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Broadcaster ABC is said to be updating its iOS app to offer live streams of shows from local ABC stations later this week. New options for a "Live" button in the Watch ABC app for iPhone and iPad will mark it as the first major US broadcaster that provides live streams of its channels to app users, with the first markets to gain the service being New York and Philadelphia.
T-Mobile has released an iPhone version of its T-Mobile TV app. The app has been available for Android since 2010, but T-Mobile only started selling the iPhone in April. The app comes with 30 days of free access to content like the Associated Press and Fox News, but the bulk of content is behind a subscription paywall.
Verizon has updated the iOS and Android versions of My FiOS, an app supporting the company's fiber service. Both apps have integrated important FiOS TV functions, namely TV listings, DVR scheduling, and a remote control. Previously the app's video functions were limited to watching video on demand.
Two major TV networks, ESPN and Fox, have updated their iOS apps to support streaming to AT&T U-verse subscribers. WatchESPN provides access to live feeds of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU, but only for people who already subscribe to ESPN packages from specific providers. Aside from AT&T, these include Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Midcontinent Communications, Optimum, Time Warner, and Verizon.
Google has released a native iPad app for subscribers of its Fiber TV service. Users can browse and search for shows that are airing live, as well as on-demand content, and anything recorded to DVR. On-demand content can in fact be both bought and watched using the app.
Live TV streaming service Aereo is going to expand its service to Boston, Massachusetts. Over 4.5 million people in the Boston metropolitan area will be able to use Aereo, which includes a cloud-based DVR as part of the service, and will be the second city that Aereo will operate in, after its initial launch in New York City.
On Monday, Google updated its YouTube app for iOS (free) with support for live streaming, one channel branding for video content creators, additional AirPlay and other wireless-video support for non-AirPlay devices such as smart TVs, a subscription feed to allow users to quickly find new videos on the channels they are subscribed to and general stability and performance enhancements. The live streaming feature will add native support for the previously web-only feature, which runs special events as a live telecast.
Showtime has released v1.4 of Anytime, its video-on-demand app for iOS. The new version opens up access to Comcast XFINITY subscribers. Previously, only AT&T U-verse, DIRECTV, Optimum, and Verizon FiOS were supported.
CBS is considering a possible move to cable if Aereo continues to operate, following comments from another broadcaster. Chief executive Les Moonves voiced approval of Fox Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey's earlier threat to cease over-the-air broadcasts, though it such an action is unlikely to occur in the first place.
Home Box Office has updated its HBO Go app to version 2.1, adding background AirPlay streaming that lets users pass video onto TVs and other devices using AirPlay while making the mobile device free to run other applications. The update adds general performance enhancements as well as some additional interactivity for Game of Thrones watchers: while the episode is streaming to another device, users can see additional content (mostly text- and photo-based) on their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.
Vodafone is to launch its 4G services to Australian customers in June. The initial rollout will see Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Wollongong, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast covered with 4G service, according to ZDNet. Tests on the 4G signal shows it as having a download speed of 80Mbps and an upload of 20Mbps, with a claimed maximum of 150Mbps possible for some customers. Like its competitors, national carriers Telstra and Optus, Vodafone will be keeping its 4G service charges the same as its 3G access, and hopes to have 1,000 4G sites operational by the end of 2013.
An Apple TV set will probably launch "in the latter part of 2013," says Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White. The claim is based on a "meeting with an [sic] tech supply chain company," he writes in a new investor memo. "Clearly, there has been plenty of misguided speculation around the timing of the Apple's [sic] 'iTV' launch and we believe that this is largely due to changes by Apple, most recently around the creation of entirely new user interface aesthetics."
Live TV streaming service Aereo has won a major court battle against a number of television networks, after the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal from broadcasters. The two-to-one vote confirms that Aereo does not infringe the copyrights of broadcasters, and clears the legal standing of the service in general.
