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Tag: streaming

  • 4SeTV Streaming Device Brings Four-in-One Viewing Experience to Big Screen TVs, Tablets and Smartphones

    4SeTV Streaming Device Brings Four-in-One Viewing Experience to Big Screen TVs, Tablets and Smartphones

    4SeTV

    A new TV streaming device from 4SeTV lets you watch any four live television shows at once on a tablet, smartphone or TV. Alternatively, up to four people can view an individual live show of their choice on four different devices, at the same time.

    Built on patent pending technology, 4SeTV uses over-the-air broadcasting and streams the HD content you want to see to your connected devices in your home network. It is said to be the first-ever device that lets you select and watch four channels on the same screen.

    4SeTV hooks up to your HDTV antenna and connects to your router with an Ethernet cable. From there, simply switch the box on and go, at the push of a button.

    How it works:

    • Content is broadcast (i.e. free HDTV content over-the-air, clear QAM)
    • It is captured by an antenna and relayed to the 4SeTV device
    • Broadcast content is captured by the 4SeTV device
    • 4SeTV streams the content to connected devices in your home network (smartphones, tablets and TVs)

    4SeTV is now at the production unit stage and conducted live demonstrations of its device at the Showstoppers media event held yesterday at the NAB show in Las Vegas.

    4SeTV is available for pre-order on Kickstarter and is priced at $99 for early adopters. The first units are slated to ship in August.

  • 1080p HD Is Coming to YouTube

    YouTube has announced that support for watching 1080p HD videos in full resolution “is on its way.”

    Starting next week, YouTube’s HD mode will add support for viewing videos in 720p or 1080p, depending on the resolution of the original source, up from our maximum output of 720p today.

    “As resolution of consumer cameras increases, we want to make sure YouTube is the best home on the web to showcase your content. For viewers with big monitors and a fast computer, try switching to 1080p to get the most out of the fullscreen experience,” YouTube software engineer Billy Biggs said in a blog post.

    The company also announced they are in the process of re-encoding all the 1080p videos users have already uploaded.

    YouTube will highlight top HD video snippets on its homepage.

    Here is the 1080p sample video

  • Netflix Coming to PlayStation3

    Sony and Netflix – the two of the fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S. – are joining forces to make movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PlayStation3.

    The streaming via the PS3 system will begin next month at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system.

    Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members.

    The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

    The disc will be required for streaming at least until a PS3 software update sometime in late 2010.

    Netflix members slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. They can use the Netflix Web site or navigate directly on their PS3 systems to add movies and TV shows to their Queues.

    PS3 system enables consumers to play high-definition games, watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, view photos, browse the internet, and download content from PlayStation Network.

    Netflix, one of the world’s largest online movie rental services, enables to stream movies and TV episodes to a TVs and computers via Netflix ready devices (such as the PS3) and delivers DVDs to homes.

    According to the companies, the PS3 system’s installed base has reached close to 9 million units in the United States, and Netflix recently reported 11.1 million U.S. subscribers as of September 30.

  • Akamai Brings HDTV-Like Experience Online

    Akamai Technologies has launched the Akamai HD Network, its next generation video delivery offering and the first platform to deliver HD video online to viewers using Adobe Flash technology, Microsoft Silverlight, and to the iPhone, at broadcast-level audience scale.

    The new HD Network combines Akamai’s patented HD EdgePlatform, adaptive bitrate streaming and DVR technology. It supports live and on-demand HD streaming.

    It was designed as one, comprehensive HD network reaching multiple playback environments and devices (including Flash, Silverlight, and the iPhone) especially for large-scale broadcasters and film distributors.

    According to the press release, the network leverages the following functionalities:

    • Adaptive Bitrate Streaming – a streaming process that is designed to enable uninterrupted playback at HD bitrates that seamlessly adjusts to fluctuations in available bandwidth
    • Instant Response – Immediate response to viewer interactions with the video player, including sub-second time-shifting (such as pause, rewind, seek and play commands) video startup times, and seamless stream switching
    • HD Video Player – Open, standards-based video player for faster time to market
    • HD Player Authentication – Authenticates player for all three environments ensuring only authorized players access content

    What makes this new HD network unique is that it delivers video from HTTP servers located closest to end users (over 50,000 in 900 networks in 70 countries) minimizing packet loss and maximizing streaming.

