The best TV and Broadband News from around the ‘net
- Technicolor Announces Strategic Relationships with Intel, Samsung, and VIZIO to Bring Easily Accessible Content to Consumers across Device, 2012, Press Center – Technicolor
Technicolor Announces Strategic Relationships with Intel, Samsung, and VIZIO to Bring Easily Accessible Content to Consumers across Device, 2012, Press Center – Technicolor:
Today at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show Technicolor unveils its new consumer brand, M-GO. This free app makes entertainment effortless and conveniently combines all of your media including movies, music, apps, live TV, and much more, in one easy to navigate location. M-GO offers seamless access to all your content across all connected devices, through a cloud-based experience. Technicolor also announces strategic relationships around M-GO with Intel® Corporation, Samsung, and VIZIO.
- Ultraviolet Movement Picks Up New Backer: Samsung | paidContent
Ultraviolet Movement Picks Up New Backer: Samsung | paidContent:
Samsung has rolled out a new line of Blu-ray players that support Ultraviolet, thus joining the ranks of entertainment brands that support the fledgling Hollywood studio-backed digital-locker initiative.
- Another nail in the set-top coffin — Online Video News
Another nail in the set-top coffin — Online Video News:
I’ve written a lot lately about how Internet connected devices are chipping away at the need for consumers to have a set-top box in each room in which they have a TV. The latest evidence comes from Samsung and DirecTV, which have partnered to let the satellite TV provider’s customers to broadcast live and pre-recorded content directly to a Samsung Smart TV. Samsung is calling it “set-top ‘Boxless’ viewing,” which will enable operators to offer up the same user experience to the TV without the need for an additional piece of hardware connected to it.
- PayWizard offers more ways to pay for content on Samsung smart TVs — Engadget
PayWizard offers more ways to pay for content on Samsung smart TVs — Engadget:
PayWizard’s “multi-screen” TV payment platform has been available for some time in the UK, but the company’s now taking advantage of CES to attempt a big push into the US market.
- Sony TVs connect to streaming entertainment | Broadband TV News
Sony TVs connect to streaming entertainment | Broadband TV News:
Sony is also touting connectivity on all of its Bravia TV sets at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, but Google TV will only be available on a mediaplayer and Blu-ray disc player.
- Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on) — Engadget
Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on) — Engadget:
The company that has almost single handedly spurred the golden age of CableCARD has found a new way to deliver its technology to consumers with a 6 tuner multi-room DVR with a 2TB hard drive, codenamed Q, and its companion extender, codenamed Echo. No word on the price of either but both are expected to ship in 2012.
- Sony Stays Committed To Google TV, Releases Two New GTV Products At CES 2012 | TechCrunch
Sony Stays Committed To Google TV, Releases Two New GTV Products At CES 2012 | TechCrunch:
Sony released the first Google TV product back in the fun days of 2010. Since then, the smart TV platform has survived more than a year of criticism and a major overhaul. It’s still far from a industry leader, that title is head by Samsung’s SmartHub, but Google is sticking with it. And so it Sony.
- CES: 3DTV Still Suffers From ‘Black Hole Of Content’ – 2012-01-10 19:13:18 | Multichannel News
CES: 3DTV Still Suffers From ‘Black Hole Of Content’ – 2012-01-10 19:13:18 | Multichannel News:
There’s a dearth of 3D content on television two years after the first 3DTVs hit the market, but that should start to change as TV networks cut production costs and consumers buy more sets in 2012, industry executives said on a panel here at CES Tuesday.
- Rovi TotalGuide Debuts on Toshiba’s Latest Smart TV Models for North America
Rovi TotalGuide Debuts on Toshiba’s Latest Smart TV Models for North America:
Today Rovi Corporation (Nasdaq:ROVI) and Toshiba Corporation (Tokyo:6502) will demonstrate how Rovi TotalGuide is helping Toshiba bring a cutting-edge search and discovery experience on Toshiba’s new line of L7200 Cinema Series as well as the L6200 Series LED 3D premium Smart TVs, for the U.S. market. Rovi TotalGuide will be branded Toshiba MediaGuide in the U.S. Rovi TotalGuide combines Rovi entertainment data and rich media, TV listings, and sophisticated search and discovery technologies to enable Toshiba to offer one centralized interface for consumers to find digital content of all types. Rovi TotalGuide is also expected to be introduced on select models of Toshiba Smart TVs in Europe later this year.
