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Comcast Xfinity iPad remote app changes channels and invites friends to watch RHONY
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts just hit the stage at The Cable Show and displayed the company's prototype iPad app, the Xfinity Remote. At least so far it doesn't appear to let you stream television programs directly to Apple's media consumption device, but it does let you turn it into a TV guide browser and remote for your set-top box that outpaces even its already released iPhone prog. They pulled in G4's Kevin Pereira for the quick video demo (embedded after the break) highlighting not only the remote DVR scheduling but also a social feature that lets you invite friends to watch live TV with you -- as long as they have Comcast, and the app, and an iPad. Of course, the innovation we'd like to see is a new UI for our cable boxes like the one shown on the iPad... or the one we saw a few years ago. So far the reaction to Facebook and Twitter chat on the screen via widgets has been mild at best, but social tie-ins to another screen could be just what our Real Housewives of New York viewing parties need.
Comcast's HD VOD selections continue to approach infinity, or at least 3,000
It's time for your yearly Comcast Project Infinity video on-demand update: It's ramping up to 11,000 different movies available, with 3,000 in HD (up from 1,000 back in October '08) and that infrastructure upgrade we'd heard about should mean even more on the way. CEO Brian Roberts just announced at the Cable Show that the service is up to 350 million orders per month, and if it were a linear channel, VOD would be Comcast's second most-watched offering. The online Fancast XFINITY TV offering is no slouch either, with 1,500 movies from cable and 5,500 movies on the site for rent or purchase. The first areas to see the expanded offerings will be Washington D.C. and Philadelphia before rolling out elsewhere. Of course that's all great, but we're going to slot a redesigned 16x9 UI and multiroom capabilities slightly above more VOD possibilities on the interest scale for now.
Comcast, TWC and Cablevision make friendly, team up for NYC-wide WiFi
And Comcast makes three. Two years after Cablevision started rolling out hotspots in the Big Apple and less than a month after Time Warner joined it, Comcast has gotten buddy-buddy with the pair in their efforts to blanket New York City with WiFi. If you subscribe to any one of their data services, you now get free access to all three, and can use your existing login at any Optimum, Time Warner or Xfinity hotspot across the city. In a press release, Cablevision executive John Bickham said the agreement might be "the first of many." We wonder if by banding together, cable might one day compete with the telcos on wireless connectivity, the way they now do with home internet and television services. Still, the best laid plans... Full press release after the break.
Comcast's 3D channel goes live, just in time for the Masters
Customers in a handful of Comcast markets might have noticed that the switch on their promised 3D content just got flipped in the past 24 hours or so; viewers were greeted with a short loop of test content at first, but now, they're getting a message pimping coverage of the Masters Tournament that starts later today. We caught this particular message above in Chicago, but folks with HD boxes in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Twin Cities, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, and Indianapolis should all have access to the programming. Naturally, you'll need a 3D-compatible set and glasses to enjoy the footage, but be warned: if the ball comes straight at the camera, it's going to be really, really scary for a second. Update: Oh, and if you don't have a 3D TV or Comcast service handy, no sweat -- you can still watch it online if you've got the right equipment.
HD channel expansion roundup
Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say! Read - Mediacom brings coverage of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games Read - CW now available in HD (Springfield, Missouri) Read - Cablevision Customers to Enjoy NBC Universal's Comprehensive Coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games Read - Verizon FiOS TV Adds MSNBC HD Read - Cox adds five HD channels (Hampton Roads, VA) Read - AT&T Brings Fans Interactive NBC Universal Coverage From Vancouver with Olympic Games Multiview App Read - Dish Delivers Interactive Winter Olympics Read - DISH Network Partners With NBC Universal to Deliver Immersive, Interactive TV Experiences for 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games Read - BELD Broadband adding HD channels in March (Massachusetts) Read - Verizon to Offer NBC Universal's Coverage of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games to Customers Read - Comcast To Offer '24' Series On Demand Read - Xfinity Goes X-Platform to the Olympics Read - Bright House offers Olympics coverage
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.
