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PS4 to get companion social app for tablets, PS Vita
Sony's just begun to show us what's been up its sleeve for the PlayStation 4, and it turns out that it's got social networking and the second screen on its mind. Gamers will be able to share ten second video clips of their gameplay, stream play sessions online to friends and "keep in touch with the evolving world of your game, regardless of your location." The network will also learn a player's likes and dislikes, and automatically download content it figures users will dig. Hirai and Co. are also planning PS Vita and tablet apps for folks to partake in the social experiences when they're not near their PS4. Check out our liveblog of Sony's event to get the latest news as it happens!
NTT's Visual SyncAR brings augmented reality to video, spices up the second screen (video)
The second screen has largely asked that you take your eyes away from the action, even if that is to play along in real-time. Visual SyncAR, however, brings that tablet or mobile right back into the thick of things. Developed by Japan's NTT, the platform uses digital watermarks that presents a timecode to the app running on the second device, allowing it to display content in sync with whatever is on the primary display. In the video after the break you can see the concept being illustrated with playful examples that interact with the program, but more useful applications include the ability for users to pull up subtitles for public information videos, or overlay sign language. Naturally, there's also a massive potential for advertisers, who we're sure would be more than keen to embrace the technology, and ably guide you from their commercial to an online outlet or additional promo material. Especially if they're selling a cure for all that inevitable arm ache...
Editorial: Nintendo's digital content problem and how the Wii U is making things worse
The Wii U's launch was a bit rocky, to say the least. Missing features, promised TV services and slow-loading, day-one firmware updates left Nintendo fans frustrated and disappointed. The company is still cleaning up the mess too, announcing that it will push two additional software updates to fix the console's slogging load times. A quicker console will certainly be welcome, but the Wii U spring updates are missing an opportunity to close a rift that divides Nintendo from its loving customer base: how it handles digital content ownership. Ever buy an Xbox Live game? You probably know that purchase is tied to your Xbox Live account, and will be available on any subsequent Xbox you purchase. Not in Nintendo's world; Kyoto's digital sales are tied to the gaming hardware, not the user's account. It's been a sore spot for Nintendo gamers for some time now, and the Wii U was the company's chance to make amends -- except it didn't. Like its predecessors, the new console locks content to the device it was originally purchased on, imprisoning digital purchases in a physical cage. The Wii U takes content confinement a step further with its support for legacy software, providing a near-perfect example of the folly of Nintendo's content ownership philosophy: the isolated sandbox of its backwards-compatible Wii Menu.
GetGlue update brings personalized guides, feeds and new ads to iPhone
Conspicuously timed just after a Super Bowl dubbed by some (mostly marketing types) as the "most social ever", GetGlue has pushed a new version of its app for iPhones. Version 4.0 for Apple's smaller iOS devices brings many of the social features recently added to the iPad app, as the guides gain personalized recommendations of shows you might enjoy. The main feed brings in even more information about shows being watched by your friends plus a way to easily chat with them within the app. Also improved is the amount of background info available for each show, and reminders for major events, premieres and finales -- similar upgrades are listed as coming soon for Android and its mobile website. Like Foursquare and other location services have shifted focus towards discovery, GetGlue (among others) is doing the same for TV while also improving its profile for businesses. In a move it unveiled with Pepsi during the big game last Sunday, it offers advertisers the opportunity for promoted tied to a particular brand or show, that may pop into your feed if your friends like them. With Twitter itself making a major move into TV experiences it will be interesting how the recently downsized pool of social TV competitors reacts, and who comes out on top. According to GetGlue, 15 percent of all tweets about Pepsi during the Super Bowl came from its app. You can find out if these additions are good ones -- your friends wouldn't share any particularly annoying ads, would they? -- by snagging the new update from iTunes.
Twitter snaps up Bluefin Labs to develop new TV experiences, ad opportunities
It's no secret that Twitter's interested in TV, but now it's made its commitment even firmer. Costolo and Co. have just revealed their acquisition of Bluefin Labs, a firm that serves up stats to the likes of TV Networks and advertisers regarding talk about TV on social networks. Twitter says the acquisition will build onto its deal with Nielsen to develop social TV ratings, and that it will also help them create "innovative new ad products." Sure, Twitter hopes the purchase will make it some additional scratch through more ad opportunities, but it also plans to whip up experiences for users that combine its social network with watching TV. If you don't already chat about television shows on Twitter, expect the folks in San Francisco to encourage you to do so shortly.
