Google's big Google TV news, or part of it, may have been detailed early in news on Sunday. The Android TV platform's YouTube app is being updated with a much stronger emphasis on channels ahead of original content plans. Matching up is a new discover feature that lets viewers find content by the category rather than just the channel.
Eolas' attempt to patent the "interactive web" may have been dealt a permanent blow after a jury in the normally patent lawsuit-friendly town of Tyler, Texas ruled that the patent was invalid. The decision negated both any attempts at claiming damages and also negated three future trials. The rejection came in part after testimony from the spiritual creator of the web, Tim Berners-Lee, as well as individual creators whose work predated that of Eolas owner Michael Doyle.
Google representatives were reported as being hesitant to fully answer questions relating to concerns over privacy on Thursday. In the wake of a hearing at a Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade subcommittee, California representative Mary Bono Mack briefed The Hill and others that the answers weren't "very forthcoming" in terms of the impact on families. She saw the unified privacy policy as ironically more complex for the user and that, even with Google's assurances, it wouldn't be easy to turn certain sharing off.
MetroPCS this week brought back its Unlimited $40 per month plan for 4G handsets. It's available on the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G, LG Esteem, and Samsung Galaxy Indulge smartphones, which were only previously available with the $50 or $60 LTE plans. The same unlimited web browsing and YouTube access in addition to the same unlimited talk and text as before is included.
MetroPCS has dropped its lowest-cost "unlimited" LTE wireless phone plan. The no-contract carrier first offered the $40 LTE plan last January. Its lowest price for voice, text, and enhanced LTE data services is now $50 per month.
YouTube's anti-piracy screening has both come under fire and gotten some relief on Friday. The system is now known from an anecdote at Vice to generate false positives if enough of a song is improperly attributed to the wrong group. When Universal-backed group Yelawolf took a sample from an After the Smoke track and had its adaptation leaked, the Universal takedown claim not only brought down the Yelawolf leak but the original track the sample came from.
US Lawmakers have sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page asking questions about the company's new privacy policy that it announced on Tuesday. The new policy consolidates more that 60 individual policies covering Google products into a single global policy. The legislators expressed concern over the logistics of how consumers would be able to opt out.
A number of Apple TV owners are finding it impossible to view YouTube videos, according to complaints on Apple's support forums. Affected people will see an error message: "No content was found. There is a problem communicating with YouTube. Try again later." The issue appears to be affecting countries worldwide, including Argentina, Australia, Japan, Canada, the US, the UK, and at least parts of continental Europe such as Spain and Denmark.
YouTube in a briefing Monday said it had pushed past four billion video streams a day. The milestone was explained to Reuters as a 25 percent boost over the three billion from just eight months earlier. A full 60 hours of new video was being uploaded every minute versus 48 hours at the earlier point.
The sub-$40 Raspberry Pi single-board computer has now been shown to be able to support Apple's AirPlay wireless media streaming thanks to a tweak. The ARM-based, Debian Linux-running system can stream from an iPad to a connected HDTV, as shown in the video below. While there was a bit of a delay before it started, the YouTube video otherwise played back without a hitch on the big screen.
Music video provider Vevo might shift its library from YouTube to Facebook if leaks are accurate. The service is believed in "very preliminary" talks that would see Facebook host the content and split ad revenue, CNET understood. The two sides had met "at least twice" and as recently as within two weeks.
TiVo posted a much-requested update for its Premiere-series DVRs mid-week that answered a number of complaints while adding upsides of its own. The 20.2 upgrade speeds up the interface to touch on a common lag problem and brings the Grid and Live Guides into HD for the first time. Those who have more than one TiVo now have the luxury of streaming a show recorded on one TiVo to another on the same network instead of having to transfer it completely.
Megaupload's troubles were magnified Thursday after word emerged that it has been shut down by Federal prosecutors in Alexandria. The site is currently inaccessible. Reports have also emerged that company staff have charged with violating piracy laws, allegedly contributing to $500 million of lost revenue.