Apple's long-anticipated TV set will use a 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160) panel, according to supply chain sources reached by DigiTimes. The sometimes-accurate trade paper says that Apple and its main manufacturing partner, Foxconn, have been in talks for some time about the TV's production schedule. Apple, though, has reportedly been worrying about where to get panels from, since Ultra HD suppliers are predicted to be working at nearly full capacity in 2013 just to meet demand from China-based TV vendors.
TV network CBS has launched a new, self-named app for the iPhone and iPad. The software allows streaming of CBS shows within 24 hours of their original broadcast time, with the exception of new episodes of primetime programs, which are only available eight days after broadcast. Once the fall season starts the title will integrate with the CBS Connect app, letting people use an iOS device as a second screen, with things like synced content and integrated social network feeds.
During last night's Academy Awards ceremony, Apple debuted a new TV ad, dubbed "Hollywood." The spot follows the same template as other recent ads, but simply uses a movie-connected theme, for instance showing iMovie, and a 3D-rendered Hollywood sign in Maps. Intermixed are clips from Back to the Future, Apollo 13, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
BBC TV show Blue Peter has awarded the show's gold badge to lead Apple designer Jonathan Ive. Although from a children's show, the gold badge is nevertheless rare, having only been given out to about 1,000 people since the show went on the air in 1958. Some past winners have included soccer star David Beckham and Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
Apple isn't planning to hold a TV-related event next month, says The Loop. The original claim was raised earlier today by Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, who said that "channel checks" pointed to a "product event" involving the Apple TV, and possibly rolling out an SDK for a future dedicated TV set. In response, The Loop's Jim Dalrymple simply writes "Nope." Dalrymple is known, however, to have reliable sources for such matters.
Shares of German TV maker Loewe have risen 43 percent on revived rumors of an Apple buyout, Reuters reports. "Apple supposedly wants to bid 4 euros a share for Loewe," one stock trader is quoted as saying. A Loewe spokesman claims the company is unaware of any acquisition offer, while Apple has refused to comment one way or another on the matter.
Apple is still working to launch a TV set this year with a new remote, says Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster. The analyst tells Bloomberg in an audio interview that the information is based on checks with Asian suppliers. He suggests that Apple is hoping to solve two problems with the set: the first is a better form of remote control, while the second, "down the road," is content on demand.
Hulu has previewed three new shows that it will air in the summer as part of its original programming drive. The new shows, a pair of comedy series and a docu-series, are also joined by a number of new exclusive shows that will start in January, while existing Hulu-specific programming has also seen renewals.
Cox Communications has shown off a new version of its mobile app, which it hopes will give a more personalized TV experience to customers. Jointly developed with Cisco, the new mobile application will offer access to 90 live TV channels, on demand content, personalized video recommendations, and will also function as a remote control for the Cox TV program guide, Trio.
Panasonic was among the many tech giants focusing on Ultra HD and OLED display technology this week at CES. While other companies vied for industry records such as largest Ultra HD TV or largest OLED TV, Panasonic claims to have built the world's largest TV that combines both technologies. Electronista took a look at the prototype television on the CES show floor.
Live TV streaming service Aereo is planning to expand to 22 more US cities this year, the company has announced via its website. The full list includes Austin, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Washington, Baltimore, Detroit, Denver, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Cleveland, Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, Birmingham, Providence, and Madison (WI). The expansion appears to be possible because of $38 million in second-round venture capital funding. Several firms and "select individuals" are mentioned as sources for the money.
Panasonic has outlined its 2103 Viera lines of LCD and plasma HDTVs, with a wide array of options available for future TV buyers. A total of 32 televisions have been detailed by the company, divided equally between plasma-based and non-plasma, and have been split into five plasma screen series and seven LED-based LCD display ranges.
Samsung has revealed it's 4K-capable television at the company's CES press event, one which the electronics giant teased as having an "unprecedented new TV shape and timeless design." The S9 Ultra-HD resolution screen measures 85-inches diagonally, and is fitted inside a freestanding and minimalist metal frame.
