Video

Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs: New Tablet Hardware: Specs and Speculation And the mobile market rolls on. Two tablets launched last week are worth a look – for consumers and content publishers alike. RIM’s Blackberry Playbook and LG’s Android G-Slate. Imavex Does Live Streaming to Roku and iOS If you’ve … Read more

PopBox Not Dead Yet; Adds 3D & MLB.TV

We haven’t heard much lately out of Syabas, the company behind the $130 PopBox media appliance (and Popcorn Hour). When announced, back at CES 2010, I was pretty fired up given their lineage and the demo I received. However, the streamer launched later than planned… with a variety of performance issues and lacking previously advertised premium content, … Read more

Google Takes Issue With Roku’s YouTube Channel

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While Roku doesn’t offer an officially sanctioned YouTube channel, many of us have been enjoying that content through a “private” offering created by The Nowhereman. In fact, he’s such an exceptional developer, Roku brought him on as an employee (where he’s known as Chris). Yet that puts them in an even more awkward position now that Google has taken issue with the unlicensed YouTube channel.

A blog comment tipped me off to the situation, that I confirmed on the forum… The YouTube channel remains functional for the folks who’ve previously activated it, yet no new subscribers are permitted. I reached out to Roku who also corroborated the situation, saying “we received a takedown notice from YouTube’s legal team and are in the midst of negotiations with them.” They’re hopeful of having more information to share with the community next week.

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First Look At HBO’s Upcoming Mobile Apps

DirecTV may have been the first US television provider to announce plans to provide HBO GO mobile video apps for iOS and Android, but it won’t be the only company to do so. In a video teaser posted on YouTube, HBO promises that HBO GO will soon be available on tablets and tablets as well as … Read more

HBO, Cinemax programming coming to iPhone, iPad, Android

DirectTV has announced plans to offer HBO GO and MAX GO apps for mobile devices. Right now the services allow DirectTV subscribers who pay for HBO and Cinemax to view content online via a web site for no additional charge. Eventually mobile apps will also be available for Android and iOS. There are 1400 titles available from … Read more

UMI, Flip, and Ojo – Where Video Was a No-Go

Cisco has announced it’s closing down the Flip business and folding the UMI video conferencing product into its Business TelePresence line. The news comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that WorldGate, maker of the ill-fated Ojo video phone, has finally shut its doors for good. Bye bye, badly-managed video products. Hello, smartphone and … Read more

WatchESPN on your iPhone (but ReadFINEPRINT)

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The future is upon us. As the content owners and cable/satellite providers maintain relevance by extending their offerings beyond the traditional television. And the most promising new service is WatchESPN. Not only does it enable streaming around the home, as seen with Time Warner and Cablevision apps, but it allows you to get live ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN3 broadcasts on the go. Assuming you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad and subscribe to television services from providers ESPN has deals with (currently: Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS TV, Brighthouse).

However, the mobile transition is just getting going and there’s still a variety of licensing issues to be worked out – sports maybe be more complex than most. With WatchESPN, you can expect blackouts based on location, blurred MLB clips during SportsCenter, and zippy iPhone access to Monday Night Football:

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DISH Network To Acquire Blockbuster

DISH Network has won the bankruptcy court auction of Blockbuster in a transaction valued at $320 million. Although they’ll surely invest much more as they attempt a turn around of the sullied but “highly recognizable” brand. At first blush, their play struck me as highly bizarre. However, acquiring a streaming video solution and 1,700 brick & … Read more