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Internet media viewing on TVs set to surge by 2013
So, here's an interesting take. ABI Research is forecasting that the amount of online programs watched on the TV (as in, not on the computer monitor) will grow from 563 million viewers in 2008 to 941 million by 2013. There's no doubt that web-based content is catching on, though we suspect it'll need to be easily piped to the traditional television set for those in past generations to really take it seriously. To that end, it's anticipated that operators as well as console manufacturers and the like will make it increasingly easier to access internet TV via Netflix, Hulu and related portals. Can you imagine a day when your favorite programs, even NFL games, are beamed directly to a website that's easily accessible via a web-to-TV liaison such as the ZvBox? We know, bandwidth is a serious issue, but the concept alone should be enough to make traditional MSOs sweat.[Via VideoBusiness, image courtesy of ZatzNotFunny]
HDi streaming technology could open up "virtual cable television"
FilmOn.com may not have the name recognition in America as does YouTube and Hulu, but its creator could be making a name for himself with the online video portal's underlying technology. Alki David founded FilmOn some three years back, and has since developed an advanced streaming protocol dubbed HDi (no, not that HDi). The technology could eventually be used to deliver high-definition cable TV programming and other video-on-demand options around the globe without any lag or stutter; we're even told that Britons could catch the local news in Iowa if the ideal scenario comes to fruition. So far, David has inked deals with a number of content providers, though only Turner Network Television was specifically named. FilmOn is expected to showcase its "virtual cable television" tech to BT next month, which could certainly accelerate the expansion of HDTV by enabling it to flow over existing internet delivery pipes. Consider our interest markedly piqued, especially for HD-deprived souls overseas.
Joost lets P2P dreams die, settles on Flash player delivery
It was a valiant effort, it truly was, but even we saw this coming. Way back when, a couple of Skype founders had a brilliant idea of trying to pump out its own software that utilized peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing technology in order to distribute videos online and circumvent the so-called bandwidth limitations. Fast forward to now, and those plans are finally being axed. According to a notice from Joost, users will "no longer be able to watch videos in the Joost software application" after December 19th. Instead, those hoping to suck up some content from the company will be forced to watch the web video player, which has practically become the de facto standard over the past year. Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey even chimed in with this gem after hearing of the development: "[P2P] as a platform for legal consumer video is dead." Tough to disagree with the man, huh?
YouTube makes finding high-def content easier with HD tab
YouTube already made the HD transition, but now it seems that finding content without unacceptable levels of pixelation is a whole lot easier. One eagle-eyed tipster picked up on the apparently new "HD" tab that now sits prominently beside "Most Popular" and "Most Viewed." At present time, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of interesting (or becoming, to be frank) material on the HD side, but just give it a few months to grow.[Thanks, Victor]
Intel promises widget-lovin' internet TV set-top-boxes at CES
Okay, so we suppose Intel could actually just showcase its widget-lovin' chip within an HDTV, HTPC or Blu-ray player, but our money is on prototype set-top-boxes similar to the Gigabyte unit that was showcased at IDF (and pictured above). Since that original showing, quite a bit has happened on the internet TV front. Practically all of the major STBs have integrated web content into their dashboards, and what was once the exception (one-click access to Hulu and Twitter from a TV-connected deck) has rapidly become the rule. To that end, Intel's hoping to wow onlookers at CES 2009 with early build devices that run mini-applications meant to "complement TV viewing with information from the internet." Not surprisingly, it'll also use Vegas as a springboard for introducing content partners, and hopefully, a few release dates. Seriously Intel, we need another STB by our television about like we need another hole in the ozone layer, so this better be good.
YouTube goes HD, finally!