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia in a discussion late Tuesday raised the possibility that a formal antitrust dispute with Google could start in late March. He informed Reuters that comments from investigators would come in near the end of the quarter, which ends that month, and that he didn't "expect anything sooner" for a full complaint. Leaks had tipped an early 2012 filing, if it went ahead at all, but hadn't been corroborated directly until now.
Nokia has begun promoting its two newest smartphones, the Lumia 900 and Lumia 710. Both phones, Nokia's first with Microsoft's Windows Phone OS, are featured on YouTube videos. Nokia has already started pushing the Lumia 710 with the same video as a 30-second TV spot.
We stopped by the Polaroid booth while at CES for a closer look at its Android-powered point-and-shoot camera, the SC1630. The design from the back end certainly looks like a smartphone, and many are reporting that the camera will have phone functionality as well. Whether this aspect of the device carriers over to production remains to be seen, however, as Polaroid still hasn't ironed out if it will sell it through carriers.
We stopped by Kodak's booth at CES to take a look at the company's recently unveiled EasyShare M750 and the equally new Playfull Dual. The former has been documented, and can upload photos to a Kodak's gallery or Facebook or upload videos to YouTube once the Share button is pressed. It also selection of social networks or e-mailed to a preset address. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi wasn't working and we weren't able to check this feature out.
Chipmaker Broadcom has made a few significant deals this week, partnering with Sling Media for its EchoStar set-top technology and with Myriad for the Alien Vue solution. The deals could result in a Broadcom system-on-chip that may allow set-top boxes for TVs that run Android apps and aren't limited to home Wi-Fi networks. Thus far, only Dish Network allows place-shifting in Sling's Slingbox set-tops.
Starting what's likely to be a flurry of introductions related to CES, Samsung has brought out its next-generation of DualView cameras in the DV300F. The 16-megapixel camera has a new version of the signature 1.5-inch front display that's more flush with the body, reducing its effect when left off. Wi-Fi is new to the DualView series and can share photos and videos with Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, and YouTube without either a computer or an Eye-Fi card.
Russia's NetUP, which makes IPTV hardware, has now introduced a series of IPTV sets that have an Android-based set-top box integrated. This not only allows users to launch Android apps, browse the web or watch YouTube videos. Each of the four sets uses a 1GHz and likely single-core Samsung processor, 512MB of RAM, and 1GB of storage space.
XBMC recently rolled out a significant revision of its home theater software, 11.0 Eden Beta 1, for download. Its makers say there are too many improvements to list, but the main ones include speed boosts, add-on update rollbacks, and improvements to the Confluence default skin. iOS users also now get AirPlay support with stable in-sync performance.
Myriad, the developers of the Alien Dalvik platform that lets Android apps to run on iOS and other operating systems, has now introduced Myriad Alien Vue. This latest product will allow apps to run on users' existing TVs and set-top boxes. It includes its own app store and supports multi-screen playback and cross-platform viewing from TVs, smartphones, and tablets.
Samsung has announced that its Smart TVs finally have been paired with support for YouTube videos in 3D. The service was first noted earlier this year at IFA, where Samsung claimed it would have exclusive access to YouTube 3D videos for a short time.
The argument between Universal Music Group and Megaupload over a YouTube-hosted music video from earlier this week has raised some new issues. UMG now claims that it had the right to take down the video from YouTube not under the DMCA but rather thanks to a private contract with YouTube, Ars Technica revealed on Friday. If this holds up, it could bring a dangerous precedent, as the deal would effectively get around the DMCA's abuse protection.
A series of early benchmark tests centering around the upcoming Intel Atom N2600 have been performed by NetbookLive. The low-power Cedar Trail chip uses 32nm architecture and uses dual cores to attain its 1.6GHz clock speed, though these specs aren't yet official. Intel's integrated HD 3600 graphics running at 400MHz are onboard and it should support as much as 2GB of RAM.
