watchlist
Latest
Amazon Prime Video finally offers user profiles worldwide
Amazon Prime Video is finally adding user profiles to accounts worldwide.
Dow Jones' list of risky businesses was left on a public server
A Dow Jones database detailing more than 2.4 million records of risky businesses and people has been exposed. A third-party company reportedly left the watchlist on a public server without password protection.
Hulu's recommendations feature starts rolling out to everyone
It's been over a year since Hulu introduced Watchlist, which puts your queue, favorites and watched content all in one place. Up until today, though, that feature was only available to users who wanted to try it early. But now Hulu's making Watchlist part of the main experience for every viewer, including those who watch on iOS, Android, PC, gaming consoles and set-top boxes like the Apple TV. Watchlist recommends movies or TV shows you should enjoy next, offering up suggestions based on your preferred and most recently viewed content. You can also find new series you might be interested in.
Hulu's smart queue learns which shows you want to see the most
Many streaming video services let you queue shows and keep track of what you're watching, but they're not normally smart about it -- it can take some effort to see everything in the 'right' order. Hulu thinks it has a smarter approach. Its new Watchlist feature unifies your favorites, queue and watched shows in a single feed that learns based on your habits. If you always watch Agent Carter as soon as it goes online, the next episode will be bumped to the front; if you're not in a rush to see Scandal (or haven't watched it yet), it'll be further back. Watchlist won't automatically reach mobile apps and the web until later this year, but you can volunteer to use it right now if you're curious.
Yahoo doling out inactive usernames to new owners, opens a Watchlist for $1.99
Yahoo users eager for a name change began logging their interest for inactive usernames in mid-July, and now Mayer and Co. are finally ready to re-assign dormant email addresses. Messages from the search giant are going out to folks who applied for a new identity, notifying them if one of their screen names of choice is ready for the taking. Those who struck out on desired account names will automatically have their choices added to a "Watchlist," and will be alerted if and when they're freed up. While keeping tabs on preferred monikers via the Watchlist is free for those who registered their interest in snapping up handles, it'll cost others the princely sum of $1.99 to monitor availability for three years. Click the neighboring source links to stake out a maximum of five names you're partial to.
Amazon Instant Video iPad app now available, iPhone and iPod Touch still left wanting
A day after upgrading its cloud music player, Amazon has delivered a native Amazon Instant Video app for iPad (not iPhone or iPod Touch, yet) to the App Store. It has access to streaming Prime Instant Video for subscribers, as well as downloaded or streamed video on-demand. Other key features include access to the Watchlist / queue, and automatic access to any shows subscribed to with a Season Pass the day after they air on TV. The free app is available in the iTunes store right now, however like the sudden appearance of Hulu Plus on Apple TV yesterday we don't have any official PR to share just yet. We've had a chance to play around with it and we must say, Amazon is really coming after Netflix with this one. The app runs smoothly, and while the video player itself gets just the bare bones iOS treatment, every other part of the app seems polished, including the Watchlist. Add in the fact that you can watch things via subscription and seamlessly jump to fresher / premium content available for purchase or individual rental (with the notable caveat that you can't actually browse the VOD content, or purchase or buy it from within the app itself) and there's a serious competition going on.
Fanhattan updates iOS app with WatchList feature, content from Cinemax, HBO and NBC
Fanhattan's often been praised for offering a one-stop hub where folks can keep track of all their cherished entertainment shows, which has led it to become a crowd favorite amongst iOS users. Well, today the application's expanding its TV guide services a little more, announcing it's now showing content from 10 new providers, including HBO, Cinemax, NBC and, better yet, The CW -- you know, because we just can't miss out on the latest Gossip Girl episodes. In addition to these channel inclusions, Fanhattan's also introduced a novel, Amazon-esque WatchList feature that pushes out alerts as soon as added shows (movies, too) are ready to be watched. If you've yet to give the handy application a try, you can do so now by grabbing it at no cost from Cupertino's well-known app mart.
Roku adds Slacker Radio to app locker, Watchlist now live on Amazon Instant Video
Well, hello there Roku owners. Via its blog site, the creator of the tiny, but entertainment-packed boxes announced it's now giving you access to the renown Slacker Radio application, allowing you to listen in on over 200 music stations -- much like you already do on your iOS and Android slabs. That's not it, though, Roku also notes the recently announced Amazon Watchlist feature is now live on the outfit's channel, which should make Instant Video junkies very happy. The fresh goods are available now, so power on your miniature box and put 'em to good use.
Amazon Instant Video streaming is now live on the Xbox 360
If Amazon's video store is going to compete with the other online sources like Hulu and Netflix, getting on as many platforms as possible is key and it made a major expansion today by launching on the Xbox 360. The app launched on the PS3 back in April, and just like that version, this one includes access to Amazon's video on-demand and Prime all-you-can-eat subscription based streaming. Unique to the Xbox 360 app is support for the console's Kinect peripheral and its ability to recognize control by gesture or voice, plus a brand new feature for Amazon -- a queue. The Watchlist (for now only available on the Xbox 360, Kindle Fire and via the web) lets customers preselect programming they're interested in for easy access on the devices later, just like Netflix's implementation, however Amazon's VOD store means access to newer and higher profile content is just a click away. There's more details in the press release and video after the break, or you can just check out the app on your console right now (if you're in the US and have Xbox Live Gold, of course -- even if you don't have Prime, there's a one month free trial offer). Update: Major Nelson also posted availability of other apps and a free XBL Gold preview weekend, as Antena 3 launches in Spain, MLB.tv in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Muzu.tv in Australia and New Zealand. June 1st through June 3rd, XBL Gold access will be "unlocked", letting Silver gamers in U.S., Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Chile play for free and access the Amazon, IGN, Manga Entertainment and Muzu.tv apps. [Thanks, AtillaG!]
American student finds GPS tracker stuck to car, FBI shows up to reclaim its 'federal property'
Mechanics spot strange things stuck under cars all the time, but when 20-year-old Yasir Afifi's ride was put up on lifts his shop found something that hadn't been kicked up from the road: a cylindrical tube connected to a device with an antenna. An extremely paranoid person would think they'd found a bomb, but the truth isn't much better. It was an FBI tracking device. Afifi posted pictures and his story on Reddit while a friend contemplated cunning things to do with it, sticking it to someone else's car or selling it on Craigslist. They didn't have long to ponder long before two "sneaky-looking" people were spotted outside his apartment. Afifi got in his car and drove off, only to be pulled over by FBI agents who demanded the device back, threatening "We're going to make this much more difficult for you if you don't cooperate." Now, we've already given our opinions on using GPS technology like this and, while it's unknown whether these agents had a warrant to place this device, the 9th US Court of Appeals recently made one unnecessary for this sort of thing. The ACLU is working with Afifi to fight that ruling, and for now we're hoping that he, who is an American with an Egyptian father, is currently able to hit the town without agents following his every move. However, at this point they may not need a tracker: one agent who retrieved the device took the time to list off his favorite restaurants and even congratulated him on his new job.
