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Verizon sends invitations to closed trial of FiOS TV app for iOS with live streaming

Jon Fingas — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:14:00 -0400

Want to know the definition of frustration? Try being teased with a FiOS TV app that supports live streaming, only to be denied when the app shows up. The end to that (admittedly mild) form of torture may be in sight. Engadget has learned through a tip that Verizon is sending invitations among a limited group to test a new FiOS TV iOS app with the usual schedule browsing, DVR control... oh, and live TV. Flex View On Demand videos and local media should be on tap as well, although it's not clear whether or not any of the options will require an active link to Verizon's fiber or cellular networks to watch. The trial leaves some time to go before we're tuning in through a bedside iPhone 5; even so, it suggests the gap between hope and reality is about to close.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Mobile

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Verizon FiOS TV app to deliver VOD and live HD to LG TVs

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:58:00 -0500

Everybody has to have an app these days and telecom companies like Verizon are no different. Apps on smartphones and tablets, apps on game consoles and even apps on HDTVs or Blu-ray players. The latest app from Verizon is the FiOS TV App, which will be coming to LG's Smart TV Platform in the first half of 2012. In addition to 26 live channels, like Verizon's Xbox 360 app, LG HDTVs and Blu-ray players will also have access to video on-demand, including the 10,000 Flex View titles. As excited about this as we are, our enthusiasm is quickly tempered when we realize all the live channels that're missing, this makes it very far from being the set-top boxless solution we dream of.

Filed under: HD

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Microsoft reportedly adding video from Comcast, Verizon, HBO Go and others to Xbox Live

Richard Lawler — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:55:00 -0400

Microsoft announced new integration with live TV as a part of the Xbox 360's fall update during E3 earlier this year, but didn't name any US pay-TV partners at the time. Now, anonymous rumors recently posted on Digiday suggested the folks at Redmond were looking to work with Verizon and Comcast, followed by Bloomberg hearing similar talk from its own "people with knowledge of the situation." Today's rumors finger Verizon (which showed off live TV on a variety of devices at CES), Comcast, HBO, Crackle, Bravo, Syfy and UK service Lovefilm as likely partners. Missing from the list is AT&T's U-verse, which already offers an Xbox 360 tie-in and distributes its IPTV on the Mediaroom platform, just like some of the international partners previously announced. If these services launch it will be interesting to see how the integration works and if it's VOD like the existing Xfinity TV and Flex View mobile apps, or if providers cross the IPTV bridge with in-home devices like the Televation / AnyPlay box.

Filed under: HD

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Verizon's FiOS on Demand app brings Flex View streaming to iPad, iPhone

Amar Toor — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:03:00 -0400

It's been in the works for more than a year, but Verizon's FiOS on Demand app has finally arrived to the iPad and iPhone. Available as a free download on the iTunes Store, this tool provides FiOS subscribers with instant access to all movies or TV shows available under the provider's Flex View service, which now boasts some 4,400 titles for purchase or rent, along with 32GB of cloud storage for each customer. It's still unclear whether Verizon will be releasing a version for other tablets or handsets anytime soon, but iDevice owners can download the app at the source link below.

Filed under: HD

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Hands-on with FiOS Flex View

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:07:00 -0500

At the grand re-opening of a Verizon Plus store in Tampa today, Big Red was demoing its latest FiOS TV feature, Flex View. As announced, this feature lets you take your video on demand content with you on your PC as well as various other Verizon Wireless devices -- no iOS support though as Apple doesn't license its FairPlay and the Microsoft PlayReady DRM used doesn't work on Apple's products either. There are about 2,000 movies available for rent now, with a subset of them available for purchase. Currently they are all SD with stereo sound, but HD and discrete surround sound are planed for later versions. Unlike the FiOS VOD, you can download these shows from any internet connection and play them back on the go or at home -- resume between devices is also in the coming-soon category. Overall the user interface looked good, but we did see lots of blocking artifacts that we just hope were a result of the in-store demo and not an indication of what customers can actually expect. The content is linked to your Verizon FiOS user ID, which means that purchased content can still be viewed even if you cancel your FiOS TV service. No word on if Verizon's free VOD selection will ever become available, but we have to say we really like the idea of watching content on the go no matter how good our network connection isn't.

Gallery: Hands-on with FiOS Flex View

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Verizon FiOS Flex View shows off VOD across TV/PC/mobile screens, will stream your files in 2011

Richard Lawler — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:28:00 -0500

Verizon's showing off the full capabilities of its Flex View service, already available on a number of its mobile phones, which brings FiOS TV On Demand even when you're away from the cable box. Up to five devices (all set-top boxes in the home collectively count as one device) can be authorized for viewing of any titles rented through VOD and can even be played offline on PCs running its Media Manager software or smartphones. The feature that allows users to keep personal content like music, video files and pictures synced across all three screens is due next year, but still no word on exactly when that live TV-to-iPad streaming will launch.

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Verizon rolls out FiOS on Demand app for Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile

Donald Melanson — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:59:00 -0400

There's still no word on that promised, live TV-enabled iPad app, but Verizon has just rolled out its FiOS on Demand app for Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile 6.5, which will let you buy, rent and watch so-called Flex View movies right on your phone. As we'd heard earlier, the number of officially supported devices is somewhat limited to start with --- including the Droid X, Droid 2, and Storm 2, to name a couple -- but Verizon notes that the list is expanding, and to check back often. Of course, you won't simply be limited to watching the movies on your phone; you can also transfer them from your phone to your PC, and view them on any combination of up to four devices in addition to a FiOS TV set-top box.

[Thanks, Nate]

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