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FLO TV storms automotive lots, FLO-EV gets launched and FLO smartbook apps surface
FLO TV may not have had the best Super Bowl commercial (not by a long shot, actually), but the fledgling mobile programming service is doing its darnedest to make some waves over in Barcelona. The biggest news is that Qualcomm will be on hand at MWC in order to showcase a FLO-enabled smartbook, a device that will purportedly bring together live television and live social networking updates -- something that would come in handy while watching the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, for example. In other, more international news, FLO-EV is being introduced, with Qualcomm describing it as the "next evolution of the FLO air interface." Finally, Audiovox has announced that an in-vehicle system based on FLO TV is now sweeping the nation, with Advent-branded solutions hitting up showroom accessory departments en masse. Now, if only these guys and gals could convince people to care about TV on-the-go...
SlingPlayer Mobile v1.2 enables 3G streaming on the iPhone, now ready for download
We knew this was coming, and sure enough, Sling hasn't kept us waiting for long. Our beloved readers have inundated our tip jar with the news that the 3G-enabled flavor of SlingPlayer Mobile is now live on the App Store, and from what we're hearing works very well. The placeshifting app will set you back just under $30, but will allow you to finally take your cable, satellite or PVR content on the move with you. We say finally, 3G streaming has been available on other phones for a while now, but good to see AT&T and company see sense and enable the goodness for the iPhone. Get downloading and commenting -- how does it compare to sliced bread? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Mophie juice pack TV hands-on
You won't know it by the product's official name, but this is the FLO TV appendage for the iPhone that's been teased since November last year. Combining a mobile TV receiver with Mophie's juice pack, this is 2mm thicker and noticeably heavier than the normal external battery pack. You can see comparison shots in the gallery below -- the red and black units are samples of the new peripherals while the white one is the standard Mophie hardware. Alas, no working FLO TV demos were available, but we were told the iPhone UI should be one different from what the company offers at present. Reps kept mum on pricing, but they confirmed the juice pack TV should be arriving in the first half of 2010. %Gallery-82492%
Vizio digs into mobile TV market with three Razor LED TVs, other wild audio products
Here we go again, eh? Vizio's hitting us up with yet another round of wares here at CES, starting with a trio of Razor LED sets that are designed to watch mobile TV. The 9-inch VMB090 and 10-inch VMB100 are among the first to use the new ATSC-M/H standard and ship with an HDMI 1.4 input, while the 7-inch VMB070 holds it down on the low end. The whole trio arrive in enclosures that are less than 1-inch thick, though you'll only really enjoy the integrated antenna if you live in a spot where the broadcasts are available. Speaking of, none of these will be available until "later this year," with prices set for $149.99, $199.99 and $229.99. Moving on, the company's outing 2.1 and 5.1 channel wireless surround home theater systems, wireless headphones and stereo Bluetooth headphones, and if you're super interested in learning more about the bevy of options there, give those source links a tick of your attention.
FLO TV and Mophie team up to bring mobile TV to your iPhone
If you'll recall, FLO TV showed off a proof-of-concept for getting its mobile TV service onto the iPhone back in November of last year. At the time, it required a somewhat unwieldy attachment, which has now melted away with the inclusion of Mophie into the deal, who will integrate the FLO TV hardware into its popular Juice Pack. Both companies are pretty psyched about the synergy of having one device both receiving mobile TV and doing the consequently necessary battery life extension. You'll find their collective announcement after the break, and products can be expected in the first half of the year.