- Orange UK launches Tahiti, a self-branded Android tablet | The Verge
Orange UK launches Tahiti, a self-branded Android tablet | The Verge:
After debuting its first self-branded tablet in Europe last year, Orange has now announced the Tahiti, a budget tablet launched today in the UK.
- In Netflix vs Lovefilm, the winner (probably) takes nowt • The Register
In Netflix vs Lovefilm, the winner (probably) takes nowt • The Register:
Analysis It isn’t exactly your cliche of two bald men fighting over a comb, but victory in the battle royale between Netflix and Amazon’s Lovefilm might not mean much to the eventual ‘winner’.
- Samsung Announces Set-Top ‘Boxless’ Viewing in All 2012 Smart TVs
Samsung Announces Set-Top ‘Boxless’ Viewing in All 2012 Smart TVs:
Today at the 2012 International CES, DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) and Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. (Seoul: 005930) unveiled their plans to offer DIRECTV’s more than 19.7 million customers the ability to watch live broadcast and stored content from a compatible DIRECTV DVR on Samsung’s 2012 line of Smart TVs without the need for additional set-top boxes. This newly enabled feature will also provide the same seamless user experience and replicate the full User Interface (UI) of a DIRECTV DVR set top box. Installers and homeowners alike will benefit from the ability to mount the TV without having to worry about locating an additional set top box.
- Samsung 2012 SmartTVs will access DirecTV without a set top box, minimalists rejoice — Engadget
Samsung 2012 SmartTVs will access DirecTV without a set top box, minimalists rejoice — Engadget:
Samsung’s new range of super-thin, super-powerful Smart TVs got another big fillip at CES: the company’s teamed up with DirecTV to offer its service without the use of a set top box.
- Roku players go up for sale in U.K., Ireland — Online Video News
Roku players go up for sale in U.K., Ireland — Online Video News:
Hot on the heels of the Netflix launch in the U.K. and Ireland comes the news that Roku will begin to sell its players in both countries by the end of this month. Roku makes its first move in Europe with a slightly reduced lineup of devices and will only sell the Roku LT and the Roku 2 XS players in both countries.
- Comcast’s AnyPlay brings live TV to the iPad — Online Video News
Comcast’s AnyPlay brings live TV to the iPad — Online Video News:
After about a year of promises, Comcast is finally getting around to making live TV available on the iPad. But unlike other operators, it’s not just making those streams available directly through an app: Comcast customers who wish to take advantage of the live offering will need an extra piece of equipment to make it work.
- YouView spent £20m in first nine months | Advanced Television
YouView spent £20m in first nine months | Advanced Television:
YouView, the UK VoD service, spent almost £20 million (€24.2m) in its first nine months of operation. The troubled joint venture backed by the BBC, ITV, TalkTalk, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BT, received £20.2 million from shareholders in the period from 8 July 2010 to 31 March 2011.
- Samsung connected TV can update hardware | Advanced Television
Samsung connected TV can update hardware | Advanced Television:
At CES, Samsung has unveiled an Internet-connected television that has the ability to have its hardware upgraded every year. The device has a slot which allows new kit to be added to boost processing performance and add new features.
- Humax Selects SeaChange Software for Hybrid Cable Set-Top Box with Home Gateway
Humax Selects SeaChange Software for Hybrid Cable Set-Top Box with Home Gateway:
Humax (KOSDAQ:028080), a premier set-top box manufacturer, will debut its global advanced tru2way set-top box at the International CES 2012 in Las Vegas. The version to be shown is targeted for the North American cable television market leveraging SeaChange International’s (Nasdaq: SEAC) Nucleus Hybrid Gateway software and Nitro applications suite providing a seamless subscriber experience. This next generation Humax platform supports cable operators’ QAM, IP and transitional video environments and is entering lab testing with a major U.S. cable operator.
- Have consumers lost that loving feeling for pay-TV? – FierceIPTV
Have consumers lost that loving feeling for pay-TV? – FierceIPTV:
Retransmission battles continue two weeks into the New Year, with consumers continuing to get the short end of the stick as operators and content owners rake their winnings into neat piles and dream bigger dreams. Unfortunately, few of those dreams really seem to involve making their customers’ lives any better—an antiquated idea, I know, but a thought worth considering since they literally are the lifeblood of the industry.