Be still our hearts! Just days after a YouTube "hack" was discovered to view what appeared to be 720p content, and even fewer days since seeing the famed online video sharing site adopt a widescreen format, in comes the real deal: HD. Forever we've waited for the site to catch up with smaller entities that already do high-def, and while it's far from bona fide 1080p, the quality is pretty exceptional given the quick load times on a basic cable internet connection. 'Course, the original upload file has to be in an HD quality format in order for users to see the above pictured "watch in HD" option, but feel free to dig around and see what you find.[Via NewTeeVee]
boxee adds Netflix support, other tweaks in new alpha
The guys and gals at boxee have been relentlessly working to update the media management software, and just over a month after Hulu support was added, we're now thrilled to announce that Netflix support is joining in. Additionally, users will find custom interfaces for CNN, Hulu, Flickr, Picasa, and YouTube, not to mention portals for TheWB, MTVMusic and The Boston Globe's Big Picture blog. One important caveat is that Netflix isn't yet compatible on Apple TV, but the team is working hard to overcome the hardware limitations and make it happen as soon as possible. Peep the full release after the jump.%Gallery-38485%
Neuros LINK web / media viewer gets unboxed
That floor looks mighty familiar, huh? That's because it is. Just days after Mr. Dave Zatz treated us to an unboxing of the 2Wire-built MediaPoint Blockbuster movie set-top-box, here comes yet another gift from the same den. The recently announced Neuros LINK was said to practically be a full-on computer, with the whole kit weighing some 15-pounds. Initial reports are that Hulu content played back beautifully in full screen, so yeah, that's a thumbs-up. We know why you're really here, though, so give the read link a visit for the gallery of photographs.
Sling.com internet TV portal opens to the public, Hulu quakes
Internet TV portals are a dime a dozen, and most of them can't hold a candle to the current king of the hill: Hulu. Thankfully, some real competition has just waltzed in, as the Sling.com online viewing network is now open and available to the general populace. The service will deliver content from over 90 providers (including a bunch you've actually heard of), original editorial content and social networking features to keep you coming back. Now that it's open, why not hop over and give it a spin -- let us know how you like / dislike things in comments below.
Three Sheets not done yet: New Year's Eve Pub Crawl from London on MOJO's website
iN DEMAND Networks has heard you loud and clear, and it's giving Three Sheets fanatics at least one more look at Zane Lamprey's blitzed face this New Year's Eve. On the very day that MOJO HD vanished from programming providers everywhere, in flies a release informing us that what's likely the channel's most loved show will be back for another go... online. The second annual Three Sheets New Year's Even Pub Crawl will air this year from London, and it will begin streaming at the stroke of midnight ET on January 1, 2009. The 45-minute special will see Zane dropping by the bar at Duke's Hotel, Green and Red on the East End and Casa Blue (just to name a few). Oh, and if you're really dedicated to the show, you can hit up the Zane Years Eve party in LA, which will include a screening of this very show. We'll keep you posted on anything we hear regarding the show being picked up on another network (hint, hint, networks). Full release is after the break.
TVTonic service "retired" due to tough economy
No amount of economic bailouts will apparently be enough to save Wavexpress' TVTonic portal, as President Michael Sprague announced today that the service is coming down so the company can restructure. If you're currently using it to subscribe to video podcast RSS feeds to their PC / media center, don't worry, thing will continue to function but everyone else can go ahead and punch the uninstall button because it's gone, man. Goodbye TVTonic, we'll always have Beijing.
Verizon lands video distribution deal with Velocix
One thing's for sure: Verizon is well aware of the importance of online video, and it's doing everything within its power to make sure it stays one step ahead of the curve. Hot on the heels of its recently announced Starz Play deal comes this, a similar agreement with a UK-based digital asset-delivery network provider. The agreement with Velocix puts Verizon in a position to "offer content owners and video distributors a competitive choice in delivering their services to our broadband customers." More specifically, the two have worked together to "offer content owners and video distributors a competitive choice in delivering their services to broadband customers," which leads us to believe that all sorts of new internet-based content could soon be coming to FiOS / FiOS TV customers. It's okay to be a wee bit giddy, we won't tell.
YouTube "hack" reveals HD / surround sound testing
It's a feature we've been clamoring for as long as we can remember -- high-def on YouTube -- and it's about to happen. Thanks to a few curious YouTube browsers, a simple URL hack revealed that the online video site already has the ability to host and play back 720p clips, and better still, some users are reporting that surround sound is also in the works. Wired is claiming that YouTube has confirmed that this discovery is part of the site's efforts to test out different video formats, and with rivals like Viddyou already up to 1080p, it's about flippin' time. We can't say for sure when YouTube HD will roll out in official form, but you should definitely hit the read link and check the embedded vids; the top one is 720p, the bottom is the standard pixel-fest. We dare you to not be amazed at the difference.[Via NewTeeVee]
GridNetworks launches GridCast TV service to bring internet video to TV sets
If the term GridNetworks seems vaguely familiar, it's because it is. After being invested in by Cisco back in March, the outfit is finally pushing out a quasi-tangible product in the form of GridCast TV. You see, the service actually relies on other boxes to handle the dirty work, meaning that content owners have complete control over how their material is distributed and via what channels. By leveraging UPnP technology, content owners can beam out programming to anyone with an internet-connected PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and HDTV (for example), and we're told that online video mainstays Revision3, IndieFlix and havocTV have already begun using it. Good luck out there -- with a space this crowded, you're bound to need it.
