12/04, 2:01am
App gets iOS 7 makeover, in-app 'Pro' upgrade, more
Video software maker FireCore has debuted a major upgrade to its Infuse multi-format video player for iOS, now at version 2.0. The update introduces an iOS 7-compliant UI redesign, network streaming from almost any drive or device without syncing, additional supported media formats, integrated Dolby Digital Plus mobile surround sound, and better 1080p and AirPlay support. The app is free but many of the new features are only available with a new "Pro" upgrade that costs $5.
more
11/20, 6:03am
Xfinity TV Store offers movies weeks before DVD releases
Comcast has launched a service that sells movie and TV show streams and downloads to customers on set-top boxes, one that leaked late last week. The Comcast Xfinity TV Store extends Comcast's existing video-on-demand free and rental offerings with an option to have purchases permanently viewable in the future.
more
11/13, 5:24am
Image-heavy redesign adds more detail to show recommendations
Netflix has updated a number of its apps for smart TVs and set-top boxes, bringing them all under the same new uniform interface. The new UI heading to the Roku, Smart TV apps, Blu-Ray players, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 aims to provide more detail about potential shows, using large images and more personalized recommendations.
more
11/05, 7:53am
Dual-width AMD graphics card offers speed, affordability
AMD has officially detailed the high-end cards in its new GPU lineup, as it continues to compete against offerings from Nvidia. Following on from its launches at the start of last month, the R9 290 and 290x are said to be heading to retail soon, with both greatly exceeding the performance of the previous leader, the R9 280x.
more
11/05, 4:43am
Hangout-based support charged per minute, per hangout
Google has opened up its Hangouts-based video support service to the general public. Google Helpouts, a service that was accepting applications by experts to offer their advice to others in late August, is now allowing users to search for and pay for a video conference with an expert to help them with a specific task or for general advice.
more
11/02, 1:56pm
Samsung alternate OS gets video exploration
A new video has emerged showing a Samsung's Z9005 running the Samsung/Intel-developed Tizen operating system. The video, picked up by All About Samsung, gives one of the most complete looks at the operating system to ever become available on the Internet, and it shows Tizen running on hardware similar to Samsung's Galaxy S3. Samsung has been rumored to be prepping Tizen as a potential alternative to Google's Android platform for some time, and the video shows that the South Korean tech giant is still hard at work on development of the new OS.
more
10/23, 11:48pm
Same spots seen at yesterday's iPad Air unveiling
The three promotional videos created by Apple to showcase its iPad line and the new iPad model have now been made available on YouTube and the company's own website, with the third video airing on television as the first commercial for the new iPad Air. The first video, "Life on iPad," depicts the many varied ways people use what Microsoft calls "an entertainment device" for work in all walks of life. A second video discusses the iPad Air and how it was designed.
more
10/22, 12:20am
Includes video featuring Steve Jobs, live presentation by Dan Whisenhunt
The city of Cupertino's government has posted a complete video of a planning commission "study session" that included a presentation and questions about Apple's proposed Campus 2 project. The video begins with the initial "pitch" video of Apple's designs and plans for Campus 2, including audio from Steve Jobs during his initial presentation of the project, and comments from chief architect Norman Foster. Apple SVP of Design Sir Jonathan Ive is also seen in the promotional video.
more
10/13, 9:58pm
Negotiations could lead to Netflix video on cable boxes in future
Cable providers in the United States could be adding Netflix to its set-top boxes in the future, according to a new report. The streaming video service is said to be in early-stage negotiations with cable services to introduce the app to customers, which would in theory allow subscribers to directly use Netflix without switching to another living room device, such as a game console.
more
10/03, 12:50pm
Refreshed Amazon Kindle Fire HD improves repairability score
The updated Kindle Fire HD is a highly repairable tablet, and has received an iFixit repairability score of eight out of ten. Matching the original Kindle Fire in its scoring, the teardown found the new model does not fuse together the front glass and LCD, improving on last year's model by one point, while the majority of the internals is composed of components from the old HD. While the base Kindle Fire HD lacks a camera, there appears to be no obvious space left on the motherboard for one to be added in the future.
more
09/26, 7:08pm
Super HD previously limited to subscribers on certain ISPs
Netflix has opened up its "Super HD" video streams to all subscribers, regardless of provider. The loosening of restrictions comes after a period of monitoring by the media streamer, with the company saying that "based on the performance data we’ve seen, and in response to member requests, we are now expanding availability to give all our members the ability to enjoy Netflix in the best possible quality."
