Xfinity iPad App Now Streams Video

Mere hours after announcing new studio partnerships for mobile content, Comcast went ahead and flipped the switch on their Xfinity iPad app — enabling tons of on-demand selections. So if you needed one more reason to question the longevity and business model of Hulu Plus, now you’ve got it. Engadget says video, from the likes … Read more

Mozy Raises Rates, Agitates Digerati

Mozy’s unlimited cloud backup service is decidedly less unlimited today. As the company has retired it’s $4.95 plan in favor of new tiers of service (shown above) with data overages running $2/month per 20GB. While quite a few seemed riled up, I don’t particularly mind. Mozy needs to make money and it’s easy to see how the top few percent of users could impact the bottom line. A Mozy VP responds on CNET:

We do not take this on lightly…I don’t expect everybody to be happy about it. But if they take a look at what we’re doing and why, it’ll at least be understandable.

As I told photographer Thomas Hawk, you generally get what you pay for. And Mozy is owned by industry giant EMC… something I take comfort in. I’d say they’re much less likely to lose his data than Flickr – a photo sharing service that operates without a backup or un-delete option. There continues to be an unreasonable expectation that everything on the Internet be free or inexpensive. The sooner we collectively get beyond that, the sooner we’ll have higher quality services and support.

Read more

Early BlackBerry PlayBook apps include Kobo, Netflix Queue Manager

Research in Motion has started adding third party apps for the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to the BlackBerry App World store. While the PlayBook already has a lot going for it, including excellent multimedia and multitasking capabilities and security features for business users, the quality and selection of third party apps will be key in determining whether … Read more

Boxee/Moxi Parallels Go Beyond the Rhyme

Boxee announced today that its Netflix app has been delayed because of Netflix security requirements, and I joked on Twitter that maybe the company’s misfortunes are the fault of the “oxi” sound in its name. After all, Moxi didn’t do too well with its retail efforts either. However, in thinking about it further, I realized there … Read more

Roku Releases Official Support for USB Drives

Roku has finally launched official support for accessing USB-housed media via the current XD|S model and discontinued HD-XR. The “Roku USB Media Player” builds upon what was essentially a public beta by slightly broadening file support and reworking the interface. Unfortunately, release notes are slim and it’s not clear what the exact file encoding requirements … Read more

Dell Streak 7 Versus Samsung Galaxy Tab (T-Mobile)

Earlier today, T-Mobile tweeted their Dell Streak 7 launch plans. And I got to wondering how Dell’s 7″ Android tablet compares to the Samsung Galaxy tab. Pre-release, all we really have to go on is pricing and specs… versus usability and experience. So this isn’t anything close to an authentic evaluation by any means. The … Read more

The Case For Kinect?

Well, that didn’t last long… After only about a month with my (second) PS3, I went ahead and unloaded the Sony platform to a work buddy. While I appreciate the physical hardware, if not the UI and online gaming, after playing through Uncharted 2 I just didn’t have much use for the console. I thought I’d put the Blu-ray player to use, but I’ve got several good looking online HD video sources/devices available to me. Yeah, not as high quality as BRD. But good enough as I no longer hoard physical media.

Despite plans to the contrary, I sold my previous Xbox 360 to Gamestop last month when they ran a generous trade-in offer. So I’m currently consoleless, for the first time in forever, and contemplating a new 360 purchase. After all, my Xbox Live subscription is good for about another year and I’d be effectively upgrading RRoD-prone hardware to more modern (and cabinet friendly) construction. The question is, do I pick up a Kinect bundle?

Kinect is Microsoft’s take on the motion control craze. However, it utilizes decidedly more sophisticated (camera) technology than what Nintendo and Sony offer. And supposedly it’s selling like hotcakes. Yet I’m not sure I’d maximize its potential. Isn’t the point of video gaming to sprawl out on the couch and minimize physical exertion? If I really wanted to move, I’d hit the gym or take it outdoors.

I solicited some community feedback on Twitter. Based on the responses, as we have no children in the house and given the current gaming lineup, it seems like I can pass on Kinect. For now. Disagree?

Read more

The Phone Upgrade Dilemma

While I have thoroughly enjoyed my Droid Eris for the last 13 months, the time has come for me to consider an upgrade. First, the Eris has grown a bit laggy, and HTC will never upgrade past the 2.1 interface. Second, I’m anticipating the day that Slacker actually launches its new on-demand service, and hoping … Read more