse to trade in their 605 / 705, it’s a dream come true. Check out a lengthy demonstration vid after the break. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Thanks, Charbax]

Continue reading Archos TV+ TVportation plug-in shifts your TV to 605 / 705 PMP

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Remember that Skype plugin being written to run natively on the Apple TV? It’s out today, and get it while the gettin’s good because we aren’t expecting any of these hacks to continue working after the take 2 update gets pushed out in the near future. Let us know how it is, would you?

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Household

The Apple TV isn’t just getting Cupertino’s updates, apparently. According to aficionados of the little silver box, a Canadian teen who has hacked his way through a wireless keyboard workaround and a GPS plugin used for an in-car Apple TV setup, is developing a native Skype client for device. Brandon Holland, the hacker in question, says that the plugin will take advantage of the Skype API, and will allow a user to make calls and send text messages using a standard USB headset or USB phone. Text will be entered via the remote, or so he says. Right now there’s no date for the release, but we suspect you’ll be hearing about it before long… so stay tuned.

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Filed under: Transportation

According to reports, roost-ruling, green automaker Toyota has confirmed plans to launch a plug-in hybrid by 2010. Our man in Japan Katsuaki Watanabe (company president) dropped the bombshell at this year’s Detroit Auto Show while detailing the automaker’s plans for tackling environmental concerns. Apparently, the new lithium-ion-equipped vehicles will first be made available to Toyota’s commercial customers — such as government agencies. Watanabe gave no indication of when a general consumer rollout would occur. The vehicle, which is a modified version of the ultra-popular Prius, is capable of achieving fuel efficiency of 99.9 miles-per-gallon in EV mode, though it can only sustain pure battery power for about seven miles. The announcement will no doubt come as a total bummer to GM, which has plans to sell its own plug-in, the Volt, around the same time — though the Chevy vehicle is said to be able to make trips of up to 40 miles on a six-hour charge. It’s about time we saw some healthy competition in the green-auto-game — let’s just hope consumers reap the benefits.

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