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Tag: apple-tv

  • First Batch of Apple’s HomeKit IoT Accessories now Available

    First Batch of Apple’s HomeKit IoT Accessories now Available

    Evo-HomeKit

    True to their word, the first batch of Apple’s HomeKit compatible accessories has been released. Just last month we heard of the possibility of Apple releasing the much awaited HomeKit accessories in June and they have not disappointed.

    For those of you who might be hearing of Apple’s HomeKit for the first time, then you need to know that this tech allows you to control any compatible connected sensors, plugs, thermostats, lights and many more functions using your iPhone or other iOS device.

    Currently, there are 5 home automation accessories that work with HomeKit and we have discussed each of them below.

    Originally appeared on What’s On iPhone. Read the full article.

  • shomi is Coming to All Canadians this Summer

    shomi is Coming to All Canadians this Summer

    shomi-canada

    Canada, make room on your couch and time in your schedule – shomi is moving in! Following a successful beta launch in November 2014 to Rogers and Shaw Internet or cable customers, shomi is now coming to all Canadians across the country this summer.

    The comapny is moving in and unpacking “great stuff” to watch – including exclusive series not available on other streaming services, celebrated Canadian content, human-curated collections, plus fun kids and family programming.

    shomi has exclusive content deals for some of the most buzz-worthy TV series being produced today. Canadian exclusives such as Golden Globe-winner Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, and Catastrophe; exclusive day-and-date releases of hot new series including iZombie and multiple award-winning Jane The Virgin; top-notch Canadian content including Vikings, Rookie Blue, and Mr. D; and past-seasons of some of the most popular shows on television, featuring Modern Family and Sons of Anarchy – these are just a few of the series that are coming this summer with shomi.

    Beyond TV binges, shomi offers hand-picked movie favourites plus great kids-and-family content, including Thomas and Friends, Blue’s Clues, Johnny Test, Scooby Doo, and Boy Meets World.

    shomi is accessible across the variety of platforms – tablet, mobile, online, Xbox 360, Apple TV, Chromecast, as well as set-top boxes for Rogers and Shaw TV subscribers; the service is also on offer to other distributors.

  • Why the Apple TV Sequel, Expected In 2014, May Now Face a Tricky Debut


    We know for sure that Apple is developing a new Apple TV. We are curious as to what new features the new tiny black box will have and when exactly it's set to be launched.

    There was the possibility that apple might have been creating its own Internet TV service as a solution to its Apple TV limited content. Bloomberg News reported that it was less probable for Apple to by-pass cable operators and gets programming rights licenses from the media companies after failed negotiations with programmers and cable operators. Apple may be looking at the next alternative which would be having cable operators like Times Warner Cable and others get the programming rights on their behalf.

    When news later came of the acquisition of Time Warner Cable by Comsat in a $45 billion deal, it seems that Apple may find a hard time getting a good deal with Comcast since Comcast has a set top box of its own. The X1 set top box may make Comsat reluctant to give up its internet TV to a market rival.

    People following Apple’s activities and new innovations have been waiting on the company to cause a storm in the TV market just like what it did with the iPod player and iTunes in the music industry. The 2007 Apple TV was last updated in 2013 and there have been news of a new AppleTV with the iOS 7 mobile software which is indicative of a new device this year.

    13 million AppleTVs have been sold according to Apple CEO even with rumors of the company reducing its plans to venture into the TV industry. They are now focusing on getting programming rights from media companies though cable providers so that they do not seem like they are competing with the companies. So for now, all eyes are on the outcome of these deals. Mostly, we look forward to what will happen with the Time Warner Cable as it seems to be the first company that Apple has approached.

  • Ming-Chi Kuo Predicts Apple HDTV Set in 2015 and A7-Powered Apple TV In 2014


    There has been a lot of speculation regarding an anticipated Apple-designed TV set this year. However, research by Ming-Chi Kuo with KGI Securities notes that the much anticipated product is not set to arrive until 2015. He however indicates that a refreshed Apple TV that is powered by its 64-bit A7 processor will instead be launched in 2014.

    This news comes after a similar report undertaken by from NPD DisplaySearch intimated that a wearable iDevice and probably the much rumored iWatch is set for release in 2014. The research noted that the Apple HDTV has been shelved until 2015.

    Apple was expected to refresh its Apple TV in October this year but this did not happen and many people were left wondering whether Apple had postponed the launch of the TV or a much more advanced TV was in the pipeline to replace the $99 set-top box.

    The Apple Tv has been receiving more channels over the past few months. In July, both Eddy Cue and Tim Cook attended the Sun Valley Conference in Utah where Liberty Media Corp Chairman John Malone was said to be in a meeting with certain attendees. This indicates that a TV product from Apple could be in the making, but nevertheless it leaves all of us in a limbo about the expected release date.

    If Kuo is right, then we could be a few years off from seeing an Apple-designed TV reach the market.

