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Time Warner Cable iPad app adds channels to replace pulled ones
I never thought I'd be writing about Time Warner Cable as an advocate for consumers getting more content, but sure enough, that's what the cable provider has become. After being forced to remove some channels from its newly-introduced streaming iPad app, TWC has added a whole list of new channels into the app for viewing at no extra charge, including A&E, Disney, Bravo, SyFy, Travel Channel and USA. TW even gets a little confrontational on its official blog, going poetic on the channels that they were forced to remove from the app: "Instead of rowing down the river of history and into the future, these programmers have chosen to sit on the bank and kick rocks." Them's fightin' words, and it's pretty impressive to hear from a company that has traditionally gotten a bad rep from even its own customers. Of course, all of this is great news for iPad owners with a Time Warner cable subscription, and it's good news for the rest of us anyway, as more choices in content for Apple's devices benefits most everyone. If you've got the iPad app and the service, you can get started watching right now. [via Engadget]
n3D presents History Channel's The Universe in 3D on July 30
History Channel doesn't have its own 3D network yet, but the day after season five premieres there, it will be aired at 10 p.m. on DirecTV's n3D... in 3D (and in 2D on The 101.) A&E TV VP David Zagin claims "The 3D experience greatly enhances the graphics of The Universe," and it certainly seems possible, given the CGI renderings featured on the show, which will focus that episode on "The 7 Wonders of the Solar System" including mountain ranges on Saturn's rings, a massive Volcano on Jupiter as well as its red spot, and hi-res photos of lava flow on Mars. Check the press release after the break for all the details, no word whether there will be any more 3D episodes coming our way, but hopefully this means things are looking up for DirecTV's attempts to acquire content for the first 24-hour 3D network in the US.
Lichborne: A death knight primer for tanking 5-man dungeons
Welcome to Lichborne, the weekly death knight column. This week, your host is in a bit of a tanking mood. Those Emblems of Frost don't earn themselves! So when the Dungeon Finder came out, it was pretty cool even for DPS. A 10 minute wait for a DPS slot for a 5-man dungeon is pretty insanely awesome. If nothing else, it was certainly faster than the old way of sitting in Dalaran for 2 hours picking your nose and watching the LFG channel. Now that the dungeon finder has been around for a while though, things are getting a bit stickier for DPS. My server averages around 15-20 minutes for a level 80, and I've heard some battlegroups are up to 30-45 minutes, even at prime time. To make matters worse, tanks and healers can continue to boast instant or near-instant queues almost everywhere, leaving the poor DPS green with envy. Now technically, this is how it's almost always worked. Tanks and Healers get groups pretty quick, DPS has to wait around. And all told, the dungeon finder system is still pretty cool, and you still get a group faster than the old way. That said, now that we've had a taste of true power, I'm sure we're all loathe to lose it. Luckily, death knights have an out: We can go tank. Whether you're a DPS DK considering going tank for shorter queue times, or a 5-man DK tank newbie looking to up their game, this column's for you.
CBS, Comcast On Demand Online partnership faces off premium vs. free internet streaming; 17 cable channels jump onboard
After stocking up on premium networks with HBO and Starz, Comcast's On Demand Online project has added its first broadcast TV partner, CBS. One of the worries regarding TV Everywhere / On Demand Online has been what it would mean for free streaming portals like Hulu, with broadcasters potentially shifting content behind pay-tv walls to keep people from dropping cable and satellite TV subscriptions. CBS has been the notable Hulu holdout, although it has also pushed forward with free streaming on its website, including March Madness and even upping the resolution of its Flash video to 1080p. Further conflicting the issue? 17 more cable networks (A&E, AMC, BBC America, DIY Network, Fine Living Network, Food Network, Hallmark, HGTV, History, IFC, MGM Impact, Sundance Channel, WE tv, E!, The Style Network, G4 and FEARnet) have also announced plans to join the 5,000 subscriber trial. Just like the previous agreements, it appears customers should expect access during the trial to reflect a lot of what CBS and the others already offer through standard VOD but now with more placeshifting goodness. While media execs watch the bottom line, we're just hoping the stated CBS strategy of "open, non-exclusive distribution of our content in a consumer friendly way" (from the press release, available in full after the break) could push Hulu to add more HD, or at least unblock the PlayStation 3 & Windows Mobile.