LG reveals Full HD 3D projector, Skype-enabled HDTVs and more at CES
The show floor finally opened up here in Vegas today, and just as we knew they would, the product announcements are flowing hot and heavy. LG's one of today's biggest players, unleashing a whole bevy of new kit that truly spans the gamut of consumer electronic sectors. Kicking things off is the CF3D, which is hailed as the planet's first Full HD, 3D single lens type projector. As for specs, you'll get 3D auto picture calibration, a twin engine, two HDMI 1.3 sockets, 300 ANSI lumens and a single USB input, while the XGA HX300G won't do much of anyone outside of traveling salespeople much good. Moving on, there's a little confirmation of the Skype news that we caught wind of yesterday; sure enough, a range of LG's NetCast-enabled HDTVs will ship with Skype capabilities, though it sounds as if you'll need to budget for a standalone camera. LG's also making official that Mobile DTV-supporting DVD player that we first spotted at the tail end of last year, which will be in stores later this year for around $249. There's plenty more to share on these -- as well as a good bit surrounding a legion of new monitors -- so hop on past the break if you just can't get enough. %Gallery-81670%
Tivit promises to bring Mobile DTV to the iPhone and other WiFi-equipped mobile devices
The Mobile DTV standard is official, sure, but the device selection at this point isn't what we'd call plentiful or even appealing -- so leave it to CES to attract a virtually unknown company with an attractive alternative. Dubbed Tivit, the pocketable box is a said to be a bit smaller and lighter than a deck of cards and claims to stream television to a number of WiFi-enabled devices, including Windows laptops, Motorola Android phones (no clue why other Android devices wouldn't be in the running here), WiFi-equipped BlackBerrys, and even iPhone 3G / third-gen iPod touch (software via related App Store download). One charge gets you three hours of reception, and while that $120 price tag isn't too terrible a fee for keeping the phone you like, when the dongle launches in Spring, it better hope the channel selection is more interesting. Press release after the break. %Gallery-81414%
Cydle P29A spices up mundane spec sheet with Mobile TV capabilities
Well, it seems like South Korean companies aren't fooling around when it comes to getting us riding that newly minted Mobile TV bandwagon. In the wake of LG announcing its first Mobile DTV devices this morning comes Cydle with the P29A PMP. It sports a 2.9-inch touchscreen (see what they did there?), an accelerometer for automatic reorientation, a world clock, and voice recording via a built-in mic. That's a somewhat disappointing goodie list, considering the currently available HD radio-playing P29H (pictured for illustration purposes) also has GPS onboard. Still, you can snap up the A model in Q2 2010 for $199, which seems like a keen price when compared to the $499 Mobile DTV car tuner we've seen before.
LG goes nouveau nostalgic with first US Mobile DTV devices
LG just announced its first commercial products for the fledgling US Mobile DTV standard approved in October. First up is what appears to be a DTV-ified LG Lotus clamshell -- a phone first introduced in 2008 but now capable of extracting digital TV from the aether with an assist from that telescoping antenna. Also set for a CES launch is that DP570MH portable DVD player that lets viewers watch up to 4-hours of ATSC-approved Mobile DTV broadcasts before heading back for a charge. LG's also promising more ATSC Mobile DTV devices from Dell (laptops), Kenwood, and others including in-car receivers all using LG's LG2160A ATSC-M/H tuner chip. Still, mobile antennas and DVD players... how can something so new feel so retro?
Sungale introduces 4.3-inch Kula: the WiFi-enabled portable TV
Not so keen on coughing up a month's worth of WoW coinage in order to pay for FLO TV services? If so, and you can somehow keep yourself surrounded by WiFi waves at all times, Sungale just might have a cheaper alternative. The outfit has just revealed what it says is its "first IPTV," though frankly it sounds more like a WiFi-enabled PMP with a knack for finding web programming. The 4.3-inch Kula is described as an "ultra-portable WiFi-enabled IPTV that allows users to access a large number of live streaming television programs from all over the world, selectable by country, language and topic like News, Sports and Finance all without the high rates." Aside from using WiFi, there's no mention of any other protocol to tap into various channel "packages," though we're not completely shutting out that possibility until we see this bugger at CES. Other specs include 2GB of internal memory, an SD / MMC expansion slot and support for a slew of file formats. Hop on past the break for the full release, which naturally omits any semblance of a price tag in keeping with the elusive theme.
