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<title>Haaze.com / arisggal / All</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
<description>Test Web 2.0 Content Management System</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:10:23 +0000</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Panasonic Viera Cast TV on 2011 Blu-ray players review]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=panasonic-viera-cast-tv-on-2011-blu-ray-players-review</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=panasonic-viera-cast-tv-on-2011-blu-ray-players-review</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:10:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arisggal</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=panasonic-viera-cast-tv-on-2011-blu-ray-players-review</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Panasonic&amp;39's Viera Cast content portal has plenty of high-quality streaming-media services and one of the simpler user interfaces.(Credit:Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)They may be called Blu-ray players, but in 2011 they're as much about streaming-media services as they are about high-definition discs. With every manufacturer having a different collection of streaming-media services, we've been taking an in-depth look at each company's content portal for 2011.Today, we're looking at Panasonic's Viera Cast, which takes after LG's Smart TV in its simplicity. There's no app store or cross-platform search, but it has a solid collection of streaming-media services and an easy-to-use interface.Panasonic Viera Cast is the same on most 2011 Panasonic Blu-ray players--and home theater systems with built-in Blu-ray players--but considerably different from the Viera Connect content portal offered on Panasonic HDTVs. Additionally, note that the entry-level DMP-BD75 doesn't offer the full Viera Cast suite, instead offering access only to Netflix, CinemaNow, and Vudu.Panasonic Viera Cast streaming services vs. competitorsEditors' note:The chart doesn't list every streaming-media service available on each content portal' for the sake of simplicity, we chose those we considered most important.Viera Cast has the fewest streaming-media services, but it includes all of the standard services (Netflix, Pandora, Vudu) and a few standouts, including Amazon Instant and Skype.Amazon Instant Streaming is our favorite extra, especially for cord-cutters without cable. While competing services like Vudu are a compelling alternative for video-on-demand movies, Amazon Instant offers by far the largest selection of TV shows for pay-per-view watching, including both network and cable shows.We also appreciate that Amazon Instant is tied into the viewer's Amazon.com account, which means we're able to watch our purchased content in a browser as well. If you're looking to &quot;cut the cord&quot; or just supplement your existing cable subscription, we've found Amazon Instant Streaming to be the best TV content provider. That being said, CinemaNow offers a solid collection of TV content, so it really comes down to which service you prefer.If you want Amazon Instant, we'd consider Panasonic's main competition to be LG's Smart TV. Sony offers Amazon, too, but its user interface isn't quite as good.Skype capability requires a $170 camera add-on, but if you can get past that price barrier, the functionality is pretty impressive. Unfortunately we didn't have the compatible Skype camera on hand for this review. The ability to make video calls right from your couch is definitely somewhat of a niche feature (although it seems great for families), but it worked well in the demos we've seen. We're expecting to get a compatible Skype camera shortly and we'll update this post with more hands-on testing.Viera Cast could be the overall best option if Panasonic offered the same services available from Viera Connect on HDTVs. Viera Connect has several additional excellent apps, including Hulu Plus, MLB.TV, NHL Gamecenter, and NBA Game Time, and the addition of those services would make Viera Cast on Blu-ray the hands-down best streaming-content portal.VieraCast user interfacePanasonic&amp;39's Viera Cast content portal has plenty of high-quality streaming-media services and one of the simpler user interfaces.(Credit:Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)While Samsung has fully adopted the app store model with Samsung Apps (and LG has dipped its toe in the water with LG Apps), Panasonic remains committed to a curated content portal. (At least on the Blu-ray side. Viera Connect on HDTVs has an app store.) Though there's definitely a theoretical advantage to having an app store, we haven't found it offering much of advantage so far for 2011 content portals. With each manufacturer offering its own apps, there seems to be less chance of one of them really taking off the way the Apple App Store did.Viera Cast has several &amp;39'layers&amp;39' of content, which is a little confusing.(Credit:Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)The Viera Cast user interface is mostly laid out well. The main screen has seven large icons to choose from, including the most popular services like Netflix, Amazon Instant, and Vudu. Even better, you can customize the main screen in the setup menu. In our case, that meant swapping in Pandora for CinemaNow on the home screen.There are even more services available if you click the More button below the center icon, bringing you to the next &quot;layer&quot; of screens. The whole layer concept seems a bit more complicated than it needs to be and we're guessing some nontechies will have some difficulty finding that second screen. However, since you can fit seven services on the main page, most people will never need to navigate beyond the main screen anyway.For overall user experience, Panasonic's Viera Cast is definitely one of the best this year, coming in right behind LG's Smart TV.Netflix interfaceViera Cast&amp;39's Netflix interface is very similar to the one offered by LG and Samsung.(Credit:Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)Panasonic's Netflix interface is excellent. It's very similar to the interface offered on thePlayStation 3 at the end of last year, so if you're looking for more information, take a look at our detailed hands-on for PS3. Unlike with older versions of Netflix, you can search for titles as well as browse categories like new arrivals and different genres.There was significant variation in Netflix interfaces last year on Blu-ray players, but this year they're largely the same, so it's not a major differentiating factor.ConclusionsPanasonic gets a lot right with Viera Cast, especially regarding the user interface. The main issue is that it's missing a few high-quality services (MLB.TV, Hulu Plus, various music services) that are available on competitors' players, not to mention Panasonic's Viera Connect TV service. If you're not interested in those other services, Viera Cast is a solid option, especially if you'll use the Skype functionality. Otherwise you'll want to check out the competition, and we'd recommend starting with LG's Smart TV.Got Panasonic Viera Cast questions Leave a comment below.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[SolarCity taps GroSolar to bring solar leasing east]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=solarcity-taps-grosolar-to-bring-solar-leasing-east</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=solarcity-taps-grosolar-to-bring-solar-leasing-east</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:10:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arisggal</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=solarcity-taps-grosolar-to-bring-solar-leasing-east</guid>
<description><![CDATA[SolarCity said today that it has acquired the residential solar business from GroSolar, giving it presence in four states in the eastern U.S.Through the move, SolarCity will offer its solar panel leasing program to homeowners in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania starting March 1, said SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. Financial terms for the cash deal were not disclosed. GroSolar will continue to operate its distribution business and installation for commercial customers.The deal adds about 55 people to SolarCity, giving it about 1,100 employees. It now works in 10 states, including California, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, giving it the largest footprint in its line of business, according to the company.SolarCity is a pioneer in solar financing, through which consumers avoid the upfront cost of buying solar photovoltaic panels. The model initially took hold in California and is spreading to other states, particularly in places with high electricity prices or policies to encourage solar power.With a solar lease, consumers have solar electric panels installed and pay a monthly fee. Between reduced electricity consumption from the grid and the leasing fee, the net result is about a 10 percent reduction in electricity bills, Rive said. SolarCity also bought an energy efficiency company and intends to offer residential efficiency services in the new states later this year.Although not a giant acquisition, it does point to a trend of consolidation among solar installers. Whereas many residential installers have historically been small operations, Rive expects that larger companies will be able to operate with lower costs and expand further.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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