Ceton Echo WMC extender beta units set to ship in October, on target for November release

Ceton Echo WMC extender beta units set to ship in October, on target for November release

Now that Ceton has pushed its Companion mobile apps for Windows Media Center out the door, our attention returns to the hardware we got a look at during CES. A blog post from the company indicates the Echo extender has passed FCC and CE certifications, with alpha tests under way. If you're not in position to borrow a unit from the home of an employee, your next opportunity to obtain one will come when the beta starts. The 1,000 applicants accepted should receive ordering information around the end of this month before hardware ships on October, which, if there are no delays, could mean general availability as soon as November. Still waiting for word on that slick six tuner Q DVR? So are we, but an update, along with final specs for the Echo version 1, are promised at the end of the month.

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Ceton Echo WMC extender beta units set to ship in October, on target for November release originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton Companion apps for iOS and Android are available, bring WMC mobile control for $5

Ceton Companion apps for iOS and Android are available, bring WMC mobile control for $5

For Windows Media Center fans searching for a good looking remote app for their mobile devices, that wait is over, at least on a few platforms. The Ceton Companion app we've been teased with since CES 2012 is finally officially available, and ready for download from the Android and iOS app stores. We're told the Windows Phone 7 version should be along shortly, as well as the Amazon Appstore edition once its approval goes through. If you've somehow avoided its specifics until now, we have walkthrough videos embedded after the break to show what kind of remote DVR scheduling, guide browsing and remote control action it's capable of. To cover the possibility that a whole Lincoln is too rich for your blood, one way to defray the costs and pay for the app on two platforms is to follow the Ceton Twitter account and enter a contest for a $10 Google Play gift card -- instructions are available at the link below.

Continue reading Ceton Companion apps for iOS and Android are available, bring WMC mobile control for $5

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Ceton Companion apps for iOS and Android are available, bring WMC mobile control for $5 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 22:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton’s Media Center Companion apps for mobiles hit RC status, add new features (video)

Ceton's Media Center Companion apps for mobiles hit release candidate status, add new features

Fans of Windows Media Center will have a new remote control option soon, as Ceton has pushed out some release candidates of its mobile device Companion apps. Beta testers should be seeing some new features including an updated program guide with infinite scrolling, plus universal search through the guide, movies, recorded TV, TV series and channels, as well as series recording management and overall speed improvements. Currently only the Windows Phone and iOS clients are considered at RC level with the Android version not quite there and lacking the guide search feature. Those in the test group can hit the source links to make sure they've got the latest versions of the apps and services for their HTPC, while those of us on the outside looking in can get a quick preview from the demo video embedded after the break and pics in the gallery.

Continue reading Ceton's Media Center Companion apps for mobiles hit RC status, add new features (video)

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Ceton's Media Center Companion apps for mobiles hit RC status, add new features (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton Echo Extender for Media Center beta to start in September

Ceton Echo Extender for Media Center beta to start in September

If you're one of the lucky few -- 1000 actually -- who received an email today from Ceton you will have the ability to join its paid Extender beta this September. For $179 Ceton will ship testers an Echo Extender for Media Center before anyone else, but in return they need to help work out all the bugs in time for the release this holiday season. At that price the Echo isn't a budget alternative to using an Xbox 360 as an Extender, but between the additional functionality realized when paired with the upcoming Ceton Q multi-room DVR and other features like HDMI-CEC and MoCA, it will probably be the clear choice for some -- not to mention it didn't take long for the InfiniTV 4 to drop $100 to $199, so this too should be cheaper at some point. Other news from Kirkland includes the fact that there's additional info about the Q coming in September and that the Ceton Companion beta is going well enough that the mobile apps for Media Center will launch at the end of this month. We guess it's a good thing for Media Center fans Ceton missed the memo from their neighbors in Redmond that Media Center is dead.

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Ceton Echo Extender for Media Center beta to start in September originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Jul 2012 20:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton’s Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now

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If you're a Windows Media Center fan and have been drooling over the treats Ceton showed off at CES like its mobile companion apps (whether on WP7 or other platforms like iPhone and Android) and Echo extender we've got good news and better news. The good news is that the apps have been rebranded simply as Ceton Companion Apps and they will be available for all Windows Media Center 7 users when they launch, spreading their guides, file browsing and remote DVR management options throughout the land. The better news is that you'll be able to get your hands on the apps and / or Echo extender relatively soon, since there are beta tests coming soon for both. While the app beta is planned to start May 25th on all of the previously listed platforms, the Echo extender will be a paid beta where users can keep the hardware once its over. More details on the latter should be available soon, for now interested users should hit the link below to get on the list or check out an... interesting promo video embedded after the break.

Continue reading Ceton's Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now

Ceton's Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton previews DVR companion apps on Android and iOS, teases Echo beta ‘soon’

Ceton previews DVR companion apps on Android and iOS, teases Echo beta 'soon'

A quick stop by the Intel pavilion here at NAB 2012 revealed our friends from Ceton hiding within, and even though we just saw the Q DVR and Echo companion extender on our last trip to Vegas a few months ago, there's a few new items to show already. As shown above, the mobile companion app that we had only seen so far on Windows Phone 7 is also up and running on Android and iOS. While the apps are still very early in their development they're already running smoothly with metadata provided by Rovi and the usual set of features for DVR scheduling and management. Each one is designed specifically for the platform it's running on, rather than pulling the same UI from one device to all. This seems like a good approach to us, but Ceton's looking for feedback from potential users about what they might prefer. Speaking of potential users -- all those interested in this hardware should keep an eye out as we're told that the plan is to have a beta for the DTS-compatible Echo extender "soon", likely within a few weeks.

Ceton previews DVR companion apps on Android and iOS, teases Echo beta 'soon' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton’s Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound

Ceton Echo Extender for Media Center

What's the Echo Extender for Media Center got that no other Extender for Media Center has? Support for DTS surround sound, that's what. The catch of course is that the Echo is still just on track for "later in 2012," but the press release after the break is a welcome reminder that the first new Extender for Media Center since 2008 is actually going to happen. Unfortunately, there's still no new updates on price, availability or really anything other than the fact that you'll be able to enjoy your favorite content in surround sound that is encoded with DTS -- hopefully that's enough for now.

Continue reading Ceton's Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound

Ceton's Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton’s Q DVR companion app for Windows Phone gets detailed tour (video)

Ceton's Q DVR companion app gets detailed tour (video)

You might recall Ceton's Q DVR making its debut at the start of the year and now the beans have been spilled on the multiroom recorder's companion app. The Windows Phone 7 version separates out into home, television and recent screens. The home section houses galleries and search, while television will display scheduled recordings, channel guides and management options for those upcoming shows. Finally, the recent screen keeps tabs on what you've been watching or recording last, all done in that inimitable metro style. There's no launch date yet, but Android and iOS versions are also being readied for release. You can take a video tour of the features right after the break.

Continue reading Ceton's Q DVR companion app for Windows Phone gets detailed tour (video)

Ceton's Q DVR companion app for Windows Phone gets detailed tour (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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