more
09/25, 12:57pm
Target Ticket provides rentals, video purchases, kid-safe content
US retailer Target has launched its own on-demand video service, one which the company believes is "kid-safe" thanks to its rating filters. Target Ticket is offering a catalog of 30,000 movies and television shows for customers to buy or rent for 48 hours, with the retailer also providing bonus footage in select movies as a Target exclusive.
more
09/25, 6:44am
RealPlayer Cloud app streams video from storage to smartphones, Roku
RealNetworks has launched its own cloud storage app specializing in video. RealPlayer Cloud for iOS, Android, computers, and Roku will allow users to store video files online, with the new app able to stream or download videos from the storage, automatically reformatting the video to match the device and the available connection speed.
more
09/15, 7:30pm
Piracy figures triggered Prison Break purchase for Netflix in the Netherlands
Netflix monitors piracy sites for shows being downloaded, in order to decide what to acquire for its users. The video streaming service uses statistics relating to video piracy as a social barometer, along with other metrics, in working out what shows and films it doesn't currently offer that it needs to secure for members to view.
more
09/12, 8:30pm
New model will be the exclusive camera documenting runway showcase
[Updated with promotional video] Luxury outerwear designer and historic fashion house Burberry will be using the new iPhone 5s exclusively to document in HD video and still images its Spring/Summer 2014 fashion show in London next week, according to an announcement from both Apple and the clothier. The designer will get early access to the iPhone 5s, which is not expected to formally debut until September 20, for its September 16 women's wear show -- which will be streamed live from London's Hyde Park on the Burberry website. The entire show will be captured using the iPhone 5s' advanced camera.
more
09/05, 8:55pm
New reader highest resolution Sony e-reader yet, charges rapidly
Amidst a plethora of other releases, Sony has revealed its new e-reader, the PRS-T3. The new reader is Sony's highest-resolution e-book device ever, boasting that a three-minute quick charge gives the grayscale E Ink reader enough charge to get through a 600-page novel, and that a full charge gives users two months of regular reading.
more
09/04, 8:45pm
Next iPad to be as thin as current iPad mini; expected early next month
An unusually professional and well-spoken YouTube poster has issued a video comparing and analyzing what he claims are back casings for the second-generation iPad and iPad mini. While the alleged next-generation iPad mini shell appears to have identical dimensions to the existing one, the more interesting comparison came when comparing it to the alleged next-generation full-size iPad shell, as the two appear to be the same thickness. If authentic, the next full-size iPad will largely be a larger version of the iPad mini -- though whether the next iPad mini will sport a Retina-style display remains an open question.
more
09/04, 5:50pm
New units prioritize slim design over acoustical quality
To coincide with the debut of the Video Unlimited 4K service, Sony today expanded its 4K Ultra HD TV line-up with the addition of the X850A series, available in 55- and 65-inch screens. With four times the resolution of Full HD and incorporating Sony's Triluminos Display, the new X850A incorporates a slim bezel without the integrated magnetic fluid speaker system found in the X900A series now on the market. This new design offers customers the flexibility of connecting to an existing or separate home theater system.
more
09/04, 4:55pm
New service requires Sony 4k television, FMP-X1 media player
Alongside its other releases, Sonytoday launched the Video Unlimited 4K service, the world's first 4K Ultra HD video download service, with access to a small but expanding library of native 4K Ultra HD feature films and TV shows. Beginning with a selection of more than 70 full-length, native 4K Ultra HD feature films and TV shows, Video Unlimited 4K will offer customers the option to rent and purchase content for download on Sony's 4K Ultra HD Media Player for playback on Ultra HD televisions.
more
09/02, 9:01am
Handset reveals pink or red plastic shell, but impossible to verify
A new video that purports to show a working, fully-assembled "iPhone 5C" was posted on Chinese tech blog C Technology, but reveals little if anything about the alleged forthcoming "mid range" or "more affordable" iPhone model, expected to be revealed on or around September 10. The 50-second video shows the alleged 5C surfing Apple's own web page only, and crucially the unit is never turned over to reveal the back, suggesting that it may be staged with a plastic back cover or reassembled backplate using a "leaked" plastic shell.
more
08/30, 11:45pm
Expansion of Helium line of iPhone 5 case
Accessory maker Mophie has announced its release of color options for its iPhone 5 Juice Pack Helium charging cases. The battery-charging cases extend the life of the phone's battery capacity to 3000mAh, and allow for up to six additional hours of talk time on 3G, seven extra hours on Wi-Fi, 30 more hours of audio playback, or seven hours of extra video playback. Alongside the original dark metallic and silver color options, user can now choose blue, purple, pink, green or red for their Juice Pack Helium cases. With a one-year warranty, the new Juice Pack Helium iPhone 5 cases are priced at $80, and available on Mophie's site.