A project by Intel to roll out a virtual cable TV service with per-channel subscriptions and a cloud-based DVR service has hit longer delays than previously thought, with the negotiations with media companies being the main cause. Recent reports suggest that the discussions pushed the service's potential launch from the end of 2012 to mid-2013 or as late as the fourth quarter.
Samsung today continued to build anticipation for the product lines it will unveil at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, showing off a vague image of an apparently translucent television and promising "a true innovation of TV design." The teaser also promises viewers "an unprecedented new TV shape and timeless design," though it gave no other details. The accompanying image appears to show a television set in portrait orientation, one with an apparently thin bezel.
On Friday, Apple launched a new TV ad promoting both the iPad and iPad mini by cleverly showing both products as they might be used in a FaceTime video conference, with a man's granddaughter playing the ukelele and singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas," a wistful 1943 hit for Bing Crosby written by Walter Kent and Kim Gannon (based on a poem by Buck Ram). The grandfather's iPad shows the young lady, while her iPad mini shows her grandfather's reaction.
A new report by Focus Taiwan -- an English service of Taiwan's national news agency -- is disputing some recent claims about Apple's expected HDTV. Sources close to Hon Hai, better known as Foxconn, support the notion that the manufacturer is testing several TV designs. One source argues however that it's unlikely that the TV will ship in 2013, something some analysts have previously called for.
Noted television ratings and market research group Nielsen announced today a multi-year partnership to create the "Nielsen Twitter TV Rating" for the US market. The partnership with Twitter will result in a new syndicated-standard metric that measures Twitter conversations about TV, and it will be available at the start of the fall 2013 television season.
Today's deals from DealNN include price cuts on HDTVs, digital cameras, printers, and more. At BestBuy's online site today, save big on two great HDTV deals. The Panasonic 32-inch LCD HDTV has been reduced by $70 from $300 down to $230. That's about $50 less than the lowest price we have seen on this HDTV anywhere else. Also, there is a whopping $230 price drop on the Sharp 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV which lowers the price down to $400, which is about $100 less than the lowest price offered anywhere else. Free shipping is included with both of these offers, and these prices are available for today only.
A remote exploit in some models of the Samsung Smart TV has been uncovered by researchers at security researchers-for-hire ReVuln. If unlatched, the security flaw could allow theft of social media credentials loaded into the television, remote copying of drives attached to the television, and also allow remote access of compatible video cameras and microphones attached to the television.
Apple is testing a few designs for a large-sized TV set, according to supply chain sources reached by the Wall Street Journal. Unlike many similar reports, though, one source warns that Apple may or may not put a TV into production. "It isn't a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing," the person says.
In a new interview, airing tonight at 10 Eastern, Apple CEO Tim Cook has strongly hinted at the prospect of an Apple-branded TV set. During the piece, NBC's Brian Williams asks Cook what's next for Apple. "When I go into my living room and turn on the TV, I feel like I have gone backwards in time by 20 to 30 years," Cook comments. "It's an area of intense interest. I can't say more than that."
Accessory maker Satechi has launched a new Universal Remote dongle. The unit plugs into the headphone jack of any recent iOS device, and in combination with a dedicated app can be used to control any number of electronics with infrared sensors, including TVs and DVRs. Satechi claims that "thousands" of devices are supported; if one isn't, a learning mode can be used to associate commands.
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster is, in what has become a long-standing tradition, once again predicting the imminent arrival of an Apple-branded television set, which he now believes will go on sale in the fall of next year. He is also forecasting, based on his own "correction" of October sales data from analyst firm NPD, that Mac sales will be down approximately seven percent from the year-ago period. Monster used the same methodology a year ago to correctly predict Mac sales of around 5.2 million units. If his model turns out to be right this time, Apple is on track to sell around 4.8 million Mac units, including both desktop and portable models.
Sony has revealed it will offer buyers of its 4K TV sets content specially created for the high resolution screens. While not detailing the exact nature of the plan, Ray Hartjen of Sony claims that customers of the 84-inch XBR-84X900 television will receive access to the "world's first 4K Ultra HD delivery solution" at no charge.