Following the blockage of a YouTube video on Friday at the request of the RIAA and IFPI, cloud-storage service company Megaupload has stated it will sue Universal Music for prompting what it sees as a wrongful takedown. Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom requested YouTube reinstate the music video, dubbed Mega Song, while Universal asked to pull it again. The video in question was a promotional one for Megaupload and included P Diddy, Will.i.am, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray, Chris Brown, The Game, and Mary J Blige. TorrentFreak learned.
Following yesterday's release of a free "children's" e-book exploring the world and story based on the 1968 Beatles film Yellow Submarine, Apple has posted a new ad to YouTube promoting the Beatles catalog on iTunes, in a spot seemingly intended to suggest the band's albums as a gift suggestion. The ad features a "fly-through" of the Beatles' 12 studio albums, from Please Please Me to Abbey Road.
Google on Friday bought RightsFlow to accelerate YouTube and its music efforts. The deal will give it a team dedicated to licensing and paying artists and labels. Its exact intentions weren't clear, although it would be solving the "really challenging problem" of copyright.
Microsoft is about to launch its Xbox 360 fall Dashboard update, and we've had the opportunity to use it early on our own system ahead of when it goes live December 6. The update is Microsoft's second major revamp in the Xbox 360's history and is geared around turning the Xbox 360 into a media hub. Read on for hands-on time and why it may be the definitive answer to the Apple TV.
In sync with the fall Xbox 360 Dashboard update, Microsoft has provided a listing of TV providers that will be ready to go this week. Along with existing access to ESPN, Hulu, and Netflix, the December 6 update will also bring EPIX authenticated video in the US, Lovefilm in the UK, MediaSet's Premium Play in Italy, Sky Go in Austria and Germany, Telefonica Espaņa's Movistar Imagenio, and MSNBC's Today in the US.
The European Commission could formally accuse Google of antitrust abuse early next year, insiders disclosed late Thursday. A large 400-page draft of a statement of objections was underway, the Financial Times said, that would accuse Google of an "abuse of dominance." It would be an amalgam of different complaints that would involve Microsoft, likely including its formal complaints over ad interoperability and access to code for YouTube apps.
YouTube took public its Cosmic Panda web remake. The homepage look is designed to focus more on channels, such as its original content, as well as existing subscriptions. It's now also possible to link YouTube to Google+ or Facebook to improve sharing.
Sony has detailed a software update to its Bravia Internet-connected HDTVs that will bring with it a number of new features. They include access to YouTube HD movies, Facebook photos and videos on the full screen, ticker-like Twitter updates while watching TV, and more. TrackID song search results can also be sent directly to Twitter.
Sony Ericsson is phasing out its Sony Ericsson Sync service in favor of Google Sync. It explained that the older service was meant for an older generation of phones. The company instead suggested that users switch over to Android's Google Sync, or alternatives such as Plaxo and UNYK.
UK telecom regulator Ofcom has put out a statement calling for Internet providers to step up their honesty as to traffic management. It noted that even those who had agreed to a voluntary guideline weren't providing enough detail and that it wanted basic guarantees. Providers were asked both to provide real-world average speeds as well as whatever throttling or blocking they were undertaking.
Google's recent Google TV revamp got its first significant OS update on Wednesday with the addition of some heavily requested extras. YouTube on the TV interface now catches up to Apple TV with support for both playlists and subscriptions. Common playlists like Favorites and Watch Later carry over at the same time.
Google's YouTube rentals saw the slightly unexpected addition of Disney movies on Wednesday. Both its live and animated movies, as well as Pixar's CG movies, are now available on the web- and Android-based store. Key rival DreamWorks is also making the leap.
Microsoft on Tuesday narrowed down a firm date for its fall 2011 Xbox 360 Dashboard. The Windows Phone-derived revamp should go live on December 6, about three weeks after beta testing began. The update is expected to go live worldwide, although not every feature will follow suit due to the need for local deals.