FLO TV Personal Television now on sale for $250, should be in cereal boxes soon
Look, we fully understand that someone, somewhere put a lot of time and effort into designing a $250 handheld that does nothing but watch pixelated mobile TV for a lofty per-month price, but seriously, there has to be better uses of one's time. The 3.5-inch FLO TV Personal Television is on sale today at Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack, though we suspect that the $249.99 up front price will probably keep most potential buyers at bay. Six months of service are included, but afterwards you'll be paying at least $8.99 per month (and a rate that low requires a three-year contract) to keep the signals flowing. If we're being honest, this thing is still more useful than Celio's REDFLY, but that sure ain't sayin' much.
iPhone gets live Sky Mobile TV, O2 offering 3 months' free access
British satellite TV purveyor Sky has been pushing hard lately to expand into new spheres, a desire marked most clearly by its Sky Player integration with the Xbox 360 Dashboard. Now the company is keeping momentum going with the Sky Mobile TV app for the iPhone. The app itself will come free, but live streaming access to the full selection of Sky news and sports (ESPN included) channels will set you back £6 ($10) a month. That's pretty reasonable value if you're into live Premier League matches, which are typically the highest ticket item on a British TV subscription bill. O2 has sweetened that deal even further by offering a full quarter of a year's worth of free access -- a clear response to Orange's infraction on its iPhone turf. You can only stream via WiFi for now, but you have to agree that, at this price point, it's a definite step in the right direction. [Via Daily Telegraph] Read - Sky Mobile TV launches on App Store Read - O2 Sky Mobile TV 3 months free offer
AT&T launching voicemail-to-text service, new Mobile TV stations, Canada plans next week
This coming Sunday marks a straight-up bonanza of new services and tweaks from AT&T -- and while it may not combat a heavily-armed invasion of sentient handsets running Android, it's a nice little win nonetheless. Here's what we've got on tap: Voicemail to Text: This is a variation on a theme that has launched countless times both on other carriers and in the aftermarket, but AT&T's version is explicitly stated "not to be a replacement for a transcription service" because each message is limited to 60 seconds. Users have the option of routing messages to SMS, email, or both for a charge of $9.99 a month. Unfortunately, moving from basic voicemail to this new service will cause all existing messages to be lost, so be careful when adding this one to your plan. AT&T Nation with Canada: It's exactly what it sounds like -- AT&T Nation plans with a little extra Great White North thrown in for good measure. No long distance charges on calls to Canada, 1,000 night and weekend minutes that work in both countries plus full rollover and anytime minute compatibility; A-List and early nights / weekends can be added as well. New Mobile TV channels, coverage, and pricing: Three new channels will be added into the MediaFLO-based Mobile TV mix, though AT&T's being coy about what they are; all we know so far is that there's a comedy station, a "national broadcaster," and a kids' channel. Three new markets are launching between now and December 11, and seven more have launched since September 25. The biggest news here, though, might be that service is dropping from $15 to $9.99 a month, while Mobile TV plus unlimited data goes from $30 down to $24.99. It's still pricey, but it's an improvement. So, who's signing up for tiny teevee now that it's just a little bit cheaper? [Thanks, anonymous tipster] %Gallery-77322%
Samsung develops first chip for US mobile digital TV transmission, provides no release date
Mmm, nothing like a pinch of predictability to wake us in the morning. Just days after the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) finally announced that a North American mobile DTV standard was struck, Samsung has jumped in with what it's calling the planet's first single chip solution designed to handle those very transmissions. All we're told is that the solution combines RF and "digital chip components" into one 65 nanometer chip, making it ideal for smaller devices such as smartphones, car-mounted televisions and portable media players. Of course, Sammy doesn't even bother to mention a mass production date, so we're guessing we all just rise awkwardly and start a roaring slow clap to celebrate the accomplishment.