A&E brings 'The Beast' to DISH Network's 1080p IP-VOD service
DISH Network's 1080p video-on-demand service may be impressive, but up until now, it hasn't been utilized in any fanciful ways to get outsiders to pay attention. Thanks to a new push from A&E Networks, however, that's all about to change. Said channel's new drama, The Beast, is now available to DISH subscribers with an MPEG-4 HD box via the 1080p IP-VOD platform. Users simply plug in their broadband connection, fire up their set-top-box and surf over to the DishONLINE feature within the 'DVR' menu. Episodes will be made available the day after they air live, and the content is said to be "comparable to Blu-ray Disc." We've got to say, we're totally digging this initiative -- now, if only it were simple to get every other network to follow suit with their own hit shows.
DirecTV picks up A&E's Crime & Investigation HD
DirecTV isn't the first programming provider to pick up A&E Television Networks' new Crime & Investigation HD, but it's still in an exclusive group at this point. Starting today, DirecTV subscribers can tune into the high-def channel on slot 275, although some users are reporting that you'll need to reauthorize your DVR before it becomes accessible. Not a bad add, DirecTV, not bad at all.[Via SatelliteGuys, thanks Chris]
Sky to launch AETN's Crime and Investigation HD / Bio HD on November 5th
UK / Ireland, it's time to celebrate a minor, albeit very important victory. Your lands are the first non-US countries to get A&E Television Networks' (AETN) Crime and Investigation HD and Biography Channel HD. Starting on November 5th (mark it down, people), Sky will launch both networks as part of its sluggish high-def rollout, though we can only hope this means that more channels are on the way. It's clear there's a desire for HD programming in Europe as a whole, we just need more content owners to get on the delivery bandwagon before adoption skyrockets.
A&E Home Video gets ready to enter Blu-ray market
Pretty scary way up there, isn't it A&E? Without first checking the depth of the murky waters below, A&E Home Video is gearing up to plunge into the Blu-ray realm with two titles later this month. Tentatively scheduled to ship on October 28th (though we've seen pre-order dates well into November), The Universe: The Complete Season One and Paul McCartney: The Space Within Us will take viewers into a 2005 tour shot with over 24 HD cameras and into 13 episodes of galactic exploration (we'll let you guess which is which). Look for the 30+ song concert disc to sport an MSRP of $34.95, while the latter collection will demand $79.95.
A&E Television networks launching Crime & Investigation HD channel in Q4
Not satisfied with A&E HD, History HD and Biography HD, A&E Television Networks is throwing up a fourth high definition station at the end of this year, Crime & Investigation HD. Multichannel News has the breakdown on AETN's efforts to spread awareness among carriers for the networks, with its new "Wide Appeal" ad campaign. Still disappointed by the occasional SD upconvert? A&E has a goal of 100% true HD (1080i, not 1080p) primetime across all its networks, but no specific date to expect it.
History's HD VOD channel heads to Korean IPTV service
History (it recently dropped such innocuous terms like The and Channel to describe a lineup of Ax Men and Crime 360) has linked up with Korea Telecom to distribute its network via video on demand. Parent A&E Television is completely committed to HD production for its shows, and plans to continue expanding the channel -- already on the air in the U.K., Scandinavia and Central Europe -- to Asia and Latin America over the next year. Expect more syndication-friendly content on the way, as A&E sees a big future for HD & VOD distribution.
Someone finally tests Adobe apps on Rosetta vs. PPC
Bare Feats has been busy with their Mac OS X vs XP tests earlier today and now this. From what I can tell, they are probably the first site to post some benchmarks of non-Intel native Adobe apps, specifically Photoshop CS2 and After Effects 7.0. Check out the machines they used, and note the equality of RAM: MacBook Pro CD/2.0 -- Apple Intel MacBook Pro with 2.0GHz Core Duo and 2GB of memory PowerMac G5/2.0 -- Apple Dual Single-Core G5/2.0GHz Power Mac with 2GB of memory PowerBook G4/1.67 -- Apple PowerBook G4/1.67GHz with 2GB of memory Not surprisingly, the PowerMac swept the floor with the MacBook Pro, but to my delight: the PowerBook didn't perform that much better. In fact, in the After Effects render test, the MacBook actually beat out the PowerBook.The SP (Single Processor) Actions test is where you can really see the performance void of Rosetta apps on the MacBook Pro, as the PowerMac and PowerBook clearly are going home with the prom queen.Still, I'm glad to see that the MacBook Pro will perform more or less like my PowerBook G4 when running these pro apps, especially since I'm living in After Effects these days. Unfortunately, I now must curse Bare Feats for ever performing these tests, as they got my 'hmm, maybe I could upgrade' gears grinding again. Thanks guys.