more
08/23, 2:17am
GIF export, video import, Retina support and more in major update
Synium Software has released a major update to its title-art video generator, Animationist ($30). The new version, 1.1, offers a much-improved video export process (including GIF export), the ability to animate single letters in texts, Retina display support, improved text quality and a full user manual among other changes. The program can be used for creating titles for YouTube videos, iMovie or Final Cut projects or even broadcast TV.
more
08/22, 5:27am
Six-second video service grows by 23M since June
Twitter has revealed that its short video service Vine has managed to gain its 40 millionth user. The user number milestone has been achieved despite new competition from well-established Instagram, and comes at the same time as it updates the Android version of its app with a number of bug fixes and the autocompletion of hashtags.
more
08/15, 9:58am
Amazon redesigns Silk web browser with new start page, UI
Amazon has updated the Silk web browser for the Kindle Fire tablet line with a complete overhaul. Users will see a new Just-In-Time tutorial screen pointing out new parts of the user interface, a new start page with "Most Visited" links being more prominent, redesigned tabs, new Bookmarks views, and according to TechCrunch, simpler navigation and quicker access to Reading View.
more
08/09, 1:00am
Can only use content from Camera Roll, currently iOS-only
Streaming media set-top box maker Roku updated its iOS app on Thursday with a thus-far exclusive feature: the app can now stream some video content wirelessly to various models of Roku set-top devices, expanding the company's "Play on Roku" feature which previously allowed only photos and music. The new function is limited to streaming only videos on the user's Camera Roll, and is thus intended to share self-shot videos by and large by transferring them wireless to an HDTV. Version 2.3 also includes bug fixes and performance enhancements.
more
08/07, 11:00pm
Streaming app saves having to transcode video formats
Media appmakers FireCore have issued a major update to their multi-format media player Infuse for iOS ($5), which allows users to play normally unsupported video and audio file types by transcoding them on-the-fly. The new version 1.3 offers AirPlay streaming, Wi-Fi transfers of media from network-connected computers or drives, social sharing and one-button subtitle downloads. The program supports 14 different video formats, and features automatic artwork and metadata fetching, Dolby Digital Plus surround sound and full 1080p.
more
08/07, 9:51am
Adap.tv doubled revenues yearly prior to purchase
AOL has revealed it is acquiring video advertising marketplace Adap.tv, in what has been called its biggest purchase since Tim Armstrong became chief executive of the company. Said to be worth $405 million in combined cash and stock, the deal is higher than the $315 million paid out for the Huffington Post two years ago.
more
08/06, 9:00pm
Ranking proves again that value of experience can trump content
A study done by customer experience research firm ForeSee has surveyed customers of mobile media and entertainment sites and found that generally, customers are more satisfied with such services than they were a year ago: the average score was 77 out of 100, compared to 67 a year ago. In the streaming TV and movies category, Apple's iTunes squeaked out a surprise win over competitors such as Netflix and HBO Go, Amazon Instant Video, Crackle and Hulu Plus. The study also found that customers were much more satisfied with home Internet service than cellular data.
more
07/16, 2:00am
Company would compensate networks for lost ad revenue
A technology reporter for the Wall Street Journal has claimed in a new report that Apple has been negotiating with networks for "more than a year" over a proposal to allow customers using the company's Apple TV -- and presumably any future video-oriented products like the alleged branded HDTV -- to skip the advertisements, possibly substituting them with other types of programming. Under the arrangement, Apple would compensate the network for the lost revenue, but the details of the plan are unclear.
more
07/15, 6:09pm
First official movie trailer using service's new video feature
A 15-second re-edited version of the trailer for the independent bioflick Jobs has debuted on Instagram, marking the first time the new video-sharing feature has been used to promote a cinematic movie. Much of the footage is repeated from the original high-definition trailer that debuted in June, but it does include several new shots despite the shortened length. The trailer, cut specifically for Instagram's 15-second video limit, features Ashton Kutcher as Jobs reciting lines from the "Here's to the Crazy Ones" ad over a montage of shots.
more
07/12, 3:29pm
Bidders in sale failed to provide high-enough offers for Hulu
Streaming media service Hulu will not be sold to another company, it has revealed. The Walt Disney Company, 21st Century Fox, and NBCUniversal, the owning companies of the service, have all decided to pull Hulu from potential sale, and instead will be providing another $750 million in investment to grow the service further.
