video streaming
Latest
Windows Phone 7, Canadian Xbox 360s get Netflix streaming today
Microsoft may have missed out on being the first to stream Netflix in 1080p with surround sound, but it's still improving access to the service with a new app for Windows Phone 7 arriving on the same day a dashboard update brings Watch Instantly access to Xbox 360-owning Canadians. The free app should be easily found in the Marketplace Video Store, but just in case you don't have an HTC Surround or similar device in your immediate vicinity check out this demo from March embedded after the break.
Redbox announces plans to enter streaming business next year
It may not be quite the same obvious transition that Netflix made, but it looks like DVD kiosk company Redbox will soon be making a push of its own into the streaming business. That word comes straight from the CEO of parent company Coinstar, Paul Davis, who told listeners to the company's recent earnings call that it is in "detailed negotiations with a number of highly interested parties" to launch a "Redbox-branded" streaming service sometime next year. That would seem to suggest that Redbox will be relying on a partner already established in the field rather than rolling its own service, but Davis was otherwise light on details, adding only that streaming represents a "significant opportunity" for the company. That doesn't mean Redbox will be getting out of the kiosk business anytime soon, though -- according to Davis, there's still a "long, profitable life ahead" there.
Report: Twenty percent of peak downstream Internet used for Netflix?
If you're anything like us, you're both smart and incredibly good looking. Also, you're sarcastic. And in addition to all that, you spend much of your downtime enjoying streaming media on your computer, or your Internet-enabled TV, or perhaps even your fancy-pants cellphone. And it looks like, indeed, much of the country is "anything like us" -- at least according to Sandvine, Inc., of Waterloo, Ontario. The network hardware manufacturer has released a report that concludes that over twenty percent of stateside peak time downstream Internet traffic is gobbled up by Netflix streams, with the heaviest use going down in the primetime hours between 8 to 10 pm. We're sure that this is no surprise to Netflix itself, whose CEO recently stated that the company is primarily a streaming company that just happens to mail out DVDs to some customers; but still, the figure is pretty staggering. You can draw your own conclusions, but we're just happy to no longer live in a place where the only thing to watch on a Thursday night is The World According To Jim.
Report: LoveFilm coming to UK PS3 next month
In the United States (and also Canada) we have a wondrous thing called Netflix. In the UK and other European territories, there's a similar miracle called LoveFilm, and thanks to a supposedly official video announcement -- which has been pulled from the Sony YouTube channel on which it emerged -- an app for the video rental service is coming to PS3. The video was spotted by Everything PlayStation and promised access to the LoveFilm rental and streaming service would be available on the PS3 as of next month. Accessible via the XMB, the app will apparently allow subscribers to manage their movie queues right from the console and stream available content -- or have anything else mailed on disc. Jump past the break for a short blurb from the now-pulled video's description.
Justin.TV live streaming iPhone app now available
Livebloggers, rejoice! Justin.TV, one of the world's most popular live video streaming services, has released its new app for the iPhone and iPod touch in the form of an upgrade that enables live video to stream from the device. Both the app and service are free, but the app only works on devices with a camera. Streaming is done over WiFi or 3G, depending on availability. Thanks to Kristi Evans for the tip!
YouTube starts up live streaming trial, could turn into LiveTube if all goes well
Sure, we've all seen sprinklings of live content on YouTube, but now Google's video arm is finally threatening to really flex that content streaming muscle. Today and tomorrow, chosen partners will participate in a trial of a new live streaming platform, and so long as the traffic doesn't burn down too many server farms, the feature should be progressively rolled out to a wider audience in the near future. Alas, it sounds like Google intends to limit the capability to content partners only and not allow its masses of regular users the pleasure of livestreaming their cats' latest acts of mischief out to the world. Oh, such a shame.
Boxee's new browser is built on Webkit and HTML5 ready
Expect to see some changes to Boxee when its $199 D-Link-built Box ships in November, as Lead Apps Developer / Community evangelist Rob Spectre tells NewTeeVee that among them will be a new Webkit based browser. The current Mozilla based browser is clearly useful for some quick & unblocked Hulu viewing, but still doesn't render many sites properly. According to Spectre, HTML5 "absolutely should be the future for the browsers you use on your TV," with competition from Google TV we can see why he'd say that, and it should be ready to stream video from even more sites that don't build Boxee apps. The desktop versions of the software will get the new browser in version 1.0 after the Boxee Box is released, so make sure your comparison charts are appropriately updated.
