Dave Zatz Taking a page from Slacker’s book, Internet music service Pandora is augmenting their paid service offerings with ad-supported streaming – think audio commercials. Thus far, home audio hardware (Sonos, Squeezebox) had required a subscription ($36/yr) for service. Now, a free ad-supported Pandora service offering is being made available as an option for the Squeezebox platform. … Read more
The WSJ is out with a story that Dell may be re-entering the portable music player market (and perhaps more) later this year by leveraging their Zing acquisition – the folks behind the Sirius Stiletto and Sansa Connect. While it’s pre-mature to discuss any potential products, services, or strategies in detail, I’ve been cleared to … Read more
A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs. Stream High-Def Content Wirelessly at Home: Media Experiences 2 Go Is the HTPC Dead Yet? Not Just Yet: Brent Evans Geek Tonic Motorola Tuning Adapter Clears CableLabs Certification Wave 60: Media Experiences 2 Go Rogers Canadian iPhone Plans, The Fine Print: The Daleisphere So Many … Read more
I just swung by a local Best Buy and noticed their TiVo HD units listed for $225. While I’ve seen refurbs as low as $185, I’ve not personally seen retail prices much lower than $250ish… (Though, there’ve been reports of Costco pushing the THD for $219.) Not sure if this is an unadvertised special, specific … Read more
Two recent events have put the video download Battle Royale on hold… 1) Ben wants his Apple TV back – and who can blame him, I’ve been sitting on it for months. 2) Sony finally entered the fray with a Playstation video store, and I don’t own a PS3. Maybe I’ll get to it, maybe … Read more
At a (work) event in NYC last week, I managed to sneak in a few minutes with the ZvBox. The device essentially broadcasts all PC output over existing coaxial cable to a television in your home. Unlike a typical media extender or something like the D-Link PC-on-TV device, the ZvBox sits at the computer and … Read more
Since acquiring Movielink about a year ago, Blockbuster’s been relatively quiet with the property… The Movielink video download service has carried on in the interim. However, according to the Dallas News a rebranding under the Blockbuster name is nearly complete. A few hundred Total Access members have been provided beta access in a program that … Read more
TiVo’s not the only primary television add-on with web video intentions. Verizon is currently beta testing web video on their set-top boxes and their initial marketing partners include Veoh, Blip.tv, Break.com, and YouTube. Unlike TiVo which taps directly into YouTube’s H.264 content, Verizon utilizes their Media Manager PC software as an intermediary. Sites are indexed … Read more