    “We’re entering a different online world, where many content owners and publishers need to deliver HD-quality video to a much wider online audience, with a higher level of interactivity for consumers. Delivering ‘web-quality’ content to ‘web-sized’ audiences is one thing, but delivering HD-quality content to broadcast-scale audiences is another," said Paul Sagan, President and CEO of Akamai.

    The firm says, two key trends have made it necessary to now evolve how streaming media is delivered on the internet. First, online audiences have grown to broadcast scale. Second, those viewers are demanding higher quality content. Studies show that when higher quality video content is offered, viewer engagement time increases. According to Jupiter Research, 60% of regular online video users are less likely to return to a site for video content if the viewing experience is poor.

    Supporting this level of traffic requires a global network that can manage millions of simultaneous users streaming very high bitrate content, they claims.

    "We are excited to see Akamai’s commitment to HTTP adaptive streaming as the future of online video delivery, as we have worked closely over the past year to build a robust end-to-end media delivery platform with IIS Smooth Streaming and Silverlight," said Steve Sklepowich, director for Silverlight at Microsoft Corp.

    "Together, we’ve proven that these true HD experiences can dramatically increase online viewing times for broadcasters,” he added

  • Motorola to Feature Blockbuster Movie Download Service in Next Generation Handsets

    Blockbuster, a provider of in-home movie and game entertainment, announced plans to feature the BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand movie download service in select Motorola phones. Through the agreement next generation Motorola phones will feature the OnDemand application, providing on-the-go download access to Blockbuster’s digital library of current movies.

    Earlier this year, Motorola announced it is to unveil Android powered handsets in the fourth quarter.

    Blockbuster launched a movie rental service via set-top boxes last year. It offered a STB made by 2Wire that plays downloaded movies. Renting a movie for online playback at Blockbuster generally costs between $1.99 and $3.99.

    In March this year, Blockbuster and TiVo announced that they are working to make Blockbuster’s service available on all TiVo Series2 and Series3 DVRs (including the HD and HD XL models) in the second half of 2009.

    The agreement with Motorola it’s a part of the company’s new digital strategy to provide its library of digital entertainment to mobile devices.

    "Motorola is a recognized global communications leader and extending the BLOCKBUSTER brand and our OnDemand service into their portfolio of innovative new phones is a natural extension of our digital strategy," said Kevin Lewis, Senior Vice President of Digital Entertainment for Blockbuster.

    "Mobile video entertainment is exploding, as consumers are demanding the widest selection of content: the movies they love in their living room and on their PC, now also available on their mobile phone, while on the go," added Christy Wyatt, Vice President of Software Platforms, Applications and Ecosystem of Motorola Mobile Devices.

    According to Blockbuster the agreement will also further the company’s multi-channel vision of eventually Blockbuster enabling customers to use OnDemand application with multiple consumer electronics and portable devices, such as PCs, PMPs, Blu-ray Disc players, PVRs, set-top boxes, mobile phones and Web-connected TVs, to search Blockbuster’s entire catalog of entertainment content and download available titles for rent or purchase, schedule movies for mail delivery through, or reserve titles for in-store pick-up.

  • 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?

  • Game Consoles Main Driver in Online Video Growth


    Networked video game consoles are the most used devices for bringing web video to the TV in the US – and look set to remain so until 2013, according to an In-Stat report.

    It found that 29 per cent of US 25 to 34 year olds with game consoles already use the devices to watch streaming video off the Internet.

    That’s going to keep growing and by 2013, over 10.7 million consoles will be used as Web-to-TV mediation devices in the US.

    The range of connected consumer electronics devices delivering web video into the living room is also growing.

    Device types include digital media adapters (DMAs), pay TV set top boxes, Blu-ray player/recorders, HDTVs and media-center PCs.

    Keith Nissen, In-Stat analyst, said that while still at the early adoption stages, the impact of bringing web video to the TV will bring both opportunity and threats to a range of companies in the electronics and TV markets.

