CBS Launches TV.com iPhone App

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CBS may have recently lost out on Hulu content, but they’re pressing forward with their re-imagined TV.com initiative. And, yesterday, they introduced a free TV.com iPhone app.

What caught my eye in the press release was the mention of “full episodes” – So I immediately rushed out to the parking lot, where I have AT&T reception, to download the software. While many CBS properties are represented (CBS, Showtime, CNET), the “full episodes” are few and far between… other than plenty of original Star Trek installments. In fact, I couldn’t figure out how to filter specifically for the good stuff. As it turns out, “full episodes” are broken up into multiple video clips. Which bugged me at first, but now I see the wisdom in it – should you lose your connection, you won’t have to scrub through 50 minutes of content to find your spot. Speaking of connections, CBS says the video streaming will work over EDGE, 3G, or WiFi. TV.com doesn’t seem as snappy as the Joost app, but I’m hopeful of seeing more mainstream, current content going forward.

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Data Robotics Charging for Drobo Firmware Updates

This is the first time in my 25+ years in computing that a hardware manufacturer has informed me that it wants to charge me for a firmware upgrade. I innocently checked my Drobo for firmware updates yesterday and was startled to receive the message above. It was bad enough that my DroboShare experience was a … Read more

Night Of The Living DivX

6892943_490ef7667f_mThe last couple of years may have felt like a bad dream to most investors, but for DivX shareholders it’s been nothing short of a nightmare. They don’t hand out Oscars for businesses, but if they did DivX would have won hands down for best horror flick.

When the company first went public, expectations were high. YouTube had just been sold for $1.6 billion, DivX was demonstrating 75% gains in their high margin core licensing business, and their unique business model looked like it offered a very strong moat from competitors like Apple and Microsoft.

At one point DivX’s market cap exceeded $750 million, today it barely closed above $150 million. Over $600 million dollars in capitalization wiped out by one misstep after another. Admitedly, the tough economic environment can be partially blamed for DivX collapse, but the sad truth is that much of the value destruction could have been avoided.

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Dumping Gear the Green Way

If you collect as many gadgets as I do, it’s inevitable a percentage will outlive their usefulness. In the past, I’ve purchased Office Depot’s tech recycling boxes ($5) to unload that broken and limited-value gear. In fact, I’ve got an overflowing box ready go. Which is why LifeHacker’s recent coverage of Best Buy’s expanded recycling … Read more

Get Your OS X Hulu Fix via Plex

When one door closes, bust through a window? OS X users still seeking a Hulu fix after the Boxee run-in should download the new version of Plex. Both Boxee and Plex share the same XBMC (Xbox Media Center) DNA. However, as a community project, Plex will continue to have more freedom in what they can … Read more

Verizon Hub gets Internet Radio (plus ads?)

I swung by the Verizon mall kiosk today to play a bit with the Verizon Hub ($200). Unfortunately, I only had my iPhone with me and wasn’t able to take stellar photographs. But it should be clear (enough) that the promised streaming Internet radio has arrived. Verizon’s initial music source/partner is iheartradio.com, a Clear Channel … Read more

Digital Media Bytes: Last100 Edition

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our friends at Last100: Hulu blocks Boxee, could Firefox, IE and Safari be next? Its only crime is that Boxee has made it more convenient to view television content on a PC connected to a TV. Oh the irony. Technically speaking Boxee might just be a web browser … Read more