Zatz Not Funny!

Hulu Considers Ad-free Tier (Does it matter?)

Online video streaming service Hulu has been communicating via Twitter (here, here, here) that they’re considering an ad-free tier of service. Hulu currently offers free access via web browser and an $8 monthly subscription that expands access to mobile and television devices. But both levels are saddled with commercial interruption. As a subscriber, I’ve found … Read more

Round Up! Get Your Video Chat On

For those of us who grew up with the Jetsons, the cliché futuristic image of Jane talking on the video phone has persisted even into 2011. But naturally it wasn’t until Apple introduced FaceTime that a real video chat market started to take shape. Yes, Skype video has always had a dedicated user base, but FaceTime was the catalyst for other players to join the game. Here’s a look at a few of the current companies and new offerings in the video chat space.

G+

Google took video calling a step forward with the launch of Hangouts in its new Google Plus social network last month. Create a free Hangout, and you can video chat with multiple people at once. Only problem? Yeah, you have to be a G+ user. If a recent Mashable poll is any indicator, users love Hangouts, but G+ is already getting a rep for only attracting techy types, and that’s a serious limiting factor. Google has said it will open up G+ video chat to third-party apps. Perhaps that will propel the technology beyond the techy cohort.

Facebook with Skype (er, Microsoft)

Not to be outdone by Google, Facebook followed the G+ launch with its own video chat service powered by Skype. The new, free feature has the advantage of debuting with a ridiculously large user base, and it’s sure to drive up bandwidth usage among a subset of Facebook fans. Meanwhile, the fact that Microsoft has acquired Skype means that the technology itself will continue to get integrated in non-Facebook apps as well. Microsoft has already said “Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect…”

Two to Tango

A friend introduced me to Tango last year, and it is still my favorite video calling app because of the cross-platform support.

Best Buy’s TiVo-Powered HDTV Gets Official

While Best Buy’s new pair of Insignia TVs featuring “TiVo Design” started trickling into stores last week, as you can see above, the retailer is just now officially announcing their first foray into the “connected” television space. And in discussing this new initiative with Best Buy, they clearly acknowledged something of a marketing challenge… given TiVo’s association with the DVR. This is an Insignia television first, featuring TiVo’s high definition interface. But it’s no DVR. Already, even TechCrunch got it horribly wrong:

a $499 32-incher with DVR built-in isn’t too bad and if you’re hard up for cash you can save a little money by sticking getting a TV and DVR in one.

Speaking of pricing, I’m happy to say the rumors were wrong. The 32″ set runs $500 and the 42″ clocks in at $700. Which is much more reasonable for a Best Buy house brand like Insignia and allows them to compete with the likes of Vizio. Although, I suspect their intended market exceeds budget offerings. And it surely seems as they’ve invested a lot into this new platform.

Logitech Revue Google TV Drops To $100

By any measure, Google TV has been a failure. In fact, I’d say they’re not even in the game. And no company has paid the price more than Logitech with their bad bet on Google’s initial foray into the living room. Just how bad has it been? More Logitech Revue hardware was returned in the … Read more

ReplayTV Spared At The Zero Hour

After announcing the imminent demise of ReplayTV programming guide services last month, D&M Holdings has had a change of heart. And perhaps keeping the lights on is more cost effective than litigation… given what appears to be a small but passionate letter writing campaign. So while guide data, and associated DVR functionality, was expected to cease … Read more

The First Roku 2 Update Hits, As Do EPIX & AOL Channels

Just a few short days after retail availability the first Roku 2 update has hit. And it can’t come soon enough for those us experiencing some typical early release crashiness (as described here and here). From the version 4.1, build 1255 release notes:

• Improved playback support in Crackle
• Fixed an occasional crash on entry into Angry Birds
• Fixed an occasional crash during video playback

Roku firmware updates are automatic and most players will be updated over the next week. If you would like to get the latest firmware version immediately, please visit Settings > Software Update on your Roku 2 Streaming Player to manually trigger the update.

I suspect the Roku crew is already hard at work on their next update, as these sorts of issues are all too common in new products… and this is an entirely new hardware platform for them. But I’m hopeful we’ll see even more improved stability, reliability, and responsiveness within a couple of weeks.

Best Buy’s Insignia HDTV TiVo Launching Soon with Chumby Apps

If you had any doubts that Best Buy will be launching an Insignia-branded, TiVo-powered HDTV any day now… well, I can pretty much put them to rest. Since my previous speculative coverage, a treasure trove of product packaging photos have come my way – providing a decent amount of detail:

The only TV that combines the power of the Internet with the legendary TiVo user interface, all in stunning HD. You’ll find entertainment from both broadcast TV and the Internet with just a few clicks of your remote. Now get what you want when you want it.

Award-winning TiVo experience: Easily access all your favorite TV shows, movies and more with the easy-to-use TiVo user interface.

Broadband connected: Delivers a plethora of new entertainment choices, including TV, Movies, Music and Games.

Intelligent Search: Search by title, actor, director, keyboard and more…

Access to the best entertainment: Enjoy movies from Netflix, CinemaNow and Insignia On Demand, music from Pandora, and much, much more.

As expected, the 1080p HDTV features “TiVo Design” but “No DVR Included”. However

Some Best Buy Insignia TiVo HDTV Gossip

For the first time in over a year, we recently learned a little something of Best Buy’s partnership with TiVo… consisting of two upcoming Insignia-branded HDTVs. The sets will feature TiVo’s interface, universal search, programming guide and a variety of connected apps – including Best Buy’s own Napster and CinemaNow properties. But no actual DVR … Read more