more
07/12, 6:33am
Vine adds iOS app enhancements, Fast Capture widget to Android app
Vine has updated its Android app, gaining a number of features added earlier to the iOS version. The addition of 15 new channels to post videos to, "revining" posts with others, and improved capture tools are accompanied by a new Fast Capture Widget, which opens the app into the camera mode, bypassing the home screen entirely for quicker recording of clips. A mute button for watching videos silently has also been included in the new release.
more
07/02, 2:00am
Phase-detection autofocus allows higher video quality, more
Canon has announced a new addition to its EOS Digital SLR camera line, the 70D. The new camera offers wireless transmitter that lets users not only share pictures and video, but control camera settings from the smartphone. The 20.2-megapixel APS-C Canon CMOS sensor and Digic 5+ image processor offer an ISO range of 100 to 12,800 (expandable to 25,600) and continuous shooting of up to seven frames of second. Canon has put an emphasis on video with this model, offering advanced auto-focus while shooting HD video.
more
06/27, 4:07pm
Cloud-based DVR, live TV streaming service covers 16 counties
Live TV streaming service Aereo is launching its service in Chicago, Illinois on September 13. The expansion of the service to Chicago comes after successful launches in New York City, Boston, and Atlanta, and will continue its national rollout despite continued opposition and legal threats from a number of broadcasters.
more
06/24, 11:50am
iFixit holding giveaway in the spirit of Independence Day
Today, iFixit, the self-repair advocate and tutorial site, announced its upcoming event, Liberation Week, running from July 1-5, 2013. iFixit seeks to combat planned obsolescence by giving users access to the information needed to repair and upgrade products. Citing Independence Day, iFixit will be giving away free iPhone Liberation kits - tools to open one's iPhone for self-repair access - to the first 1776 claimants. Stating that the consumer should have the right to open their phone, the kits includes a pentalobe screwdriver, so that users can replace the original screws with ones with standard Phillips head screws provided. Pentalobe screws are intended to be tamper-resistant, as there are no readily available screwdrivers with a compatible head. Also in the kit is a #00 Phillips screwdriver, to use in future openings of one's iPhone.
more
06/23, 8:22pm
Peak uploads hit 40 hours per minute during NBA finals
Instagram has enjoyed a successful launch of its video feature, with users uploading 5 million clips within the first 24 hours of it being available to use. The new addition to the app, providing similar functionality to that of Twitter-owned Vine, caused Facebook servers to receive 40 hours of video footage per minute at its highest point, with the win of Miami Heat over the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA finals the cause of the peak usage.
more
06/20, 10:30pm
Video and audio 'mash-up' tool gains new features, 'App of the Week' honor
Vjay, a remixing app for iOS that lets users mix and match video and audio with transitional, beat-matching and "scratch" effects has been updated with new features aimed at the latest models of iPad and iPhone, and has been named an "App of the Week" on the iTunes store and made available for free for a limited time. The iPad version normally sells for $10 and works with the iPad 2 and later, while the separate iPhone version (usually $3) requires an iPhone 4S or later. Video time-stretching and key-lock are among the new features.
more
06/20, 1:32pm
Instagram directly competing with Vine, records 15 seconds of video
Facebook has used its media event to show off an update to Instagram that adds video to the service. The new addition to the app, putting it directly against short video service Vine from Twitter, will allow users to record up to 15 seconds of video, with the option to add various filters and edits to the freshly-recorded footage.
more
06/18, 9:12pm
Jobs compared his work to 'a layer of sediment,' part of a mountain
In apparent response to a question that compared the computer and Internet revolution of the 80s and 90s to a new Renaissance, a never-publicly-seen video of Steve Jobs in 1994 -- while he was still with NeXT -- sees the bearded and reflective Apple co-founder commenting on his likely legacy and the place of the industry he helped create. The video was uploaded to a YouTube channel called "EverySteveJobsVideo" on Tuesday and comes from the Silicon Valley Historical Association.
more
06/14, 1:46pm
Digital Anarchy's video editing software gets an update
Digital Anarchy released their latest updated photo re-touching software Beauty Box Video 3.0. The latest edition of the plug-in accommodates Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Apple Final Cut Pro 7 and X, with support for Assimilate Scratch, Sony Vegas, Nuke, and Avid currently available in beta upon request.
