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Digital Media Bytes

All the news that’s fit to click… With no Roku app in sight, Comcast pulls support for Xbox. Amazon Fire TV to receive software update enabling Android TV API. Headline writers think unannounced Comcast video service Watchable will rival YouTube. Amazon Fire TV out of stock. What does it mean? HBO to underwrite 5 seasons … Read more

LG To Pump $8 Billion Into OLED HDTV

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd said on Monday it would focus investment on organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, betting on the next-generation technology to steer it clear of price wars and ahead of the competition.

Through 2018, LG Display plans to put at least 10 trillion won ($8.47 billion) primarily into OLED displays for large products such as TVs, and flexible screens for smartphones and wearables. It will seek to expand OLED applications to signage and automobiles, and allocate some spending to premium liquid crystal display (LCD) products, the firm said in a statement.

A model poses in front of LG Electronics' flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV sets, which are made with LG Display flat screens, during the 2014 Korea Electronics Show in Goyang October 17, 2014. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
A model poses in front of LG Electronics’ flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV sets, which are made with LG Display flat screens, during the 2014 Korea Electronics Show in Goyang October 17, 2014. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

LG Display and sister firm LG Electronics Inc have been the biggest proponents of OLED, which boasts improved color rendition and power consumption. The world’s top LCD maker hopes early investment in OLED will help it dominate when the technology becomes mainstream.

LG Display shares have fallen 34 percent this year, touching levels not seen since 2012 as investors see a future comprising sluggish LCD growth and profit-squeezing price wars with Chinese rivals. OLED, however, offers a market worth $28.3 billion by 2022 from $8.7 billion in 2014, said researcher DisplaySearch.

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Digital Media Bytes

A stitch in time saves nine… Xbox One still has TV-like aspirations, but without cable. Vizio doesn’t want to sell you TVs, they want to sell industry your behavior. Verizon’s upcoming Internet TV service and branding both sound kind of crazy. Security doesn’t seem like a high priority at Roku. Google+ will soon be decoupled … Read more

Charter Hopes To Succeed Where Comcast Has Failed

Traders work at the post where Time Warner Cable is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange May 26, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Traders work at the post where Time Warner Cable is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange May 26, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

(Reuters) – Charter Communications Inc <CHTR.O> formally argued for regulatory approval for its Time Warner Cable Inc <TWC.N> and Bright House Networks deals, saying consumers would benefit as Internet services would become cheaper and faster.

Charter said in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday that it would not block or suppress Internet traffic or prioritize content for a fee and that its broadband services would cost less than the current offerings of Time Warner (TWC) and Bright House.

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Digital Media Bytes

Insteon’s Apple HomeKit-compatible hub drops support for many Insteon products. So will the new Hub Pro eventually support the same devices currently supported by the product formerly known as the Hub II? We don’t know. Insteon’s not saying. We have to imagine that this is not what long-time Insteon users expected or hoped for. DISH … Read more

Digital Media Bytes

Samsung answers the Apple Watch Digital Crown with a rotating, round bezel By turning the bezel around the screen, you can scroll through lists, zoom in and out of photos, adjust the volume, select items arranged in a circle, input numbers, and so on. Sonos Version 5.4 Now in Public Beta Coming soon on Sonos … Read more

Comcast Expands Home Automation To Retail Trailblazers

Amongst a slew of compelling INTX show announcements, Comcast’s further foray into home automation is particularly notable. Whereas Comcast Home started as the typical white-labeled home automation and security solution, featuring a variety of mostly generic components, Xfinity Home will shortly expand to incorporate higher profile retail accessories. For example, my beloved Kevo smartlock and Netgear Arlo cameras will be accessible from both the X1 DVR and Xfinity app this summer, with other leaders this space like Lutron, August, and Nest also onboard. And more can be expected as Comcast introduces an Xfinity Home SDK and partner program.

xfinity-home-partners

I imagine many would appreciate another unified interface to their home automation and security gadgetry. I know I would (especially in regards to Arlo, which is currently silo-ed). Not to mention there’s a huge segment of the population who knows nothing of this, yet could benefit from it. But the question remains: Will folks have interest and confidence in their cable provider, specifically Comcast, as a partner for this sort of service? And what would they be willing to pay?

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