    He said that by 2013, the revenue from Web-to-TV streaming services will grow to US $2.9 billion.

    "Currently Web video is largely additive to traditional TV revenue streams," he said.

    "However, ultimately web video to the TV will force a complete restructuring of today’s video distribution ecosystem."

    Other findings of the In-Stat research include:

    • Two separate in-home content delivery networks (CDNs) are evolving in the digital home—one for broadcast media services (e.g., cable TV), the other for Internet-based broadband services
    • Within five years, the number of US broadband households viewing Web-to-TV content will grow to 24 million
    • Video content will be optimized for broadcast or Web-to-TV based on content type

  • Mobile TV "Reaching Tipping Point": MobiTV


    MobiTV has added two million new subscribers in less than six months, taking its total to more than seven million.

    The company says that better viewing experiences, advances in technology and higher awareness are all helping boost adoption levels.

    Charlie Nooney, chairman and CEO of MobiTV, described the figures as a milestone for its live mobile television and video-on-demand service, which he said now streams billions of minutes a year.

    "We are clearly seeing an increase in mobile television consumption," he said.

    "We are about to hit the tipping point for mobile media, one that will move it from a novelty to the mainstream."

    Available on more than 350 handsets across 20 carrier networks, including Sprint, AT&T and Alltel in the US, MobiTV launched in November, 2003.

    Nooney attributes the latest subscriber spike to intense interest in first-of-its kind, interactive mobile content, personified by its "tournament pass" application that brought March Madness to the iPhone in partnership with CBS Sports this spring.

    Capturing top-seller status in the iTunes store, he said the application underscored the increased consumer appeal of innovative mobile television entertainment.

    In a separate announcement, MobiTV said it has been shortlisted for an award in the best TV & video category at the 2009 Meffys Mobile Entertainment awards.

    The prestigious Meffys awards hosted by the Mobile Entertainment Forum, focuses on a wide range of different categories that provide a cross section of the latest trends and innovations in mobile media and entertainment.

    MobiTV is among the list of finalists in the TV & video category which also includes the BBC’s iPlayer service.

    The awards coincide with the Mobile Entertainment Forum’s official annual conference, Mobile Entertainment Market.

    The winners will be announced at a special gala dinner that will take place in London, on June 23.

  • LG Offers First DivX HD 1080p Certified Blu-ray player


    LG has launched the first DivX HD 1080p certified Blu-ray player.

    The BD390 – originally displayed at CES in January – has an 802.11n WiFi module and support for DivX streaming from a DLNA server.

    It includes BD-Live support, 7.1-channel audio output, 1GB of inbuilt memory and a USB 2.0 socket.

    The BD390 also features support for Netflix, CinemaNow, NetCast, and YouTube streaming, and comes bundled with Nero MediaHome Essentials to connect the player to household PCs and media servers.

    In April, LG announced that its new range of HDTVs will be capable of playing full DivX HD 1080p videos.

    While DivX support may not be on everyone’s wish-list it will certainly appeal to the more tech-minded consumer.

    With DivX 7, a full two-hour HD film can be compressed to around 8 GB – so capable of being stored on a double-layer DVD.

    It also sets LG’s latest high-def player apart from the competition – certainly not a bad thing in today’s busy marketplace.

    Simon Kang, CEO and President of LG Home Entertainment, said incorporating support for DivX HD 1080p video is a key product differentiator.

    The player is available now for USD $399.95.

  • Vista Users Gain As Microsoft Extends Netflix Partnership


    Microsoft Vista users can now stream films from Netflix through the Windows Media Center.

    The development comes after Microsoft announced that it has expanded its partnership with the movie service.

    Vista users can also stream Netflix movies on PCs by going to the Netflix site.

    The arrangement is part of Microsoft’s plans to develop its Media Center as an online video hub.

    Microsoft offers Media Center with the Vista operating system.

    By selecting the new Netflix tab in "TV+Movies" Vista users can start streaming films immediately.

    They will also be able to search and watch programs from Netflix’s online library of 12,000 movies and TV shows.

    Microsoft’s partnership with Netflix began last year when it began offering the movie service’s streaming movies through the Xbox 360 game console.