ConnecTV adds SocialTV Timeline for mobile, puts chats with stars on a second screen
ConnecTV represents traditional TV producers' attempt at second screen content, and having that official blessing carries certain perks. Witness the platform's newly added SocialTV Timeline for mobile devices: the real-time, synced content feed provides not just expandable info, news and polls in line with ongoing fan conversations, but live chats with TV and sports personas during key shows and events. The SocialTV Timeline isn't limited to the avaialble iOS or web apps, either; there's support for syndicating it through other companies' mobile software and sites. The core ConnecTV apps remain free (if ad-supported), so those who've had an inclination to chat with an actor or NFL veteran just need to visit the relevant links to get started.
Netflix and YouTube's DIAL promises to be open alternative to AirPlay
It's already clear that most of us prefer watching Netflix on TV rather than on our PCs or tablets, but it appears the subscription video pioneer isn't content with just direct streaming. As we learned at CES 2013, Netflix is currently in cahoots with YouTube to build out a multiscreen initiative called DIAL (which stands for "discovery and launch") that could provide real competition for Apple's AirPlay. It works in essentially the same way -- DIAL lets you play streaming video on compatible TVs without having to launch the app first -- but there are a few key differences. Unlike AirPlay, DIAL lets you launch apps, even web apps, on the TV -- if it's a Smart TV, you'll even be redirected to download an appropriate app from its app store. However, it can't send URLs to the TV and mirror displays like AirPlay can, supposedly to avoid protocol conflicts as it builds its network of partnerships. And that's where DIAL's growing momentum comes in. According to GigaOm, DIAL is an open protocol, which gives it massive dev and OEM appeal. All Google TV boxes already have it, while Sony, Samsung and LG are reportedly very interested. The latter two have already incorporated it in some 2012 TVs, with more coming in the future. More important is the support from app devs and content providers -- BBC, Hulu, Pandora and Flingo have already signed up to take part in the effort, with Chrome purportedly working on DIAL compatibility for browser-to-TV page-flinging. On the whole, it's a promising path for not just Netflix and YouTube, which have previously only released relatively limited remote control applications, but the second screen movement in general.
The state of the second screen: Will TV companion apps proliferate or dwindle?
If you let the rows of 3D and 4K displays lining the halls of CES paint a picture of the future of television, you'd be missing a vital component. Tucked away inside a pair of ballrooms on Sin City's famous Strip, representatives from television networks, software companies, cable providers and advertising firms held a powwow dubbed the Second Screen Summit to talk shop and discuss the fate of such experiences after a very busy 2012. Over the past year, companies ranging from AT&T to Nintendo created a wave of experiences to complement TV content. Even the 2012 Summer Olympics received the second screen treatment with its very own Android and iOS apps, which let users catch live streams of events, access stats and more from the comfort of their couches. With so many solutions on the market, it's not entirely clear who will come out on top, or if there's room on the second screen for these myriad apps to coexist.
Netflix previews family profiles, shows off Super HD and 3D streaming at CES 2013
The current leader in subscription video streaming is Netflix, and today at its Las Vegas hotel suite we saw some of the technology it's planning to stay a step ahead of the competition this year. First up was one of the most widely requested features -- the ability to set up individual profiles for different family members, complete with their own queues and recommendations. The profiles can be set up on device or on the Netflix site, with toggles for a preference to its Just for Kids menu UI, as well as asking a bit about your preferred movies to seed initial recommendations. We also got an eyeful of the new "Super HD" 1080p streaming, and although network issues kept us from getting a true gauge of the quality, we did confirm that the new max bitrates are well above the old "X-High" standards. Another thing we confirmed? That Cablevision and Google Fiber aren't the only US ISPs on its Open Connect list -- check the site to see if yours is.There was also a screen in the Samsung booth showing "early results" of their combined work on 4K video, but since it wasn't actually streaming there's not much to see. Netflix was even showing off 3D streaming, and although we weren't able to confirm the type of compression being used (top/bottom, side by side or something else) we did watch it and it was mostly clear with only a few hints of ghosting. There are apparently several dozen 3D titles available to start, although customer reaction may dictate when/if more are added. The second screen experience we've seen on the PS3 was also shown working with Samsung TVs, in much the same manner. One thing that could make it better however, is the DIAL multiscreen initiative it's pushing with YouTube. If picked up as a standard, it would let you automatically launch these streaming services on a mobile device, and make them start playing on compatible TVs without having to launch the app on the TV first. Not enough good news? Netflix also announced a launch date for another original series, Hemlock Grove, which hits April 19th (trailer after the break), and dropped the news that we'll be getting 14 new eps of Arrested Development in May. We expect to hear a bit more about all of that later in 2013, but if you want a preview of the features we saw then just check out the gallery.
