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YouTube streams are down on Boxee but not blocked (update: fixed)
Last night Boxee users apparently noticed they were unable to stream YouTube videos via their app or Boxes as noted above by TheNewTVRepublic, leading to some speculation that we were seeing a repeat of licensing related blocking that once shut down access on Popcorn Hour hardware. Fortunately that's not the case, as the official YouTube account just tweeted out a notice that it's only a glitch which it is working to address "quickly." We'll return to DEFCON level 4 pending an actual fix, but until then the latest series of Vote 4 Bieber My YouTube entries will just have to wait. Update: And just that fast things are apparently working again. Return to your normal schedules citizens -- nothing to see here.
YouTube going 1080p, already?
A year removed from adding 720p streams to its repertoire, YouTube Director of Product Management Hunter Walk hit the stage at NewTeeVee Live and mentioned, among other things, that over the next few days it will be rolling out 1080p video, including going back and re-encoding all previous videos uploaded at that resolution. While other streaming services have offered 1080p for some time now we weren't exactly expecting YouTube to flip the switch just yet. With an eye towards improving quality for its 10-foot experience and moving beyond just the computer screen, clearly an upgrade was necessary, though Blu-ray or even VUDU quality is probably out of the question (though if the company jumps in the online rental biz all bets are off) the commitment is for your uploaded content to "look as good or better than the source quality." Check the video after the break for more tidbits about what's next for the site, including YouTube XL.
brite-View's CinemaTube adds 1080p streaming, YouTube XL to the mix
We're not sure who decided to follow up the award-winning brite-View CinemaCube with something called the CinemaTube, but the latter certainly lives up to its change of a single letter, adding full 1080p streaming and embedded YouTube XL to its predecessor's already potent mix of supported video and audio formats (including H.264, XviD, and MPEG1/2/4), a bit.torrent engine, and USB storage support. Shipping on September 21, it'll retail for $129.99 -- but if you pre-order now you get it for $99.99. Hit the read link for all the gory details. We're praying that the company's next device is not called the CinemaRube -- that would be just plain mean. [Via GizmoScene]
YouTube rebrands TV web portal "YouTube XL"
Whether you call it ten-foot or lean back like Hulu Desktop, putting a TV-ready front end on your website is all the rage nowadays, and after six months of beta, YouTube is relaunching its Wii and PlayStation 3-aimed site as YouTube XL. Now accessible by any browser at www.youtube.com/xl, it's been stripped down to the basics (at the moment, that means no HD, or even HQ viewing option) to make YouTube work on the big screen, plus tweaks allowing control via Bluetooth remotes or some cellphones, like Android devices running Gmote. The HTPC crowd, those living without widgets and other direct access will surely find plenty to love, why not hit up the site right now to try it out?[Via TechCrunch]