Apple has indeed been talking with "a few large cable operators" about a new TV product, says AllThingsD. The information comes from anonymous sources, reached in response to a recent investor memo from Jefferies & Co. analyst James Kisner. Kisner claims that at least one big cable operator is running tests to determine if it can handle the bandwidth an Apple HDTV might require. He suggests that this could point to "an imminent launch," but AllThingsD disputes the claim.
Hitachi has unveiled its fall lineup of high definition televisions and accessories for the US. The new list of HDTVs, divided between the Value series and the UltraVision UltraThin LED series, are also accompanied by 32-inch and 40-inch Sound Bars. Containing six speakers and using Coneq 3D sound processing the Sound Bars can also be used to stream music through its Bluetooth connection.
Graphic card manufacturer Diamond Multimedia introduced today an addition to the Dual View line of products and PC to TV adapter. The DV100 is a USB 3.0 to DVI /HDMI 1080P external dual video card and display adapter for multiple monitors. The WPCTVPRO is a set-top box allowing for video and audio playback from a computer to a television, including support for popular media streaming services
Televisions are the primary screen for viewing free and paid video streamed from the Internet, according to the NPD. A recent survey suggests that 45-percent of Americans primarily use their TVs for online streaming, while 31-percent used personal computers instead. This is the first time that the TV has overtaken computers for web-based video.
Time Warner Cable is "hard at work at a cloud-based [TV] guide experience,' but willing to allow third parties to create interfaces for it, says president and COO Rob Marcus. The executive revealed the information at an investor conference in New York earlier today. The catch, Marcus elaborates, is that Time Warner isn't willing to forsake the "customer relationship," meaning that it wants people to know TV is being delivered through TWC instead of a device maker or any other company.
LG is gearing up to release its 84-inch 4K TV in the US. Already released in South Korea in limited numbers, the US 84LM9600 will be made available to American customers in the near future, a move that mirrors Sony's recent release announcement for its own 84-inch 4K TV, although at a far higher price point.
Sony has put its first 4K TV available to pre-order. The XBR-84X900, previously rumored and publicly announced last week at IFA, will be shipping in November at the same time as Sony stores and other electronics retailers across the US. The price for the 84-inch screen has been set at $25,000.
Apple won't be releasing any new "TV product" in 2012, according to a Bloomberg source. The person says that Apple is still stalling in talks with content and cable providers, who don't have much cause to surrender any of their current revenue schemes. Cable companies are said to be creating a particular obstacle, since they want control over the software on Apple's rumored set-top box, and are disputing whether or not they would get to distribute the peripheral instead of Apple selling it directly.
Toshiba has shown off its attempt at an 84-inch 4K TV at IFA 2012. Following after previous attempts by LG and Samsung in recent months, and Sony showing its own off at the same trade show, the unnamed television equals the Quad Full HD 3840x2160 resolution and physical size of other 4K efforts, and certainly dwarfs its previous high-resolution television demonstrations.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has approved Japanese broadcaster NHK's Super Hi-Vision system as the standard for 8K video. The format proposal was unopposed by other broadcasters during a consultation period, which allowed the ITU to send letters to its members late last week, confirming it as the adopted standard.
Plans for an Apple TV set (or a more advanced set-top) may still be some time in coming, suggests Pacific Crest's Andy Hargreaves. On Wednesday the analyst met with Apple's CFO, Peter Oppenheimer, and its senior VP for Internet software and services, Eddy Cue. Hargreaves pressed the idea of a "more significant move into TV distribution," according to a new memo. In response, Cue repeated a frequent company position that Apple will only enter markets where it thinks it can create good customer experiences and solve major obstacles.
HBO and Fox have renewed a rights agreement originally set to expire in 2015, AllThingsD reports. Under the new deal, Fox movies will continue appearing on HBO until 2022. More importantly, however, Fox and HBO officials say that the agreement includes a "softening" of something known as the electronic sell-through window. Previously HBO maintained a strict policy that while it was running a movie for the first time, no one else could sell or rent a title electronically.
