03/07, 8:14am
Nudity banned in Vine clips, though artistic and documentary nudity spared
Twitter has updated its terms of service for video sharing app Vine, banning videos of sexual content. The change, which takes immediate effect, aims to stop users from posting adult content of a sexual nature on the service, but still allows for nudity in an artistic or documentary context to be displayed, and appears to be another attempt by the company to clean up the service.
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02/10, 6:58pm
Hulu signs with CBS for 2,600 new episodes of programming for Hulu Plus
Hulu has made a new deal with US broadcaster CBS, adding 2,600 new episodes to its subscription-based television and movie streaming service Hulu Plus. The library expansion includes classic television content such as The Brady Bunch, Melrose Place and Taxi, as well as more recent programming such as Everybody Loves Raymond. The added content brings Hulu Plus' CBS library to over 5,300 episodes.
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02/08, 12:30pm
Nerf N-Strike Elite Nerf Cam EC5-12 Blaster to feature 1.77 inch color screen
A new prototype from Nerf shows the company taking new steps in embracing technology: a new blaster in their N-Strike line will have a mounted video camera for recording the dart-slinging action as it happens. Yahoo Tech was able to try out the Nerf N-Strike Elite Nerf Cam EC5-12 Blaster -- a motorized, clip-loading platform that shoots darts to 90 feet, featuring a 1.77-inch color screen.
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02/05, 11:26pm
September event becomes ad-like promo for iPhone 5s camera
Apple has edited down footage shot with multiple pre-release iPhone 5s units during a Burberry fashion show last September into a 30-second TV ad-style video, currently seen on the iPhone's spotlight page. Like the recent "01.24.14" ad, the promo and fashion show were shot in HD entirely using the iPhone 5s as a showcase of how high-quality the camera is. The shortened spot may end up appearing on television as a genuine ad to promote the iPhone 5s.
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02/04, 5:43am
All users receive unique minute-long recap of Facebook lifetime
Facebook is celebrating ten years of operation, by providing its users a video-based compilation. The "Look Back" video is just over a minute long and is unique to each Facebook account, containing an assortment of most-liked photographs, status updates, and other events that are popular with friends, family, and acquaintances of the user.
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01/30, 1:41pm
Archive NFL videos, highlights, analysis in NFL Now app
The National Football League (NFL) is introducing a new online streaming initiative for fans of the sport, that allows them to follow their teams on any digital platform they choose, alongside its existing apps. NFL Now is billed as a digital network that offers fans the ability to watch a range of video content produced by the teams as well as NFL Films, as the organization moves to embrace Internet distribution.
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01/29, 7:25pm
Software creates 'video walls,' digital signage, remains Mac-exclusive
Renewed Vision has unveiled its Mac-exclusive ProVideoPlayer (PVP) version 2.0, sporting improvements and new features alongside a rewritten application and redesigned user interface in what the company says is the culmination of eight years of real-world experience with using the software in live presentations, installations and other events. The software is used for digital signage, video walls and other professional video presentations.
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01/26, 4:17am
Cook makes 'exception' to company's forward-looking policy
Following a blitz of interviews given by the executive team and a special mini-site dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Macintosh, Apple has rounded off its celebrations by hosting a "beer bash" for employees that featured executives and engineers mingling outside the company's main headquarters, and a live concert by the band One Republic. The well-attended event (captured in a photo by Apple CEO Tim Cook, below) also featured brief remarks by Cook.
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01/24, 12:21pm
ZTE Optik 2 3G tablet available online through Sprint
Sprint has revealed the 3G tablet ZTE Optik 2, now available online for purchase. The tablet has a 7-inch touchscreen display, and runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Featuring a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM and 8GB of storage, the Optik 2 possesses a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus, video recording and flash, and a front-facing camera that enables video chat.
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01/23, 1:12am
Entertainment company 'pulls a Samsung' with similar TV spot
Apple's recent holiday ad, the critically-acclaimed "Misunderstood," apparently also has fans in the advertising community. A new ad for Universal Studios Orlando has taken the premise of the Apple ad -- a teenager on a family vacation who appears to be self-absorbed with their iPhone, but who turns out to have been busily documenting the trip -- and copied it with a sunnier theme park motif that so strongly resembles the original that even the background music is in the same style.
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01/22, 5:33am
Canadian ISPs tested on streaming performance
Google will be offering users information about their Internet connection's capabilities for YouTube streaming, under a new monitoring system. The search company's Video Quality Report will analyze the connection offered by Internet service providers (ISP) and identify those that offer the best YouTube experience, in a move to help its end users have a more satisfactory Internet experience.
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01/21, 5:55am
OnCue Cloud TV platform could be rolled into Verizon FiOS
Verizon has agreed to buy Intel's Internet television business, the two companies have confirmed. Intel Media, which is working on Intel's OnCue Cloud TV platform, will remain in Santa Clara and continue to use its existing management team, with Verizon hoping to retain the 350 employees in the unit once the acquisition is completed sometime in the first quarter of this year.
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01/14, 7:31pm
Horizon prevents 'portrait video' shooting, offers alternative resolutions
A new app, currently on sale for $1, promises to fix one of the plagues of modern life -- "portrait" videos. Horizon, an alternative video camera app, forces the video camera to capture in landscape mode regardless of which way the iPhone is positioned. The on-screen preview allows users to focus on the horizontal crop of what they are shooting when holding the iPhone in portrait, and offers web-quality VGA, 720p or 1080p quality along with square, 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios.
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01/07, 1:43pm
Cloud-based DVR service teased alongside Gaikai service rebrand
Sony has revealed that it is naming its online game streaming service PlayStation Now at its CES keynote address, as well as teasing the launch of another cloud-based video service. The Gaikai-powered gaming service will be accompanied by one that will offer live TV, video on demand, and a cloud-based DVR, as Sony attempts to bolster the content available for the PlayStation 4 and its other devices.
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12/29, 7:53pm
Microsoft adds classic Windows desktop games to Windows Phone 8
Owners of Windows Phone 8 devices can now download updated versions of classic Windows desktop games, according to the company blog. The Microsoft Solitaire Collection, Minesweeper, and Mahjong are all listed in the Windows Phone Store, and introduce features such as Xbox Live integration, stat tracking, and the option to start a game on one device then completing it at a later time on another.
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12/19, 6:19am
4K content creation to help bolster small Ultra HD streaming catalog
Netflix will be offering some of its home-grown content in 4K in the future, the video streaming service has revealed. The second season of House of Cards will be shot in the format and will be available to stream to users sometime in 2014, though this is not a sign that the company will be offering the high-resolution option to users for all of its content.
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12/18, 9:28pm
Completes holiday theming throughout site
Apple has posted its holiday-themed new commercial, "Misunderstood," to the front page of its website, replacing the tribute to Nelson Mandela that had graced its landing page. The site shows off both the TV ad and the original "Harris Family Holiday" video which the company has since verified was shot entirely on an iPhone 5s. Apple has received nearly universal acclaim for the touching holiday ad, and the change completes the company's site-wide redecoration for the holiday season.
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12/10, 6:11am
Amazon updates Cloud Drive Photos for iOS with video support
The Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app for iOS has received an update, bringing support for videos. Appearing on iOS months after Android, TechCrunch reports that the app allows for videos up to 2GB or 20 minutes in length to be uploaded, with the Cloud Photos Auto-Save also updated to allow existing videos on an iPhone or iPad to be automatically uploaded to the service. Other tweaks include a "large upload mode" that disables the iOS lock screen to let uploads finish, and an indicator in the Settings screen showing the usage of Cloud Drive by media.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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