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Dijit collaborates with 11 TV networks to remind you to watch their shows
Say you're surfing around online and come upon an interesting promo for a new TV show. You could stop what you're doing, find the show on your DVR and hit record, but most likely you'll just make yourself a little mental note to catch it later. The problem with mental notes, of course, is that they're often forgotten. Dijit, however, aims to change that by collaborating with broadcast and cable TV networks to incorporate NextGuide-powered reminder buttons on their websites. The reminder buttons have been in testing since August, but the official rollout is today. Eleven companies are on board so far, three of which are BBC America, Fox and truTV. If you go to one of the network's show pages, you'll see a "Remind Me" button with a small alarm clock icon. Click that, and you can sign up for an email or Facebook reminder that'll arrive a half hour before the show airs. If you just don't have the time to watch it then, the message'll also have a one-click "record to DVR" option with participating providers (Comcast, DirecTV and Dish are the only ones for now). Of course, there's nothing to remind you to hit the reminder button in the first place, so maybe make a, er, mental note of this going forward. Head past the break for the PR or hit the source for more info on how to sign up for the service.
NextGuide comes to iPhone - get control of your media viewing
TUAW looked at NextGuide more than a year ago, at which time it was a website and iPad app that alerted TV fans about movies and TV programs they might want to see. It was kind of a super TV Guide, but more personal. The free app has now come to the iPhone, and features push notifications in addition to emails (you can choose to get both or none). In the latest iOS 7-enabled app, NextGuide is deeply integrated with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video and the iTunes Movie Store. For example, if you are looking for movies starring actor Gregory Peck, the guide will find showings of his films on the streaming services, over-the-air TV, on cable or satellite. You can get a reminder that a movie is coming up, or you can choose to watch Peck films on any streaming services you have. For example, if I click on Netflix, the app switches to my Netflix app, and starts playing the movie. That's very cool. With NextGuide, you don't have to have watchlists scattered about on different services -- now you can maintain a single list right in this app. The app also features an episode tracker and fall show previews. There are links to reviews from Rotten Tomatoes as well, so the information is pretty much everything a person would need to intelligently find things to watch. I tried the app and set it for DirecTV, which is my provider, and then added Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. It worked as advertised. I can think of a few improvements for NextGuide. I'd like to set up some permanent searches, and have the app learn my preferences the way Netflix does. While the app can initiate recordings on DirecTV DVRs, it would be great if that also worked on cable and other services. That would require the cooperation of those companies, which all have their own apps, so I'm not holding my breath on that. Still, NextGuide is very handy, and provides loads of viewing information in one place. I love the integration with Netflix and Amazon Instant Videos right on my iPhone, and the reminders are valuable. NextGuide is now a universal app, and it requires iOS 6 or later. It's been nicely optimized for iOS 7 and the iPhone 5 series devices with their larger screens.
Dijit unveils NextGuide Web with Facebook-sourced TV recommendations
Dijit Media just launched a closed beta of its browser-based service, NextGuide Web, which expands on the features of the NextGuide iPad app. NextGuide's interface will be familiar to Pinterest fans, with a scrolling feed through which you can browse your buddies' favorites and bookmark shows for later viewing. If you have a North American cable or satellite provider, you can sign up to receive e-mail reminders for live TV showings while Comcast and DirectTV subscribers can also use NextGuide to schedule DVR recordings. If live TV isn't your thing, NextGuide provides a universal search of Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, and iTunes for your online viewing pleasure. The social aspect of the service -- along with its Facebook integration -- is arguably the most interesting as it makes it easier to discover programs based on recommendations pulled from your friends' activity. NextGuide's web service is currently invitation-only, but users of the iPad app and Dijit Remote will be able to log on immediately. Since Dijit acquired Miso back in February, users of Miso's TV app will also be granted access sometime within the next month.
NextGuide iPad app update adds second-screen content for USA Network
If you're constantly on the lookout for more second screen apps to enhance your television viewing experience and you happen to be a big fan of Psych, NextGuide's newly minted integration with the USA Network might be right up your alley. In its latest update, the TV Guide replacement app now has a handy "USA Sync" button whenever you're watching the network's shows, which include Psych, Burn Notice and Suits. During their live broadcasts, hitting that button will bring up related content like trivia, polls and bonus clips. This is yet another arrow in NextGuide's quiver of second screen features, which includes the ability to seek out programming from traditional broadcast channels along with streaming services like Amazon, Netflix and Hulu Plus. The USA Sync function is already available via the network's own site and app, but it's nice to see it play nice with third-party apps as well. You can go ahead and download the latest NextGuide from the Apple App Store or just head to the source below.
Dijit updates remote, NextGuide apps with integrated profiles, Hulu-powered videoclips
The folks over at Dijit have been busy as the year draws to an end, issuing updates for both their universal remote app and NextGuide tablet app that promises to help us escape traditional grids. The newest version of the Dijit remote (a free app that brings control features when paired with Griffin's Beacon) is now integrated with NextGuide, allowing users to share profiles across the software, the welcome addition of a "record to DVR" button for DirecTV subscribers, a refreshed UI, accessibility enhancements and finally support for iThing screens of various shapes, sizes and resolutions. The NextGuide app itself also has a new feature, with "Clips" which pulls in additional short videos from Hulu that tie into whatever actor, show or anything else you may be watching, plus an easier setup process and autofill search box. The apps themselves are free, snag them at the source links below.
NextGuide iPad app continues its fight against boring grids, adds Amazon, gestures and more
There's more than a few apps (and even DVRs) that promise to help you find something to watch, but one of the more interesting efforts came from Dijit Media's NextGuide app for the iPad. It launched its assault on the old grid-style layout last month, and an update rolling out is adding listings for more content from Amazon VOD and Prime streaming, plus support for new gestures like two finger swipe between show cards, pinch to hide and more. The "Your Picks" algorithms that attempt to figure out what else you may like before you do have been tweaked, and it can also pull up more information about any show or movie with saved searches and Wikipedia bio lookups. Hit iTunes to give the free app a shot, and see if this is a push in the right direction for your TV watching experience.
NextGuide for iPad intends to get you to stop using the grid guide
Believe it or not, most people still start their TV watching routine by hitting the guide button and browsing. After that, they might check to see what's on the DVR, and eventually make their way through the streaming options available on their smart TV or game console. Dijit Media wants to change that with the new NextGuide iPad app which sets out to answer the age old question of "what am I going to watch next?" Essentially this hyper personal guide knows whats on TV, what your friends are watching and lets you easily filter by things like category, Facebook likes or even keywords in the metadata. Discovering content is the key theme here, but integration with other services like Rotten Tomatoes and the ability to schedule recordings on your DVR are also in the cards -- currently scheduling recordings only works with DirecTV, but we're told more are on the way. Although from the same company, NextGuide doesn't work with the Beacon so you'll need to keep using the Dijit remote for the majority of your remote needs, but both products will live on even though Dijit's focus is on NextGuide, for now.