Verismo Networks' PoD web video-to-TV box grabs release date
Remember that totally forgettable PoD that popped up and vanished back in June? You know -- that minuscule box (around the size of two cigarette packs) that plays back practically anything (torrents, web videos, etc.) on your TV without a PC in between? Yeah, that very unit has finally secured a legitimate release date and price, and we can safely say that we're riveted. For those needing a refresher, the wired / wireless unit scans your local network and detects any type of multimedia stored anywhere; from there, it streams content directly to your TV without any fuss -- much like the Neuros-powered WhereverTV, but with far fewer limitations. If you're intrigued, get set to pony up $99 on December 15th to quell your curiosity.
Recast Digital makes HD Flash clips look good, load fast
At this point, there are simply too many online video viewers to count, but Recast Digital is doing something pretty special. Just spouting off about the technology is a real yawn-fest -- after all, it's not like you really care just how proprietary its "proprietary method of optimizing playback performance of HD video within Flash is, you just want it to look great. The outfit has established a "video showcase" site which shows off just what its technology can do, and at least on the surface, the results are fairly fantastic. Hard to say exactly where you'll see the tech end up (ads, trailers, etc. are our guesses), but you can have a peek at the showcase site by checking out the read link. Full release is after the break.
Boxee delivers Hulu to Apple TV
For Apple TV owners who don't shy away from tinkering, we've got some excellent news. As of today, video viewers can now catch Hulu.com content from within Boxee (and by extension, on their Apple TVs). No need to wipe the sleep from your eyes -- Hulu accessibility has arrived on Apple's set-top-box, as the embeddable player has been ported over to Boxee. Additionally, Boxee has added CBS.com to its list of viewable internet video sources; head on down to Boxee's website for more, and jump past the break for the full release.
Dailymotion's HQ online video player: for when HD is out of reach
If you're going to watch online content, it may as well be in high-def, right? But what if you're on a lousy connection, or even a PC built pre-Stalin that just can't handle the load? Enter Dailymotion HQ, a middle ground of sorts that looks distinctly better than the SD player yet doesn't demand all that the HD player does. The app delivers content based on the H.264 codec with audio using AAC at 96kbps; as for resolution, you'll get 512 x 384 at up to 30 frames-per-second. Reportedly, Dailymotion HQ requires any broadband connection, Flash Player 9 and a computer with a dual-core CPU. If you're interested in seeing what the fuss is about, hit the read link and surf over to the comparison vid (pictured above).
TV Worldwide to open America's largest internet TV studio
TV Worldwide, which was founded way back in 1999, is gearing up to open what will become America's largest internet TV studio. Hot on the heels of a report studying the importance of community in TV viewing comes this news, which explains that the outfit will be expanding its current Washington, DC-based facility to "support its growing network of internet TV channels and programming." It seems it'll be using the additional space to bulk up its offerings in the professional / commercial realms, but who knows, maybe it'll start serving up more general content when it can't find anything else to do with all the fresh space.
Boxee / XBMC now available on Apple TV
If you were curious as to why Boxee suddenly became available for OS X 10.4 users, here's your sign. The underpinnings of the Apple TV are indeed based on Tiger, thus paving the way for Scott Davilla, a developer for the aTV-bootloader project, to announce that Boxee and XMBC can now be installed on Apple's set-top-box. In order to take advantage, you'll need the aTV Flash bootloader on a bootable USB drive, an Apple TV and the software in the links below. Currently, things are setup to run on Mac only, though PC / Linux versions are promised for next week. After signing up for a Boxee invite, jump on past the break for the step-by-step guide to getting this going. %Gallery-33129% Read - ATV Bootloader siteRead - Boxee Alpha signup