FLO TV Personal Television gets official: $250 plus a monthly fee you'll never pay
You know, considering just how unappreciated FLO TV's mobile television services are here in the US of A, you'd think the company would do its best to keep the losses at bay. For whatever reason, suits at the outfit have it in mind that the answer to their woes isn't to throw in mobile TV gratis and find revenue streams from other sources, but to produce a dedicated TV that will only appeal to those looking to actually carry more portable devices with them. Brilliant, no? The oft-rumored FLO TV Personal Television finally got official tonight, with an aim to bring live and time-shifted content directly to the 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen for up to five straight hours on a single charge. To its credit, it weighs just 5 ounces and features an integrated kickstand and stereo speakers, but with a $249.99 price tag and a required $8.99 monthly plan (or more, if you're not a fan of locking yourself into an absurd 3-year contract), we can't exactly see this thing selling well. Or at all, really.%Gallery-74877%
mSpot brings new release movie streaming to major US carriers
mSpot has been streaming full-length movies to cellphones for a few years now, but not until this week has the company had a potential customer base of 40 million. As of right now, mobile phone users on Sprint, AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile (yes, that includes the G1, Pre, iPhone and every other smartphone with a half-decent browser) can surf over to m.mspot.com in order to stream major motion pictures, and being that the service is on-demand, you can also pause and restart 'em whenever you darn well please. Deals have been inked with Paramount Studios, Universal Pictures and the Weinstein Company, and we're told that more agreements are in the works. Movie rentals will cost $4.99 per title, and can be viewed from 24 hours to 5 days after they're rented. Naturally, mSpot recommends paying for an "unlimited" data plan, and if you're smart, you won't utilize the service whilst traveling abroad.
Comcast could serve TV over WiMAX, inflate your bill even higher
Think you're good at turning down the upsell? Try saying no to adding WiMAX to your home internet service for the low, low price of whatever Comcast wants to charge. Thanks to a multi-billion dollar tie-up with Clearwire, Comcast has been offering WiMAX-based internet services in a few markets, but now that On Demand Online is a go, it makes sense to think that the operator would use that as leverage to get people hooked. For those unaware, ODO enables Comcast pay-TV subscribers to watch a vast array of programming from any internet connection, which of course means that any ole 3G / 4G data connection would work just as well as Comcast's own. Oh, and while mobile TV is pretty good -- and we're going to let Comcast finish -- watching HDTV at home with a DVR is definitely the best scenario of all time.Update: Just to be clear, this service won't deliver TV straight to phones.
Qualcomm FLO TV handheld in the works?
According to gdgt, Qualcomm -- which usually sticks to research, design, and the fabless chip game -- is fixin' to produce something called the Personal Television, for use with its FLO TV network. The handheld device is alleged to feature a capacitive touchscreen, a swipe and gesture-driven UI, 4GB of memory, built-in stereo speakers, and enough juice for five hours of video, fifteen hours of music, or three hundred stand-by hours. Currently, FLO TV is only available on a limited number of phones, from the likes of AT&T and Verizon in the States, although the company has said that they're planning on bringing it to other phones (via add-on peripherals) including the iPhone and WinMo devices. Can we offer one word of advice? You might want to go with a name besides "Personal Television." Really, it sounds so very 2006.
I-O Data's SEG Clip brings 1seg mobile TV to iPhone and PC
Softbank's own 1seg tuner / battery charger was a novel idea, but leave it to trained assassins at I-O Data to really expound upon the concept and concoct something nearly worthy of relocating to Tokyo for. The new GV-SC310 SEG Clip is a relatively vanilla USB 1seg TV tuner that plugs into one's PC in order to pull down some of Japan's finest OTA programming. Once captured, users with an iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS or iPod touch can download a TVPlayer app (shown after the break) that enables them to wirelessly watch whatever content they've stored. Think of it as TiVo for your iPhone, but only for those lucky enough to live in the Land of the Rising Sun. Not too shabby for ¥6,615 ($68), huh?[Via Akihabara News]Read - I-O Data press releaseRead - Hands-on
FLO hopes to cut mobile TV costs by going straight to the customer
Besides the very real possibility that the average person isn't all that into the idea of watching live television on a screen the size of a few fingernails, there are two totally quantifiable reasons that MediaFLO-based mobile TV services offered on AT&T and Verizon have yet to sell like gangbusters: poor device selection and wallet-busting pricing strategies. It's already been known that FLO looks to solve the first problem by creating accessories that can give more phones access to the signals -- and it turns out they're looking to knock down pricing, too, by bypassing its carrier partners' services and going straight to subscribers. FLO doesn't control how AT&T and Verizon price their services even though it's responsible for the common backbone that powers both of them, and it figures that if it can get service out of the door for under $10 a month on an annual plan, it has a better chance of succeeding than the $15 and higher that's being charged currently. Of course, $10 is still a lot to pay for non-on-demand programming on a really small handful of channels, but it's a step in the right direction.[Via mocoNews]