Slingboxes get My Media syncing to USB, Companion iPad app for at-home viewing
The Slingbox news hasn't stopped just because Dish made its big splash. An update to the Slingbox 500 at first, and the 350 later this year, adds a local My Media sync component that lets Android or iOS users offload photos or videos to a USB drive attached to the Slingbox -- they just have to stream their content instead of chewing up their mobile device storage. Both Slingbox 350 and 500 owners are also promised the new Slingbox Companion app you see above. As long as they're toting at least an iPad 2, they can find shows, share their tastes through social networks and use their tablet as a remote without the usual live video of the SlingPlayer app. My Media is arriving first, both as a firmware update and a new SlingPlayer release, in the weeks ahead. Would-be Companion users will need to wait until the app hits iPads in the spring.
Sharp announces second screen support on iOS and Android for its SmartCentral HDTVs
We're here at Sharp's CES 2013 press conference, that it'll release a SmartCentral second screen and remote control app for its Aquos TVs. The service will offer split-screen TV and web browsing support, and users will be able to "flick" photos and videos from their mobile device to the TV, presumably in a similar manner to Sony's Throw. The company is also announcing support for Netflix's second-screen control, previously seen on the PlayStation 3 and a wallpaper mode that'll help your HDTV blend into your wall covering. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Dish Explorer for iPad steers Hopper DVRs, tells TV watchers what's trending
Dish was quick to take advantage of its Sling Media integration with remote live TV, but it hasn't put as much of an emphasis on what happens when we're still sitting comfortably in our living rooms. It's filling that hole with the launch of its Explorer app for the iPad. Viewers with a Hopper DVR can control their set-top box directly from the tablet, as you'd expect, but they'll also get a companion to whatever they're watching, whether it's live or recorded. Explorer catches the buzz around a show on Facebook and Twitter, including rankings if you'd like to see what shows are the hottest; it also builds in Thuuz sports stats and ratings to identify what's likely to be the big game for the day, even as it's happening. The app doesn't officially reach the App Store until Monday, and there's no word of an Android port, but we'll be sure to share our first-hand experiences as soon as possible. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
CBS Connect endows NCIS, CSI and Hawaii Five-O with second screen interactivity for iPad
For times when soaking in a bevy of crime-related shows simply isn't enough stimuli, CBS is now ready to amp up your viewing experience with its second screen app for the iPad. Known as CBS Connect, it allows fans to engage one another via social networking and view exclusive content from their favorite shows. The app also features the ability to identify what viewers are watching -- be it live, on demand or from your DVR -- and then tailor the second screen experience to sync with the program. For the moment, CBS Connect is built to engage fans of NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI and Hawaii Five-O, but if crime dramas aren't your thing, the network promises that other shows will soon find their way into the mix. In the meantime, you'll find the full PR after the break.
BBC's first companion app brings Antiques Roadshow quizzes to Android, iOS
Over in the UK TV interaction has a wider history thanks to Red Button services, and the BBC is finally coming through on its promise to join that experience with the internet as it launches its first companion app on iOS and Android. Previously tested in beta with Frozen Planet and Secret Fortune airings, these apps let Antiques Roadshow viewers compete against others -- whether in the same room or across the country -- as they try to guess the value of items displayed on the show. Will that be exciting enough to pull viewers away from whatever the UK equivalent of Sons of Anarchy or The Walking Dead is? Maybe not, but a Red Button version launched last fall netted 1.5 million users right off the bat, and the Beeb expects to build on that more by moving to mobile devices. The internet-to-TV hookup even goes both ways, as we experienced in our demonstration of Connected Red Button services on TiVo last month and viewers experienced during the Olympics, so we'd expect to see even more interaction launching soon. The apps will be available later today for use with the new episode airing on the 6th. Can't wait that long for your antiquing fix? Thanks to embedded audio watermarks syncing everything up, they will also work with last week's episode (and future ones going forward) viewed on iPlayer or home recordings.
