Alex Tretbar
Author/Co-Author of 288 articles
Alex Tretbar, audio/video intern, is a writer, editor, musician, gamer and sci-fi nerd raised on EverQuest and Magic: The Gathering. He studied English and Journalism at the University of Kansas, working for local media such as the Kansan and KJHK 90.7 FM. After writing for a Kansas City trade journal post-graduation, Alex took up traveling and eventually settled in the Pacific Northwest.
Insatiable streamers: Cord cutters gorge on 212GB a month, keep getting hungrier
The leading content-streamer's traffic once again represented the top downstream application during peak hours with a share of 34.21 percent, up from 31.6.
Netflix tacks $1 onto its basic streaming plan, adds $8 budget plan
The leading media-streaming service confirmed today via blog post the plan to increase the price of its $8-per-month instant streaming plan by $1 to $9.
SMS Audio drops its Carmelo-backed Sport headphone line
50 Cent's headphone imprint SMS Audio has released its new Carmelo Anthony-endorsed Sport Collection with four can offerings made for the active listener.
Bragi’s smart headphones, the Dash, go beyond sound to monitor your whole body
The Dash smart, wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphones can track your speed, time, distance, cadence, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and more.
DisplayPort vs. HDMI vs. DVI vs. VGA (update)
Whether you’re connecting your desktop computer to a monitor or your MacBook to an HDTV, our guide will help you choose the best connection type.
Ditch your batteries for candles with this flame-powered Bluetooth speaker
The Pelty is a unique kind of Bluetooth speaker that uses the thermal energy of a single candle's flame to elegantly amplify music without clunky wires.
Google expands Chromecast functionality to include YouTube live streams
Google's Chromecast support now allows for YouTube users to cast live concerts and sporting events from their smartphones to the big screen.
Chromecast arrives in Australia, Belgium, Japan, Korea, Portugal, and Switzerland
Google announced today via blog post that users in Australia, Belgium, Japan, Korea, Portugal, and Switzerland can now use its dongle to begin casting.
Pay-TV operators lost more subscribers than they added for the first time last year
A report from Leichtman Research Group details how the 13 largest multi-channel video providers lost 105,000 subscribers in a 280,000-subscriber swing.
The $17,500 Devialet 240 has the audiophile cred to go with its designer looks
The French company unveiled a new line of three insanely top-shelf amplifier-esque "all-in-one" boxes. The 240, 170 and 110 out of an audiophile's dream.
The Big Turtle Shell wireless speaker is as rugged and waterproof as its namesake
The Bluetooth boombox and power bank — successor of the simpler Turtle Shell from late 2012 — appears to be extremely durable and capable of serious sound.
SunBrite beams your favorite content into the yard with its new wireless HDMI transceiver
The SB-HDWT is capable of wirelessly transferring full 1080 HD content to any HDMI-enabled TV.
JBL shows off a new sound bar, a sound platform, and revamped Charge speaker
JBL today revealed a 240-watt sound base and 320-watt sound bar/subwoofer combination. The company also revamped its Charge wireless Bluetooth speaker.
DirecTV to deliver on-demand 4K video by the year’s end
DirecTV announced yesterday it is set to offer 4K-quality on-demand video by the end of the year, as well as live 4K streaming next year or by early 2016.
Amazon orders second season for wildly popular original series ‘Transparent’
In the wake of the sudden explosion in popularity of Prime Instant Video-exclusive 'Transparent,' Amazon Studios has greenlit the show for a second season.
Velodyne’s Wi-Q brings the wireless rumble without busting your wallet
Velodyne's Wi-Q series available in 10- and 12-inch sizes, is wireless, powerful, feature-rich, and a steal at a price-point under $1,000.
Yamaha reveals YSP-2500 sound projector and wireless subwoofer
The latest in Yamaha's Sound Projector series, the YSP-2500, brings big-league features at a new low price point.
Your next LG TV will sound sharper thanks to DTS-HD decoders in every LG product
LG and DTS have formed a worldwide strategic alliance that will see DTS' audio technology integrated into LG's complete line of home entertainment products.
Is that Grandma on TV? Chromecast’s wallpaper can now be customized
Users can now tailor Chromecast's home screen with personal photos, artwork, headlines from news outlets, weather data, and satellite imagery.
Chromecast strikes a chord with consumers as its setup app tops charts
Chromecast's accompanying app has landed atop research firm App Annie's list of the top apps for connected devices in the U.S.
AMC renews ‘The Walking Dead’ for a sixth season, greenlights new spinoff series
AMC Networks has renewed its wildly successful series The Walking Dead for a sixth season.
Sharp’s Free Form LCDs break out of the box to fit in car dashboards, smartwatches, and more
The company's Free-Form Display is an LCD screen can be shaped to fit in your car's dashboard, smartwatches, and just about anything else.
ESPN seals new NBA deal to offer live regular season games online
The NBA announced today that it signed long-term agreements with Disney and Turner Broadcasting System, including a new online service for live games.
Monster taps Best Buy to launch its Soundstage multi-room speakers [Update]
Monster has exclusively enlisted Best Buy to spearhead the initial U.S. launch for its SoundStage line of Qualcomm AllPlay-equipped wireless speakers.
‘Orange’ is the new red: Netflix to land in cable boxes of France’s top provider
The CEO for the largest French service provider, Orange, announced that the company has reached an agreement with Netflix to distribute its service.
Comcast closes in on ‘TV Everywhere’ promise with cloud-based DVR launch in Boston
Comcast began rolling out a cloud-based DVR to its Boston customers today as part of an expansion of its premium X1 cable TV service.
San Francisco and Houston get on-the-go mobile streaming for Comcast’s X1 cloud DVRs
Comcast announced today that it has premiered outside-the-home, cloud-based streaming to its X1 DVR customers in Houston and the San Francisco Bay Area.
A new challenger appears: Firefox-powered ‘Matchstick’ aims to take a shot at Chromecast
The Firefox OS-powered dongle, dubbed "Matchstick," could end up bringing significant new competition to the streaming market.
TiVo finally invites Android users to the party, updates Android app for wireless streaming
TiVo has made a long-awaited update to its Android app that allows users to stream both recorded and live TV directly to their Android mobile devices.
Netflix in October: What’s coming and going on the popular streaming service
The service has a slew of additions, new and old, for October, including a handful of Halloween-oriented options for chill-and thrill-seekers.