Roku cuts price of media players in possible anticipation of new Apple TV
Maybe it's coincidence, but probably not. On the eve of a rumored announcement of an updated US $99.00 Apple TV, Roku has cut the price of its media players. The standard definition model has been slashed $20 to $59.99, and the high definition model has been trimmed by $30 to $99.99. The Roku hardware supports 50 different channels, including Netflix and Vimeo, with no PC or Mac connection needed. Apple is expected to announce a revamped Apple TV, rumored to be called the iTV. It may be built on iOS 4, which would allow many of the iPad and iPhone apps to be run on it. Of course no one knows for sure what Apple will announce tomorrow, but it's not uncommon to see price cuts from competitors just before Apple makes its plans public. If you're set on buying an iTV, you'll obviously want to wait until Wednesday's show, but if you've had your eye on a Roku, saving a few extra bucks is never a bad thing.
Sony's LocationPorter real-time video transmission system goes multichannel
Back in February of 2009, the launch of Sony's LocationPorter RVT-SD100 suggest that the days of needing a tricked out news van to transmit real-time on the scene video could be a thing of the past -- that is, if you had a spare $18k lying around and a solid 3G data connection. The newly-announced RVT-SD200 and its companion RVT-MR200 expands upon that dream by enabling up to 12 LocationPorters to transmit images to one single receiver. Besides paving the way for armies of techno box-toting reporters -- like the one pictured above -- to relay news as it happens, Sony also sees the potential for emergency services like police forces and fire departments to make use of the equipment to relay critical information. We could see that too, but if this new system is priced at anything like the old, we're betting tight public budgets won't make it happen. Then again we can't speak for the Sultan of Brunei's security force.
MPEG-LA makes H.264 video royalty-free forever, as long as it's freely distributed
The H.264 codec that makes a good deal of digital video possible has actually been free to use (under certain conditions) for many years, but following recent controversies over the future of web video, rightholders have agreed to extend that freedom in perpetuity. Whereas originally standards organization MPEG-LA had said it wouldn't collect royalties from those freely distributing AVC/H.264 video until 2016, the limitless new timeframe may mean that content providers banking on WebM and HTML5 video won't have an expensive surprise in the years to come. Then again, patent licensing is complicated stuff and we'd hate to get your hopes up -- just know that if you're an end-user uploading H.264 content you own and intend to freely share with the world, you shouldn't expect a collection agency to come knocking on your door. PR after the break.
Apple's Lala music team working on video streaming service for 2010 launch?
When Apple acquired Lala, the obvious use for all that local scanning and internet streaming technology would have been to serve up our hard-drive-based iTunes music libraries from the cloud. Here we are though, eight months later, and the only significant impact from the acquisition was the closure of the Lala music service. And it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon. According to an investigative piece by CNET, Apple is telling the big-four music execs that it won't be offering any significant cloud-based music offerings within the next few months. In fact, CNET's sources claim that Apple still hasn't obtained the licenses required to store and distribute music via a cloud-based service. So what's Apple doing with all that Lala talent then? According to CNET, the team has been working on an "undisclosed video feature" instead of music. Additional sources at the major film studios claim that Apple plans to create "digital shelves" this year letting iTunes users store movies and other media on Apple's servers. Hmm, does that sound like Keychest to you? Naturally, all of this makes sense in light of Apple's plan to open a 500,000 square foot data center (pictured above) in North Carolina later this year at a cost of $1 billion. What better facility to serve up 99 cent streaming TV rentals to a completely overhauled Apple TV in the home, and highly mobile iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone devices on the go. Anecdotally, it's not like Apple's showing too much concern with storage limits on its iOS devices -- the iPhone 4 just launched in the same 16GB and 32GB offerings as the 3GS instead of the typical doubling of flash storage we've come to expect from new iPhone iterations. So really, the question isn't if, it's just a matter of when. Original image courtesy of Cult of Mac
Slingbox Solo devices no longer streaming for some users?
According to Slingbox's message boards, some Slingbox SOLO owners are experiencing a slew of issues with their devices, the most concerning of which is the failure to stream content after a brief period of use. Understandably, that's more than a bit frustrating for users who purchased the set top box exactly so they could stream TV content remotely. The particular thread in question was started back in May, and as of now has not been universally resolved by Slingbox's engineering team, who claim the problems have yet to be nailed down to a single issue -- despite many owners discovering their issues are related to bloated capacitors. Unfortunately for users, that means Slingbox hasn't announced a blanket replacement program. Instead, Slingbox is asking those affected by the problem to contact their support team: if your device happened to fail within 90 of purchase or you purchased an extended warranty, they'll handle for free. Otherwise, those still within the device's hardware warranty can pay a small fee for service which will be refunded only in the event the problem is found to be hardware related. From a consumer standpoint, this definitely sounds like a raw deal, but we'll avoid taking sides until more details surface... or a last minute press conference is called to claim it's a problem with all streaming boxes.
Netflix coming to Canada this fall
Netflix has just announced it'll be taking its first tentative step abroad with a rollout of its video streaming service in Canada. Specifics are predictably light at the present moment, but interested Canucks can sign up now to be informed as soon as those details drop. So Canada in the fall... and the UK in winter, perhaps? We can only hope. [Thanks, Chris D.]
