Digital Media Bytes: Last100 Edition

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our friends at Last100: Hands-on review: INQ1 a.k.a. the ‘Facebook phone’ I’ve been playing with the INQ1, the so-called ‘Facebook phone’. Designed by the same team behind mobile carrier 3’s original “Skype Phone”, like its predecessor, this fairly nondescript 3G candy bar slider masks plenty of innovation on … Read more

TiVo to Serve Blockbuster VOD

In the second half of the year, Blockbuster OnDemand video downloads are set to join Amazon, CinemaNow, Netflix, and Jaman on broadband-connected TiVo units. While TiVo isn’t in need of another video download service, that largely duplicates Amazon Unbox/VOD content, this relationship looks mutually beneficial. TiVo gains a new sales channel via thousands of Blockbuster … Read more

Catching up with Boxee (And introducing TechVi)

For the last year or so I’ve pitched pressured my blogging buddies to work with me on some sort of ensemble video podcast. But we never seemed to find the time, motivation, or skills. And now Randall Bennett, who you may recognize from Engadget and CNET, has independently launched TechVi. I participated in a pre-alpha … Read more

Let’s Get Cumulus: Your Cloud or Mine?

I’ve dabbled in “the cloud” for some time. The majority of my digital photos were (publicly) hosted on Flickr until I tired of repeated theft reports and Yahoo censorship incidents. And for awhile, I was backing up on Mozy’s servers. More recently, I tried to replace iDisk, MobileMe photo galleries, and Mozy with a SugarSync … Read more

Pandora & IHeartRadio Released on Blackberry

Two new (and free) music streaming apps have joined Slacker on the Blackberry this week. First up was was IHeartRadio, the Clear Channel service, which simulcasts over 150 regional radio stations. Various flavors of the Bold, Curve, and Pearl are supported, with Storm compatibility “coming soon.” Next, Pandora launched early this morning, streaming their well-known … Read more

iPhone 3.0 OS channels Xbox Live (plus cut & paste)

Like many of my fellow geeks, I set aside time today to follow Apple’s iPhone 3.0 OS briefing. Former Engadget editor-in-chief Ryan Block retains his title as the live blogging king, and I monitored his coverage on gdgt.com. (I also swiped a few pics for this post, as you can see.) The first half of … Read more

DISH Network launches Fandango Channel

TiVo and Verizon aren’t the only providers piping interactive Internet-based services to your set-top box. DISH Network has launched Fandango movie ticketing service on channel 100. The OpenTV-powered application isn’t limited to broadband-connected DISH hardware, and tickets can even be ordered over a connected phone line. By default, the app displays movies and showtimes near … Read more

What’s next for Roku? (Beyond YouTube & Blip.TV)

As I discovered last month, it looks like YouTube is headed to the little $99 Roku media player. And it turns GOOG may not be the only new partner joining Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand. Via Hacking Netflix, US News & World Report writes: Roku expects to add about 10 new “channels” by the … Read more