    Source: Apple TV Hacks

  • Hulu in 2012: $695M Revenue, 3M Paying Subscribers

    2012 has been a huge year for Hulu. The following article will go over the progress the company made over the past year, its current and future expansion plans and also what is in store for Hulu in the upcoming years.

    Hulu Revenue Update

    In the year 2012 Hulu earned $695 million dollars in revenue. This number represents a 65% growth in revenue over the past five years, which is high for general industry as well as tech companies.

    New Subscriber Numbers

    Hulu has expanded its subscriber base substantially in 2012, with around three million current users. These Hulu Plus subscribers represent users that pay to access Hulu and represent a revenue stream separate from the company's advertising based revenue model.

    How Has Hulu Content Changed in 2012?

    2012 has brought a plethora of new content to Hulu streaming video service. Total titles available have grown by 40% and much of the new content comes from premium, established media companies like Viacom, CBS, and World Wrestling Entertainment. The content additions have done a great deal to make Hulu more competitive with other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon.

    Hulu Advertising Changes in 2012

    This fiscal year has brought a large increase in the number of advertisers who work with Hulu. In 2012 Huku has worked with over a thousand different advertising firms which represents a 28% increase over the same advertising partnerships from one year ago. Not only are advertisers who work with Hulu becoming more diverse, they are being drawn to the company by the ability to effectively target an audience and reduce the amount of wasted commercial impressions.

    One big project that Hulu will be focusing on in 2013 will be to expand into the Japanese market with special Japan-only programming and production of domestic Japanese shows for usage on the Hulu Japan site. This expansion combined with the solid revenue and content numbers bodes well for the future of Hulu in the online content streaming industry.

  • The Top-Rated Vizio M3D470KD HDTV Set

    If you want a high quality HDTV device but can’t see yourself paying more than $1,000, do yourself a favor and check out the 47-inch Vizio M3D470KD. Coming in at a lean $900, this edge-lit LED delivers excellent image quality, intense colors, and fantastic wireless connectivity.

    Vizio’s solid new release centers around the remote control. It’s fitted with a full keyboard, so linking the set with an Apple TV and navigating streaming content is a breeze. It’s not fully without it’s flaws, as the sound from the built-in speakers isn’t fantastic, but you can’t do much better at this price point.

    The M3D470KD features both 2D and 3D viewing, and tests shows it performs well in either setting. And though the image does suffer from some softness depending on the content, it features a wide range of angles of acceptable viewing, which sets it apart from other LED competitors.

    Again, the big drawback is the sound. It distorts without being pushed very far, and the imitation surround sound system is just that. So if you’re looking for the full theatrical experience, it will best be paired with a set of quality speakers.

    It’s also quite green, having earned the Energy Star label. While it uses a fairly average amount of watts when turned on, when turned off it uses close to zero energy. The backlight adjusts to the amount of ambient light as well, so it won’t waste the juice if it’s unnecessary.

    Vizio’s new release isn’t the simplest HDTV to set up, but it comes with a wealth of installed features. You’ll access Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon and Vudu Pay-Per-View services and YouTube right out of the box, as well as direct access to many of the most popular websites in the world. You’ll even find a dedicated set of web video channels, pulled from sites like PBS, Vimeo and Funny or Die. So if you’re willing to pay for a solution to the audio issue, you’ll find yourself more than happy with the purchase.

  • Mirror Your iPad on a HDTV

    Love all that your iPad has to offer and want to share it with a group in a home theater setting? All of those apps, movies and games look great on the iPad if it’s just you, but if you want everyone at home to enjoy it, you’ve now got options. Mirroring your iPad’s display onto a HDTV is as simple as running it through an adapter. Here’s a quick look at how to get it done.

    The most seamless connection will work in conjunction with Apple TV and it’s cutting edge AirPlay technology. If you expect to often connect your iPad to your HDTV, spending the $100 on Apple TV is the best, most seamless method. As long as your iPad 2 or 3 is running iOS 5 or a later version, and your Apple TV is running version 5.0 or later, you’re basically good to go. You’ll link the iPad to the Apple TV through a Wi-Fi network. Then just hop on your iPad, access the AirPlay icon, and connect to the Apple TV with Mirroring turned on.

    Although it won’t be quite as elegant, you can link the two through a digital adapter set-up. Pick up a HDMI adapter for around $40, and then drop another $40 for the Apple Digital AV Adapter, which you’ll find in most technology retailers. The adapter plugs into the iPad, and then links to the HDTV with the HDMI cable. If your HDTV doesn’t have that port, you could use a VGA adapter or composite plug-in as an alternative. Just remember that you’ll need the latest iPad and upgraded adapters to make it all work. And you’ll only see video up to 720p with this set-up. But for a cheaper fix, and one you can take with you wherever you go, it’s quite solid.

