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You can now watch A&E and History live on iOS and the web
A&E Networks is regularly finding ways to make its programming more widely available, particularly by having on-demand options through TV providers and its own apps. To help boost these efforts, the company's now bringing live streaming into the fold, at least with a couple of properties. As of today, viewers can now watch a real-time feed of A&E and History, via each channel's website and their applications on iOS -- no word on when, or if, the feature will head to Android. Naturally, you'll need a cable subscription to enjoy this, as is often the case for most services that use the internet to broadcast entertainment content.
A&E, Lifetime and History Channel streaming apps land on Google Play
No need to envy your iPhone- and iPad-toting friends anymore just because they can catch the latest episodes of Bates Motel or Dance Moms on the go. Streaming apps from A&E, History Channel and Lifetime have just arrived on Android, and you can access content even if you're not a cable subscriber. Naturally, the entire roster of shows and episodes isn't available -- in some cases, you can only watch clips instead of full episodes -- but Comcast or DirecTV subscribers who log in will have more to choose from. Should you need new companions for solitary nights, hit the source links below to download the apps on your device.
History Here app is perfect for summer travel
History Here for iPhone is a clever take on travel discovery apps. The app comes from The History Channel and A&E Networks. In a nutshell, the app knows where you are and what historical sites are near you. It could be a National Park, a Civil War Battlefield, a museum, a Western fort or more. When you find a place, click on it and you'll get information on the location, the destination website if there is one, and a way to forward it to friends. One thing I like is that the app is not based on Wikipedia info. That info is usually very good, but most similar apps use the same data source and I appreciate there is different content with History Here. Of course, I would have appreciated Wikipedia links too, but alas, there aren't any. History Here worked well, although I had a couple of crashes where the app suddenly put up a blank screen and the only way out was to force quit the app. I think History Here works better when you are at a destination, rather than as a planning app. It is really set up to explore where you are, not where you are going, although it is possible to do that too, it's just not as effortless. If you are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, this app is really not needed. There is plenty of info about the Grand Canyon on other apps and at other places. But if you're near the Grand Canyon and interested about some of the obscure destinations nearby this is very handy. History Here requires iOS 5 or greater, and would be better if it was universal, or there was an iPad native version. Some screenshots are below: %Gallery-160767%
Windows Phone Mango augmented reality hands-on
We're still waiting to get our first big bite of the full Mango experience after this morning's liveblog, but we were able to get a quick hands-on with a few of the apps making use of the operating system's new features. Chief among them is the History Channel app, which is making use of the augmented reality features that have been enabled. Using the internal gyro and accelerometer the device was able to overlay landmarks, which with a tap can be added to the phones home screen -- you know, in case you really want to know what's up at the Brooklyn Bridge. We also got a look at the updated Weather Channel app, which will not identify cloud types using any augmented reality trickery, but will give you quick and easy access to what's up -- and about to start falling. Check out the pics below, and get ready for a video after the break. %Gallery-124315%
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.
History Channel debuts in Poland and Hungary
Relatively speaking, there's been quite a lot of HD action on the international front of late, and we're pleased to see that History (as it's known these days) will be taking its content to Central Europe. The channel will be debuting in both SD and HD in Poland and Hungary, and while Toya and UPC Polska will offer the standard-def feed in the former nation, Aster City will be delivering both feeds; in Hungary, UPC Hungary will host the SD version while T-Kabel broadcasts both. Best of all, it sounds as if History may cross over into neighboring countries as well in the upcoming months, so keep a close on your EPG if your carrier hasn't jumped in just yet.
Comcast gives Twin Cities 11 new HD options
It is the season to give, you know, and while we've heard that Comcast will be on the receiving end of things when it hikes rates in 2008, at least users across the nation are receiving a boost in their HD lineup before having the family over this holiday season. Up next on Comcast's list is St. Paul / Minneapolis, Minnesota (and western Wisconsin), which is receiving 11 new channels to complement the 22 already available. Among the newcomers are CNN HD, Animal Planet HD, Discovery HD, Food HD, Sci-Fi HD, TLC HD, Universal HD, USA HD, TBS HD, History HD and FSN North HD. Reportedly, customers in the area are already able to view USA, Sci-Fi, Universal and Food, and the rest of the gang is slated to go live on or before December 17th.[Thanks, Ed]
Time Warner Cable expanding HD lineup in San Antonio
It's that time again -- you know, the moment when San Antonians that rely on Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) can look forward to even more HD channels when they flip on the set. TWC has been doing its part to add a (small) number of high-definition stations of late, including a few here in the Raleigh market this month, and those dwelling in south-central Texas should now be able to view the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN), Food Network HD, HGTV HD and The History Channel HD. We know, it's not the most enthralling list of additions, but hey, we'll take what we can get.
Really, there's a History Channel game?
We still don't believe it. There's actually a History Channel game on store shelves right now. And it's for PSP. Great Battles of Rome is now available for Europeans to play, and it's certainly one of the most intriguing licenses we've seen in quite some time. We haven't mustered the courage to find a copy, but can any of our European readers care to share their experiences?Here are a few screenshots from the PSP version of the game:%Gallery-4011%
The History Channel HD in September on DirecTV
While we all read the long list of new HD channels DirecTV will be bringing to us this fall, it is always good to get more details. We now know that the History Channel HD will launch -- on at least DirecTV -- this fall as a simulcasted version of the SD channel. This is certainly more exciting than the upconverted Weather channel we learned about last week, but we are still a long way from 100 HD channels this year. 100 HD channels or not, DirecTV is poised to be the provider to be reckonged with when it comes to HD, now if only they could work out all those bugs in the HR20.
Hitl ... errr History Channel game coming to PSP
History Channel is turning their sights once again to video games--and this time, the subject is Rome. Black Bean Games (Evolution GT, SBK-07) is handling development duties of The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome. Players will play the role of a Roman legionnaire and will fight against barbarian hordes, as well as rival countries. It is promised to have more than just combat, though. It will have an empire-growing strategy element as well. The developers haven't confirmed if the corner of your PSP's screen will have a giant "H" in it during gameplay, though. [Via PSXextreme] [Update: Clarified the writing for readability.]
