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Xfinity TV for iPad now streaming VOD for 'select networks' including HBO and Showtime (update: hands-on)
"A few weeks"? "Later this year"? Don't worry about Comcast's recent meddling with the fine print, Xfinity TV's latest update for the iPad allows you to "play movies and TV shows anywhere and anytime on your iPad using a Wi-Fi Internet connection." The deal is for select networks (aka not everyone's on board to start) including HBO, Starz, Showtime, and Cinemax. Version 1.1.1 is now available; we're downloading now and will let ya know exactly what we find. Update: We've taken it for a brief spin, and it looks like only ten networks are currently available, but there's still a hefty selection of content to choose from: BBC America, Cartoon Network, Cinemax, Starz Encore, HBO, MoviePlex, Showtime, Starz, TBS, and TNT. All are VOD only at the moment, but we hope that live streaming could theoretically be around the corner. Video starts streaming pretty quickly, and while quality probably won't be as good as your 1080p TV, it more than suffices for the iPad's 10-inch screen -- especially the HD stuff. Check it out in the gallery below! %Gallery-115530%
Comcast, Time Warner deal ensures TNT, TBS shows for VOD & live streaming
Comcast announced live streaming to its iPad and (upcoming) Android Xfinity TV apps was not far off last month, and now it's announced a new long term deal with Time Warner that brings more content to all of its TV Everywhere-related efforts. That means shows from TNT, TBS, CNN, HLN, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim on Xfinity TV.com, cable VOD and mobile apps and the addition of live streaming video later this year as part of a larger agreement between Time Warner and Comcast. The keen eyed will notice that window of "a few weeks" for the debut of live streaming to iPads has expanded to simply "later this year," let's hope this doesn't slip while the company focuses on other balls in the air like its purchase of NBC, a potential new set-top box interface and apps for Smart TVs.
Xfinity iPad app getting streaming update 'in the coming weeks,' Android app 'later this year'
An update for those of you rocking Comcast's Xfinity TV iPad app, patiently waiting for the availability of streaming On Demand content on Apple's tablet and the app itself on the billions of upcoming Android-powered tablets. When we first spotted the functionality during November's Web 2.0 Summit, we were told it was coming either "by the end of the year" or in "a couple of weeks." A quick glance at our Hunks of Kabletown calendar indicates we missed that goal, but a press blast today says we can expect the capability to "be available on the iPad in the coming weeks and which will enable the viewing of On Demand programming on the iPad." It's also adding live news and TV shows to the list of streaming content, so you won't be limited to archived On Demand programming. But that's not all! The Big C will "add the same functionality and content to Android powered devices later this year" as well as a less tablet-centric offering at XfinityTV.com right now, so you can change channels sans-remote with just about any device you want. Now, can you get on that Newton app, Comcast?
Comcast Xfinity remote for iPad does streaming video, we record some for you (video)
If you've got Comcast service and an iOS device, there's no reason you can't download the brand spanking new Xfinity TV DVR remote app right now, but it won't have the software's spiffiest feature -- direct-to-device streaming video. That's set to roll out in either "a couple of weeks" or "by the end of the year," depending on which Comcast representative you ask, and we got to try it for ourselves (along with the rest of the app) at the Web 2.0 Summit this week. Right now the featureset is fairly limited -- you just pick programs from a guide and either watch them, beam them to your TV, or tell your DVR to record -- but what is there was leagues more intuitive than a physical remote and about as responsive as we could hope for. Comcast tells us that Apple itself helped insure the user experience was polished, and it showed in every swipe and tap we made. Find out more and watch the app in action after the break!
Comcast Xfinity remote app for iPhone, iPad launches, video streaming & Android version on the way
The Xfinity remote app Comcast CEO Brian Roberts showed off earlier this year is now available in the app store for the iPad and iPhone. Currently they allow Comcast customers with compatible digital TV service to browse listings and On Demand content from their portable device and change channels right from the app. Video streaming, additional remote features and enhanced search are all promised for future releases, while other platforms should also get their own versions soon. Android apps are promised for later this year, with Blackberry to follow. For now, check out the press release and original demo video embedded after the break or grab the app from iTunes and break out your Comcast e-mail address to try it out prior to a live demo at 8:30 (EST) this evening at the Web 2.0 conference. It may not be the improved interface for our cable boxes we've been expecting for such a long time, but it's at least a step in that direction.%Gallery-107457%
Comcast adds Showtime to Xfinity TV online
Almost immediately after expanding its Xfinity TV online services by 150,000 titles, Comcast has announced with Showtime that over 400 hours of the channel's series and movies are now also available via the portal for paying Showtime subscribers. If you aren't keeping Dexter-like tabs on the we-offer-more-content-than-you cable playground banter, this partnership is a first for Showtime and a killer feature for Comcast. In fact, combined with their Starz, Encore, and older HBO and Cinemax online streaming deals, Xfinity TV will now also go down in the annals of history with another first as the only online destination to offer all of the major premium content providers under one cozy URL. As much as we're all for establishing records though, we'd still encourage Comcast to brainstorm on additional ways to keep paying customers -- that is, if it wants to avoid earning another title for losing the most subscribers two quarters in a row.
Comcast updates Xfinity TV with new search, My TV features & 150,000 titles streaming
Looks like Comcast has dropped the Fancast tag entirely, showing off a reworked Xfinity TV portal that ties content available for streaming to the PC a little more tightly alongside remote DVR scheduling and social media tie-ins with Facebook. Now claiming up to 150,000 titles are available for streaming online, it has an all new search function to better determine what's available and promises customized recommendations (think Netflix, TiVo) are on the way soon. Check out XfinityTV.com to see the new features, or just check out the press release after the break.
Comcast smears the XFINITY brand across all its services
Apparently worried its On Demand Online project would suffer the shame of a silly name all by its lonely, Comcast has rebranded its cable TV, internet and phone services as Xfinity TV, Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Voice. Other than the name not much is changing (@ComcastCares will still be doing its thing on Twitter), although the rollout of the new branding (starting next week, the first 11 markets include Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Hartford, Augusta, Chattanooga, parts of the Bay Area and San Francisco) should sync up with 50mbps or high speeds becoming available. Of course, if those slick flame colored letter started showing up on TV repair guy trucks at the same time as a truly revolutionary new DVR software package instead of the slightly spruced up version we'll be getting over the next few months, then they could call it anything they want to.