Editorial: The most exciting Xbox SmartGlass application isn't what you'd think
In Microsoft's ongoing battle to alter your association between "Xbox" and "Video Games," SmartGlass is its latest volley. Employing your favorite mobile device -- Windows Phone 7.5/8, Android, and iOS devices are all supported -- SmartGlass enables you to control your Dashboard experience, explore the web, input text, and much more. But what Microsoft's really banking on is its "second screen" functionality, essentially enabling another layer of interactivity with video, music, games, and the Xbox 360's other, less ballyhooed service: sports. It's this final layer that I found most enticing during a recent hands-on meeting with Microsoft. Could sports be the "killer app" that MS needs to get SmartGlass out of its tiny niche and into the hands of the masses? I think so.
Xbox SmartGlass goes live alongside first Windows 8 tablets on October 26 with several supported apps
SmartGlass functionality may already sort of exist on Xbox 360 per the console's latest Dashboard update, but Microsoft's making it a full-on reality on October 26. As it stands, the Xbox 360 allows for SmartGlass support, but without an update to Microsoft's 360 companion app, there's no way to use it -- when Microsoft's Surface RT and other Windows 8 tablets launch on the 26, that functionality will come built in to the "Games" section of the new OS. That of course begs the question: "When will I be able to use SmartGlass with my iOS/Android/Windows Phone 7.5 devices? And how?" The date isn't certain, but functionality will arrive on other platforms "soon" after the October 26 launch of Surface, Microsoft reps tell us. When it does, it'll come in the form of an update to your existing, "My Xbox Live" mobile app (which also renames the app to, "Xbox SmartGlass") or Games tab (per WP7.5), and it'll be more or less identical with the Windows Phone version. The only missing functionality, we're told, are two somewhat basic bulletpoints. "We have deeper integration in the Windows Phone," Microsoft tells us. "That's something we don't have on iOS or Android, it's just within our application. Same on Windows -- the integration in Windows is 'last playing' or 'now playing,' being able to present that information." The other, more interesting item, is the lacking ability to "send" whatever website you're using up to the Xbox 360's Internet Explorer browser. Regardless of which mobile device you're on, SmartGlass can "send" websites from the 360 to said device -- it won't work the other way around, however, if you're using a non-Windows 8 device. Not what we'd call a huge deal, exactly, but a bummer no less. Regardless, you'll soon have the opportunity to put SmartGlass through its paces from the comfort of home when support devices launch on October 26. For a full list of applications available at launch and partners beyond that plus a quick walkthrough video, head past the break.
Kyle Kinkade speaks at MacTech on the power of AirPlay
Kyle Kinkade, you may remember, is one of the original early developers of Tap Tap Revenge (one of the biggest hits of the App Store's first generation of games). He was last seen working on Bartleby's Book of Buttons, a beautiful and interactive book for the iPad. This week at the MacTech IT and developers' conference here in Los Angeles, Kinkade took the stage to talk about AirPlay, a technology that he says has some major ramifications and consequences for both Apple and the entire interactive entertainment industry going forward. "By 2014," Kinkade said of AirPlay integration, and multiscreen interaction, "this will be a very common thing." Kinkade began by showing off some examples of AirPlay integration, and how developers had learned to use the service so far. The core function of AirPlay is simply to send a video signal from your Apple device up to a larger screen, either out to a television or to your computer. Apps like Netflix and the TED talks app, for example, are simply kicking out video to the larger screen. But Kinkade also pointed out that AirPlay is being used more and more in other ways as well: Some games are using AirPlay to send a larger signal to then be controlled by the handheld device, and other apps (including Kinkade's own Bartleby book) are actually creating two different experiences, whether you're playing on just the smaller screen, or with the large screen also showing other context and information. In fact, said Kinkade, lots of AirPlay functionality is actually not just being shown on a bigger TV or a computer screen, but on a full 5.1 home theater system. Developers, he said, shouldn't just think of AirPlay as a fun gimmick to see iPhone graphics on the big screen, but they should start thinking about it as a larger experience, as an entire second app or maybe even as the primary function of all kinds of apps, from games to productivity apps to anything else. Devs should not only think about sound as they