WoWathon 2 has begun: Playing WoW for charity
They're baaaack! The intrepid WoW players who take turns playing two characters in one long marathon session for charity are at it again. Child's Play, the charity started and organized by the gang at Penny Arcade, is still the recipient of their efforts. Like last year, the WoWathoners are on camera and streaming their gameplay 24 hours a day, taking turns for sleep and hygiene. Unlike last year, they are playing Horde on a PvP realm. I'll be interviewing them again this year, but they answer questions from the chat channel so you can talk to them yourselves if you like. 100% of the donations through ChipIn go to Child's Play and they accept any amount. Every little bit helps. Their first goal to play past level 20 is $800, but they're only at $310 as of this writing. If you like the idea of watching people grind, level and take requests from viewers -- and I know you do -- head on over and hang out with them. They'd love to have you and the sick children they are helping will appreciate it too.
Blockbuster On Demand comes to select Philips Blu-ray players
Movie lovers connected to Blockbuster from the days when renting involved begging mom for a ride to the store can take heart knowing the company is still expanding its On Demand service. Specifically the company has added two Philips Blu-ray players, the 5320 and 7320 (both of which scored Netflix back in January), to its short list of supported streaming hardware. Will this move turn the tide for the ailing company whose streaming claim to fame involves offering new releases on the same day as their Blu-ray and DVD release? Probably not, but at least it does show the brand isn't ceding the platform fight to Netflix and the recently announced Hulu Plus just yet. Read the press release after the jump.
VLC 1.1 released, adds hardware acceleration and new codec support
VLC 1.1 was just released, adding hardware acceleration on Windows Vista, 7, and Linux (no mention of the Mac just yet), along with a general 40 percent speed boost from a massive code cleanup. A new add-on and script framework now enables extensions, which should lead to some interesting additions, and the VP8 and MEPG-4 lossless codecs have been added, along with container support for MKV HD and Google's open-source WebM format. We just gave it a quick try and things certainly do seem to perform as advertised -- hit the source link for the download.
Qik two-way video calling on the Sprint EVO 4G is free, premium service is not
Qik has lived up to its name in clarifying some leaks indicating that future EVO 4G owners on Sprint will be charged $5 a month to make use of its video chat services. As it turns out, that subscription fee will be for a new range of "advanced premium features," which will be elucidated on June 4 alongside the EVO's retail launch. The core two-way video calling will come absolutely free, we're promised, and only those yearning for extra features will have to pay up. It seems clear from the wording of that statement that multi-party conversations will figure prominently in the premium set, though we're left guessing at what other ways Qik has for seducing us to part with our cash. Either way, good news if you wanted to keep things simple... and cheap. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
CBS suits up, promises iPad-friendly HTML5 video for all content by this Fall
Visit CBS.com from your iPad right now and all you'll get is a full episode of Survivor and clips from various other shows. By the start of the Fall season, however, CBS Interactive SVP Anthony Soohoo is promising content parity between its Flash-based website and HTML5-compliant iPad portal. While on the subject, he also notes that the video strategy will be entirely web-based, with no plans for an app à la ABC Player. Flash isn't being subjected to a veritable slapsgiving, however, as it'll remain the desktop technology of choice. Soohoo notes HTML5's toolset for measurement and encryption isn't quite at the same level yet. Full video interview after the break, and iPad users? This fall, expect something quite legen -- oh, you know where we're going with this, but still we'll pause for dramatic effect -- dary.
iPad 3G denies ABC player, downsamples iTunes store video previews over AT&T
Well ain't that a kick in the pants. Reports are coming in from newly-minted iPad 3G videophiles that iTunes store previews and Netflix streams are getting downsampled over AT&T's network. The folks at iLounge have been tinkering enough to confirm the iTunes issue (we're still waiting for FedEx to drop off our 3G tablets so we can corroborate ourselves) and, lo and behold, ABC player flat out refuses to work over AT&T's 3G network, instead displaying an oddly familiar message: "Please connect to a Wi-Fi network to use this application. Cellular networks are not supported at this time." Perhaps an update will ensue to fix such limits, but in the meantime, we're sure at least someone at Sling HQ is having an awkward chuckle.
Netflix looking to hire 'Android video playback expert'
Netflix will stop at nothing, we say -- nothing -- until you have the ability to watch films like Failure to Launch and Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom on every conceivable device in your possession. It's hit the Wii, it's coming to the iPhone, and now? That's right, the kids at Los Gatos want YOU to help "build Instant Streaming client implementations on Android devices." Are you "a senior engineer with a strong background in embedded and mobile development, specifically on media-enabled devices," with over ten years experience, hands-on experience with media playback on the Android platform, and a knack for DRM technologies? You're in luck! Hit the source link to get started. And if you do get hired, make sure you keep us in the loop as things progress. You owe us at least that much, right? [Thanks, jt.shen]
