We're hearing rumors today that Microsoft's already hardworking Mediaroom could be putting in overtime in the near future. According to ZDNet, not only is Microsoft working on a Mediaroom client for Windows Phone (aka Rome), but it's also got a Silverlight-for-Mediaroom project (aka Taos) in the pipeline, with a possible Silverlight-for-Mediaroom STB (aka Santa Fe) also on the way. As if it didn't already have a heavy workload, the platform is also up for a possible tie-in with Windows Media Center (aka Monaco). All this comes on the heels of chatter that the software giant is considering a new Xbox 360 TV service, incorporating Mediaroom, and news of a Silverlight SOC that could be worked into an STB like Santa Fe. All code names and acronyms aside, it looks like Microsoft is gearing up to give Apple and Google some serious internet TV competition, which means Mediaroom's going to have say goodbye to happy hour and hello to some serious all-nighters.

Mediaroom rumors could put Microsoft IPTV on the fast track to success originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In its Q4 results earlier today Netflix broached the idea that, just as internet service providers can block its content, it could also restrict access to certain providers if they continue to force its CDNs to pay for network access. Given its incredible growth, there's certainly a large number of high value users making use of the service and potentially something users would actually switch providers to keep access to. While that's just an idea, more immediately it plans to release detailed statistics on ISP performance tomorrow on its blog. So let us know, if your ISP either doesn't measure up or potentially was actually blocked by Netflix, would you switch in order to keep the streaming movies coming?

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Poll: Would you switch ISP's for Netflix streaming? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After taking the United States and Europe by storm (or not, we can't tell for sure, but is anyone actually using this?) Sony's Qriocity movie service will finally launch in Japan next week. By all appearances it will be the same as the other incarnations with SD and HD movies available for between 350 and 1000 yen ($4.25 - $12.16) with "hundreds" of titles available at launch including Inception, The Bourne Identity and more as well as "early window exclusivity" of some animated Japanese flicks. Owners of 2010 and 2011 model BRAVIA TVs should get access to the service first, with more devices to follow later.

Continue reading Sony's Qriocity movie service launches in Japan on the 26th

Sony's Qriocity movie service launches in Japan on the 26th originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIZIO announced the introduction of their new Theater 3D technology with the launch of the 65" Theater 3D Edge Lit Razor LED LCD HDTV with VIZIO Internet Apps. The 65" XVT3D650SV is VIZIO's largest HDTV ever.

Nielsen's just released some zingers (also known as statistics) for you to chew on while you listen to a YouTube clip (something about Obamacare) drone on in another tab, tell your significant other to "hold on" and track your Domino's pizza in a completely different tab. The annual Three Screens report, as it's called, has some choice data on American habits, such as the fact that television consumption (average number of hours watched per day) has increased to nearly 35 hours per week per person. What else can we glean from this treasure chest of minutiae? Well, about 59 percent of Americans now multitask in front of the teevee with their laptops for an average of three and a half hours a month. A final interesting tidbit here -- flying in the face of popular wisdom, it seems that the older you are, the more television you're likely to watch -- so keep your eye on your great Aunt Dot, folks: it's possible she might be addicted to Gossip Girl. Hit the source link if you want to download the entire report (it's a PDF).

Nielsen data: you're probably watching too much teevee originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Downloads and streaming may not be ready to overtake discs yet, but it's become standard practice for anyone in the business of delivering round platters to peek into online options and Redbox is the latest one. Word from VideoBusiness is the company has a trial program going with everyone's favorite partner CinemaNow where customers prepay for rental packages and get a gift card that can be redeemed for the online movies. At a $1 a day, we don't think Redbox is close to being overtaken by the online space, but obviously it is trying to figure out where to go next with its business, and a hybrid deal for movies we don't have to get off the couch -- or put pants on -- to watch is as good of a plan as any.

Filed under: Industry, Internet

Redbox testing out movie distribution without discs, boxes, red originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO INTERVIEW. VideoWeb has developed a receiver that combines HDTV broadcasting, internet TV and numerous internet applications in a single unit.

Doris Kucera, Press Officer of VideoWeb gave Biz-News.com reporters a short introduction to the company as well as a live demonstration of Plus X Award-nominated WidoWeb S500.