design, and "do more than mirror" information on both screens, but they should "consider multiple dual screen paradigms" as they code, realizing that users are going to be appreciating and even expecting functionality like this going forward. For his own app, Kinkade says he's not yet seeing anywhere near a majority of users investing in AirPlay, but the numbers are growing, from about 5% of users a year ago, to more than 11% at the current time. Kinkade also said that as other "second screen" technologies get more and more popular (like Microsoft's Project Glass functionality, and Nintendo's Wii U game console), AirPlay will have a chance to really lead the industry. "When it's no longer nerdy to have a screen in your hands as you play a game," said Kinkade, then AirPlay will become hugely important. And finally, Kinkade suggested that Apple was thinking along these lines already. "Apple's taking AirPlay pretty seriously," said Kinkade. "You just don't know it yet." The company has been adding more and more functionality to AirPlay already (including the mirroring function), and Kinkade says that when Apple does reveal its final plans for AirPlay, developers already familiar with how it works and how it can be used will have a distinct advantage. His talk was definitely convincing: AirPlay is already a very fascinating technology, and it's easy to see how Apple, developers, and eventually users will have lots of fun and useful ways to take advantage of it in the future.
Google TV v3 demo video teases better search, mini-guide overlay and tablet control (Update)
During Google I/O this summer the Google TV team promised more features were on the way -- the upgraded Google Play app just arrived -- and now it's posted a "sneak peek" video (embedded after the break) that shows us a few. As promised, there's second screen integration allowing users to browse live TV and streaming content on the app, then choose it so it starts playing on the TV. Much of the demo is focused on the big improvements it says it's made to search, with voice search that works across TV and the internet to quickly pull up specific content, content by genre or perform specific tasks like tuning in a particular channel or website like Google Maps. There's also a new mini-guide overlay based on its personalized TV & Movies app so you can get an idea of what else is on without jumping completely away from what you were watching. Getting cheaper hardware available from more manufacturers is just one part of the puzzle, we'll see if these improvements make Google TV a desired intermediary between broadcast television and internet streaming. Update: Someone may have goofed and released the vid accidentally, because it's been marked as private now. We did manage to grab a couple of snapshots though, check them out after the break. Update 2: As we suspected, this was definitely an accidental early release of the video so while these updates are certainly on the way, they may not be right around the corner. According to a Google spokesperson "We're excited to bring users the next version of Google TV's software in the months ahead, but have nothing further to announce at this time." And so the waiting game begins.
Zeebox adds Viacom to its list of second-screen partners
We love riffing on TV shows like a latter-day MST3k, which means that companies are desperate to harness our homespun satire to their own ends. Second-screen start-up Zeebox has inked a deal with MTV and Comedy Central owner Viacom, offering exclusive content in exchange for on-screen advertising. That said, we're not sure if the promise of behind-the-scenes clips would be enough to draw us away from just cattily judging the Project Runway contestants on Twitter, where we're less likely to be moderated into oblivion.
Spider-Man Blu-ray comes with a Second Screen app for iPad and Sony's Android tablets
Since no blockbuster movie in 2012 can have a home release without a second screen companion app for fans to dig through extra content while they watch, Sony has, naturally, announced one for The Amazing Spider-Man. Just like the only three movies to best its take at the box office this year (The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises and even The Hunger Games), Spider-Man's app syncs with the movie in a Timeline Mode that pulls up featurettes, storyboards and the like, while Production Mode lets users sift through the moviemaking process, then select particular clips to play on their TV. Unlike some of the others it is not only on iPad but also Android, however the press release indicates it's restricted to Sony's own Tablet S and Xperia Tablet S. Still, we were able to initiate the 500MB+ download and access it on non-Sony tablets including the Nexus 7 and an CyanogenMod HP TouchPad, so your mileage may vary. You can check out the apps for free at the links below, a preview trailer embedded after the break and snag the movie itself for $25 on Amazon, delivered November 9th.