more
06/12, 7:43pm
Life-changing, empowering, enriching uses for mobile devices highlighted
Apple has made a 10-minute promotional film that was released today on its YouTube channel highlighting a number of real-world uses for its iOS technologies and apps that are making a difference in the lives of people around the globe. The video itself is titled Making a difference. One app at a time and shows iPad and iPhone users and developers showing and talking about the way an app has changed their life. The video reflects remarks from CEO Tim Cook that the company's marketing efforts would focus more on the effect of its work rather than touting products.
more
06/08, 12:02am
Talk includes insight on naming Apple, 'Think Different,' more
At a recent entrepreneurial summit known as the PTTOW! conference, TBWA Global Director and Chairman Lee Clow -- an advertising legend in part due to his long history behind many of the iconic ads for Apple -- gave a short talk on his memories of Steve Jobs and the 30-year relationship that they shared. In a video of the talk (seen below), Clow describes meeting Jobs in his mid-twenties; shares Jobs' passion for "democratizing" computer technology to consumers; adds his belief on how Jobs arrived at the "Apple" brand name, and more.
more
06/05, 1:52am
Doubles throughput of original TB while retaining cable compatibility
Intel, who originally developed Thunderbolt networking technology with the help of Apple (which made it a standard feature on most current Mac products) has revealed that the name of the improved version of Thunderbolt -- originally known by its codename, Falcon Ridge -- is to be simply "Thunderbolt 2." The improved version, which offers roughly a doubling of existing (and still under-utilized) Thunderbolt speeds, will enter the market early next year and offers both sufficient bandwidth for raw 4K video transfer as well as backward compatibility with existing cables and connectors.
more
06/03, 11:00pm
Fuqua school series shows Cook as mature leader in Jobs' mould
In a posted series of short videos available on YouTube, the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in North Carolina is presenting segments of an interview held with Apple CEO (and Duke graduate) Tim Cook. The talk, which was conducted in April, showcases Cook's southern-born style while echoing many of the sentiments held by his predecessor, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The videos, which are divided into single-response segments covering topics such as "collaboration" and "intuition," offer both insight and advice from Cook.
more
05/31, 11:00pm
Part of a move towards more 'immediacy,' will also emphasize video over stills
In a surprise move on Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times fired its entire photography staff (28 full-time photographers), telling them that the paper would go with more "in the field" pictures and video from reporters and witnesses. In a memo brought to light by rival paper the Chicago Tribune, managing editor of the Sun-Times, Craig Newman, says that reporters will immediately begin "mandatory training" on "iPhone photography basics," and that reporters will be responsible for capturing photos and video associated with stories.
more
05/14, 3:55pm
Will be part of an album of songs inspired by ISS mission
The video of International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield performing a tailored version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" as a farewell to the ISS which has recently gone viral was created using an iPad. Hadfield, who has become a sensation in his native Canada and worldwide for his social media presence and earlier musical efforts, will be recording an entire album of songs based on the mission, and was the first person to record an earlier song while in orbit. Hadfield employed Garageband and other apps to help make the video.
more
05/09, 5:40pm
53 channels launch program, more to come 'in the coming weeks'
YouTube has announced that is is opening a program for a "small group" of providers who will offer a subscription service of video content starting at $1 per month, but averaging overall just over $3 per channel. Starting today, partners such as Sesame Street, UFC, National Geographic, Jim Henson and the rest of the test channels will offer paid content with a 14-day free trial.
more
05/08, 4:43pm
Apps include local content as well as nationally syndicated programming
Media streamer hardware maker Roku has deployed a new app set, adding PBS and PBS Kids content to most of its line of video streaming set-top boxes within the US. Now available for streaming are shows such as American Experience, Antiques Roadshow, Frontline, Nova, Masterpiece, and Nature. Children's programming now available due to the new additions include Curious George, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, and Super WHY.
more
05/06, 2:40pm
Apps rebranded under Creative Cloud brand
Adobe is focused on its Creative Cloud service this week at its Max conference, where the company has introduced updates to its broad range of software. The new offerings include video-focused utilities Premiere Pro CC, After Effects CC, Prelude CC, SpeedGrade CC and Adobe Story Plus, along with the audio-production app Audition CC. Many of the new apps will enable users to sync settings between computers and remotely collaborate on videos without downloading the source materials.
more
05/02, 12:08am
New chipsets offer up to three times the performance of HD4000
Intel has revealed limited specifications on its fourth-generation "Haswell" Core-series processors' video circuitry. The upcoming chip line features a graphical power boost well above the third generation, with three discrete levels. One tier is aimed at power efficiency, with two tailored for increased video performance.
more