As if we weren't already hyped that The Wizard of Oz is returning to theaters in celebration of its Blu-ray release, Netflix is putting a little something extra -- and free -- on it. Anyone in the U.S. will be able to stream the classic online via PC (trailer embedded after the break) at Netflix.com/wizardofoz from 9 a.m. October 3 for 24 hours, while subscribers can pull the stream down in high definition on any compatible device. No interruptions, no cost, no hassle. Prefer the group watch experience with an actual physical group of people? The company is also putting on a free concert and outdoor showing in NYC's Central Park September 29. With the options of on disc, streaming, in a theater or even outside it's hard to think of more ways to see a movie than this one, which would you pick?

Continue reading Netflix taking everyone to Oz for free via streaming, subscribers go in HD

Netflix taking everyone to Oz for free via streaming, subscribers go in HD originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Networked video game consoles are the most used devices for bringing web video to the TV in the US - and look set to remain so until 2013, according to an In-Stat report.
It found that 29 per cent of US 25 to 34 year olds with game consoles already use the devices to watch streaming video off the Internet.

Filed under: Media streamers, Receivers, Others

The VuNow platform is sitting a lot prettier, as it has grabbed an OEM deal to be included in Sherwood's upcoming line of receivers. Already making an appearance as the Netgear ITV2000 standalone unit, now high end amps and surround sound systems will have access to a variety of internet video sources without additional hardware. Verismo's said it will be pursuing many different opportunities for its technology, we'll wait and see where the YouTube / CNN / ESPN and more streaming hardware shows up next, though your cable box would appear to be a safe bet.

Continue reading VuNow's internet video-to-TV streamer finds a home in Sherwood receivers

VuNow's internet video-to-TV streamer finds a home in Sherwood receivers originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media PCs, Media streamers, Internet

ZeeVee has announced a Mac version of its Zinc video browser. Aimed ata TV-compatible i[nterface to any streaming website Zinc should run on any Intel Mac running OS X 10.5. Specifically pointing out boxee, Zinc says users can create access to new sites just by adding an rss feed to their favorites tab. Give it a shot and let us know if its as easy as they make it sound, Mac owners.Speaking of remote-focused interfaces for streaming sites, ZeeVee has announced a Mac version of its Zinc video browser. Aimed at the suddenly crowded field of giving a TV-compatible interface to any streaming website Zinc should run on any Intel Mac running OS X 10.5. Specifically pointing out boxee, Zinc says users can create access to new sites just by adding an rss feed to their favorites tab. Give it a shot and let us know if its as easy as they make it sound, Mac owners.

ZeeVee releases Zinc TV browser for Macs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new version of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable has been announced by the industry alliance responsible for licensing the specification.
HDMI Licensing said the upgraded 1.4 version of HDMI will make it easier to connect Internet-connected HD video devices to TVs and other appliances.
The new cable will be able to transfer Internet data as well as video and audio data - something that the existing version isn't able to do.

Filed under: Media streamers, Set-top boxes, Others

Found the Verismo VuNow's previous iterations lacking? Take another look, because the company says it's gotten all more and better on us, with even more live TV channels, websites, and now Shoutcast Internet radio bringing additional content to the box. On the hardware side it can finally read NTFS formatted drives, not just FAT-32, plus 802.11n support with WPA2 and WPS security, Dolby AC-3 audio, PAL and other tweaks. Check out the full press release after the break and see how $149 for a VN1000HD Hi-Def POD strikes you now that its added even more services (though unfortunately not Hulu, from what we can tell.)

Continue reading VuNow 3.0 update: Now with AC-3, NTFS, PAL & more

VuNow 3.0 update: Now with AC-3, NTFS, PAL & more originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 06 May 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Millions of viewers already watch Internet video on their TVs but that number is set to climb dramatically, according to In-Stat.
It forecasts that by 2013 web-to-TV video streaming services will drive nearly USD $3 billion in revenue.

TV makers have been quick to recognise consumer appetite for connected TVs - and their ability to act as a differentiator in a crowded market.
Rightly so, as new research shows that nearly half of prospective TV buyers in the US intend to purchase an Internet-ready TV in the next year.