  • Boxee and D-Link Unveil The Boxee Box

    At the Boxee Beta Unveiling event in Brooklyn, Boxee revealed that D-Link has been named first choice as the hardware partner to release a Boxee Box – Boxee branded set-top box.

    The device brings HDMI-support, WiFi, Ethernet, an SD card slot and two USB 2.0 ports. It also comes with optical audio, RCA audio and RF remote and plays any non-DRM media.

    According to the companies, the Boxee Box, which has already won a Best of Innovations award from the Computer Electronics Association, “reinterprets what TV should be, delivering all the movies, TV shows, music and photos from a user’s computer, home network and Internet to their HDTV with no PC needed.”

    The full product will be shown at CES 2010 and it is supposed to hit the store shelves in Q2 2010 for about $200.

    Boxee social media center, and its free, open source downloadable enables to stream content from websites like Netflix, MLB.TV, Comedy Central, Pandora, Last.fm, and flickr.

    Boxee is in public Alpha for Mac, Linux, and Windows. This Monday the company launched the Beta and plans to open it up to the public on Jan 7th (also at CES).

    The company say its eventual goal is to let users integrate Boxee into their existing devices (TVs, game consoles, STB, and DVD/Blu-Ray players) where possible or to buy a Boxee Box if their existing hardware can’t run it.

    After launching in June of 2008, boxee has nearly 700,000 Alpha testers. In addition, dozens of content providers have built applications for their content on Boxee and a 3rd party developer made boxee available for the Apple TV.

    In 2009, the company hopes to reach 1 million users across computers, AppleTVs, and other devices that can be connected to a television.

  • Apple Updates Apple TV with 3.0 Software: More HD Content to Be Sold

    After months of speculations whether Apple will release completely new Apple TV device making it a high-end media center for our living rooms or rather leave it, more or less, as it is (means without all the latest true HD capibilities, IP streaming, Blu-ray, live TV ability, HD recorder, 1080p support, etc.)… we still don’t know the answer.

    The company introduced new Apple TV 3.0 software witch gives us not more than a redesigned main menu – that is said to give a faster access to the content, possibility to watch iTunes Extras and enjoy iTunes LP in fullscreen and listen to the internet radio (including stations in high-quality HE-ACC formats).

    Adding only cosmetic changes to a device with such a huge potential doesn’t mean Apple gave up developing Apple TV and converting it to a set’top box with all the capabilities offered by the HD market, but it gives a next signal that the company will do nothing that would pull people away from iTunes.

    On-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes Store give Apple millions. According to the company, Apple TV gives direct access to a catalog of over 8,000 films on iTunes including over 2,000 in HD video available for rent or purchase. Users can also choose from a selection of 11 million songs, 10,000 music videos and over 50,000 TV episodes. Renting a movie in iTuens runs from $3 to $5, buying would costs us $14,99. And there are 65 million users of iTunes out there.

    “HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV,” confirmed Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services.

    Adding anything that would take Apple from iTunes revenue (like additional drive – Blu-ray or, at least DVD, IP streaming or live TV) wouldn’t have any sense from the economical point of view. The only thing can happen is that Apple will add to the Apple TV an access to App Store to maximize revenues from the application market.

    Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster predicts that Apple will sell 6.6 million AppleTV units this year.

    ***
    The new Apple TV software is available immediately free of charge to existing Apple TV owners. Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for $229.

    Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV.

    Apple has also released iTunes 9.0.2, adding support for Apple TV 3.0.

  • HD Streaming and Blu-ray "Can Co-exist" – For Now


    There are already more digital delivery devices connected to HDTVs in US homes than Blu-ray players, thanks largely to the Xbox 360 and the likes of TiVo, Roku, AppleTV and Vudu.

    Yet despite the numerical supremacy of players capable of streaming HD content, digital downloads are not expected to be a serious competitor to the Blu-ray format anytime soon.

    Why not? Well most consumers don’t have fast enough broadband connections to stream HD video. And the amount of content available is limited.

    Even without these factors, most companies say HD streams can’t yet match the quality of Blu-ray.

    Despite this, Vudu, Apple iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand have all added high-def titles in the last six months.

    They will be joined shortly by Microsoft, via the Xbox 360, and Roxio CinemaNow in a major high-def push.

    But because of broadband limitations, most companies in the space are positioning HD downloads as a complement to Blu-ray.

    Their rationale for this is covered in detail by Jennifer Netherby at Video Business, who quotes a PriceWaterhouseCoopers report predicting that digital sales won’t come near that of Blu-ray in the next five years.

    She goes on to explain that many digital services are planning to deliver them through Blu-ray players in an attempt to expand their reach into the home.

    Sonic and Netflix already have deals with LG Electronics to offer their services on BD players coming this fall.

    Vudu’s director of content acquisitions Rob Holmes acknowledges that HD streaming and Blu-ray can co-exist.

    "We certainly don’t see ourselves as competing with Blu-ray," he told Video Business.

    Some comfort for Blu-ray then, but it is surely just a breathing space?