YouTube has been improving its HTML5 player. The app has incorporated several new features, including support for 1080p video. The changes increasingly make it a viable replacement for Adobe's Flash player, which is so far still needed to get the entire feature set.
In a lower-key move next to its Google Music store launch, Google said it was rolling Google Checkout into Google Wallet. The switch makes the system that handles NFC-based mobile payments the same that handles regular web sales. Android Market, Google+ games, and YouTube movie rentals will all use Wallet, while a Wallet sign-in will work at any third-party store that takes either the new format or Checkout.
Google has enhanced two of its core apps for Android phones. YouTube (free, Android Market) now has a +1 button to recommend videos as well as the addition of annotations. Google Maps (free, Android Market) now has nearby live events added to its Place pages for five major cities.
Google gave a strong sign that its long-delayed music store is coming with an invitation sent to the media for a November 16 event. Titled just "These Go To Eleven," the gathering has few clues others than that it will be Android-focused, with those too far to attend in person encouraged to check a live stream at youtube.com/android. The event has an unusual afternoon start at 5PM Eastern and had its invites sent out by "Nigel Tufnel," a reference to Spinal Tap's fictional lead rocker.
Microsoft on Thursday started giving beta users its promised fall 2011 Xbox 360 Dashboard update. The upgrade introduces the tiled, Windows Phone 7-like interface we first saw at E3 and organizes sections that would normally need hierarchical sections into groups. The interface is more optimized for the Kinect and lets users search for content across the whole Xbox and Xbox Live using voice, although a gamepad fallback is available.
An hour-long interview with author Bob Cringely interviewing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 1995 is at the heart of the new film Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview, which will be playing starting November 19th. A trailer for the film has appeared on YouTube, showing excerpts of the 1995 interview, when Jobs was still with NeXT Computer but shortly before he would sell the company to Apple and eventually return as CEO.
Digital Staircase quietly mentioned Monday that it had been bought out by Facebook. The three-year-old startup is responsible for the iOS photo editing apps SmartSplice and StereoCam as well as MovieCam, a more advanced video recorder. All of its apps will leave the App Store on or around December 5, although they will keep working for owners who leave them installed.
Google is hoping to clinch deals for its tentative music store by hoping that its key negotiator for video can spread his effect, sources unearthed Monday. Contacts for AllThingsD understood that Robert Kyncl, who was lured over from Netflix to get deals for what would ultimately become Google's Videos section on Android Market, was now being asked to clinch deals with music labels. Although he now reports to YouTube's CEO Salar Kamangar instead of the Global Head of Content, Kyncl now has music deal relationship manager Chris Maxcy under his wing.
Disney and YouTube announced they are working on a collection of co-branded family-friendly videos that will be available online. Disney Interactive will produce and program the videos for both Disney.com and YouTube. Free online video tailored to Disney's core audiences will be made available on both outlets in early 2012. The first project will be a short-form original video series based on Disney Interactive's hit mobile game "Where's My Water? ($0.99, iTunes) and its main character Swampy.
Google has updated Google+ to more tightly integrate the app with two other web and desktop apps, YouTube and Chrome. For YouTube, the company has added a "slider" to make it easier for an individual to share personal videos with members of their circles. Google has also added a +1 button and notification button to Chrome to help users stay in touch with their circles as well.
(Update: partly confirmed) Google is close to announcing approximately 100 new online "channels" for its YouTube service that will incorporate contributions from some media companies -- allegedly including some Hollywood production houses -- along with content from well-known online video producers for a total of about 25 hours per day of original programming, The Wall Street Journal claims. Unconfirmed reports have Google paying a "generous" portion of ad revenue to creators in exchange for content.
YouTube's professional video channels may be active within a week, anonymous tips maintained on Thursday. The details obtained by the WSJ suggest a broader strategy than thought before and would involve a redesign of the site itself, focusing on channels whether they're live or traditional YouTube subscriptions. Some of the live producers would be takes with filling in specific categories, such as comedy, food, or news.
