new networks
Microsoft beats Apple in enabling first TV you can talk to
The war over the future of TV is in full throttle in a Microsoft/Apple world that does not consist of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. We just wrote about the possibilities that Xbox Live could bring to social TV, and now Microsoft is about to roll out a new Xbox update that brings voice-controlled Kinect, Bing search and new content providers like Hulu and NBC’s Today Show to its video experience.
Was an Apple TV set Steve Jobs’ final plan?
Update: Bloomberg reports that Jeff Robbin, who helped create the iPod in addition to the iTunes media store, is now guiding Apple’s internal development of the new TV effort.
The possibility of Apple launching a TV set has been a rumor for months, but the upcoming authorized biography of Steve Jobs seems to give it new momentum. Quoting now from author Walter Isaacson:
“‘I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use,’ [Jobs] told me. ‘It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud.’ No longer would users have to fiddle with complex remotes for DVD players and cable channels. ‘It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.’”
Hulu not selling to pursue ‘even greater success’
After shopping itself around, Hulu has decided to stay put. Statement: ”Since Hulu holds a unique and compelling strategic value to each of its owners, we have terminated the sale process and look forward to working together to continue mapping out its path to even greater success. Our focus now rests solely on ensuring that [...]
Roku rolls out $49 player, adds HBO Go
“Our goal is a Roku in every home,” said Roku CEO Anthony Wood, and today the company announced a stylish low-cost player called Roku LT that will retail for $49 a pop. The new Roku will have Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora and HBO Go. “We expect the Roku LT will be everyone’s [...]
Amazon adds batch of FOX TV shows
Lest we forget, Netflix, Hulu and Google aren’t the only players in the online TV space. In an announcement posted on the Amazon.com home page, Jeff Bezos says they’ve signed a new deal with FOX to bring more movies and TV shows to its instant streaming service — 24, Arrested Development and The X-Files are [...]
Viewers can now buy TV shows on Apple TV
Finally. Apple TV has pushed a software update that allows viewers to buy and watch TV shows straight from iTunes. Not only that, but Apple TV will let you watch shows purchased from other devices, too. Until now, you could only rent TV shows, thanks to the Apple TV’s memory limitations. But the new iCloud [...]
Fox to stream newest shows only to paid subscribers
In a huge move that could signal the beginning of a reversal of free, timely programming on the web, Fox is planning to institute a eight-day delay on streaming its shows on Fox.com and Hulu, reports the WSJ. Paid subscribers to Hulu Plus ($7.99/month) and DirecTV Dish subscribers will be able to watch episodes the [...]
‘Mad Men’ hits Netflix on Wednesday
Netflix shares plunged as much as 11% today (but have rebounded to around a 5% loss) after its announcement yesterday that a fair number of subscribers really are leaving after the price hike was announced. Needing some good news, Netflix just announced this afternoon that all four seasons of the hugely-popular Mad Men will be [...]
Legality delays Netflix’s Facebook integration in US
Netflix released its quarterly earnings (.pdf), and stocks plunged as much as 10% in after-hours trading because the company admitted its recent pricing change will slow subscriber growth — in fact, essentially flat for Q3: “We hate making our subscribers upset with us,” Netflix said. “In Q4, we expect domestic net additions to return to [...]
Xbox rolls out ‘Avatar’ for Kinect
Looking for a geeky way to produce your own TV talk show? The new virtual chat experience Avatar is rolling out on Kinect-enabled Xboxes, and you can easily record and share your own conversations — either individually or with guests, all decked out in Xbox Live avatars. GeekWire reviewed Avatar on Avatar (how else?), which [...]