Filed under: Internet, New content

Between numerous reruns and our DVR, we can't recall the last time we missed a PBS program we wanted. All the same, we won't complain about having another way to soak up content that our pledge dollars help produce, and now PBS has opened up the beta version of its online Video Portal site with full-length versions of some of its programs. There's even some exclusive content -- the first episode of Time Team America is available on the site right now, well in advance of the July broadcast schedule. Sure, we're disappointed that not all the HD pixels made it to the website, but soaking up an episode of NOVA has got to be a better use of your cubicle time than working on your facebook page; not to mention this is another source for boxee to scrape up.

PBS launches online video portal originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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INTERVIEW: Mike Harris, CEO of AnySource Media, talks to hdtv.biz-news about his company's Internet-enabled TV platform that will start appearing in HDTV sets in the second half of 2009. The Internet Video Navigator (IVN) allows users to view Internet video on their HDTVs alongside traditional TV networks - without requiring a separate box or complicated wiring.

Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Set-top boxes, Internet

ZillionTV may not have a price, launch date or even confirmed areas of availability yet, but that hasn't stopped the outfit from racking up a deal to stream films from The Weinstein Company over its service whenever it launches. For those who've already forgotten, ZillionTV is the streaming to TV service with designs on selling its hardware to customers via their ISPs, then streaming content free with ads as well as providing pay video on-demand. Even without flicks like Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Reader, it already had a competent lineup of content partners, but now ZillionTV is looking even more like a legitimate challenger, if only we had a few more details to go on.

ZillionTV adds The Weinstein Company films to its streaming library originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Set-top boxes, Others

If you're still resisting the onset of the internet TV revolution, we're here to inform you that your efforts are in vain. Shortly after launching a dedicated box at CES, Verismo Networks has announced an OEM program that's apparently drawing lots of attention from manufacturers of TVs, optical media players, AV receivers, etc. Essentially, the company is looking to get its open VuNow platform, which pulls in content from around the web, onto other standalone boxes and integrated within future devices -- much like Netflix's Watch Instantly has done. And don't think the cash flow stops at the consumer level, as there are also opportunities within education and medicine sectors for institutions seeking a streamlined way of distributing learning materials. Watch out, pay-TV -- we've got options here, and we aren't afraid to use 'em.

Verismo's VuNow internet TV platform ambushes OEM market originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ARCHOS, the company that "invented the PMP", is to bring out a touchscreen smartphone based on the Android operating system.
The new ultra-thin Internet Media Tablet (IMT) will allow playback of HD video while offline.

The cost of VUDU's basic 250GB VUDU HD player has been halved to USD $150.
According to the on-demand internet provider the move is not a sign of looming financial problems. It stresses that the dramatic price cut is due to positive factors.

Nearly two-thirds of US viewers want to watch Internet-based streaming video on their home HDTV, according to research.
The results endorse the growing trend for set manufacturers' to launch internet-connected HDTVs, as was evidenced at last month's CES.

Various members of Sling Media's top management, including several founders, have announced their departure from the company.
The move follows Echostar's acquisition of Sling for USD $380 million in 2007.

Filed under: Industry, Fiber

Move Networks has a pretty amazing statistic to share with the world: in 2008, it streamed over 100 million hours of high-definition content, and that's compared to 180 million hours of total content. Additionally, it experienced a 100% growth in the amount of people watching internet television, and if you're wondering why figures from this company are notable, have a listen. It's responsible for streaming 60% of the most popular TV shows and 11 or the top 20 primetime TV shows including Fringe, Lost, Gossip Girl and Ugly Betty. Even Bill Bradford, Chief Product Officer of Fox Digital Media, noted that it has seen "tremendous growth in its audience since partnering with Move Networks to deliver its programs online." No wonder TV manufacturers are champing at the bit to get online video portals on their sets.

Move Networks streams over 100 million hours of HD video in 2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic has unveiled the first portable Blu-ray player at CES in Las Vegas.
The DMP-B15 features an 8.9-inch WSVGA display and along with the ability to play Blu-ray discs it also has access (via
Ethernet connection to the Internet) to VIERA CAST. Fully Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) compliant it also features an SD card.