Hasta La Gadget!

Well folks, it looks like Time Warner Cable customers will soon get CBS stations back in their living rooms. The two sides have reached an agreement after dropping channels back in July and programming is set to resume at 6PM ET this evening. TWC says that all customers should have channels back in 24 hours at the latest. In a press release announcing the deal, specific terms were not disclosed but they do include retransmission consent alongside Showtime Anytime for VOD and CBS stations in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. Of course, this means CBS will be up and running on TWC when the NFL regular season kicks off in less than a week’s time. For a look at the full statement, venture on past the break.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: CBS

Software developers and PC vendors have frequently catered to reluctant Windows 8 buyers with Start menu replicas, and that trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Lenovo has just reached a deal that will bundle SweetLabs’ Pokki suite with its Windows 8 PCs, including a Start menu replacement, an app store and a game arcade. The two companies haven’t said which particular systems will first ship with Pokki, although the deal starts with consumer-focused devices and will spread to include multiple PCs across the IdeaCentre, IdeaPad and ThinkPad lines. The SweetLabs agreement should cheer those who want the old Windows experience or an alternative software store. The bundle may prove bittersweet for Microsoft, however — it usually wants Windows PC buyers to embrace the future.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software, Lenovo

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Source: Pokki

It’s no real secret that TV giants like Time Warner Cable have formal agreements which prevent video from going online — like it or not, that’s the nature of content exclusives and windowing. However, the anti-internet strategy may be considerably murkier. Bloomberg hears from sources that TWC and its peers offer “incentives” to keep video content offline, whether they’re sweeter deals or threats of losing existing programming arrangements. While the assertions aren’t surprising given a protectionist industry, they’re still quite serious — they suggest that operators unfairly prevent content producers from treating online services as equals to old-fashioned TV. TWC isn’t accepting any of the accusations, as you’d imagine. The provider doesn’t directly acknowledge Bloomberg‘s claims in a statement to Engadget; instead, it argues that exclusives of all kinds are virtually necessary for competition. That’s a tricky position to hold when many viewers don’t like exclusives in the first place, but you can judge its legitimacy for yourself by reading the full statement after the break.

[Image credit: TWC Untangled]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Bloomberg

While it’s well-established that Google Fiber’s expansion into Provo, Utah hinges on Google buying the city’s existing iProvo network, we didn’t immediately learn what it took to land the tentative deal. Newly available details of the agreement reveal that the up-front cost is largely in the visitor’s favor — it’s the long-term development that rewards the locals. Google only pays $1 to buy the local fiber network, but it has five years to finish upgrades and deployments that could ultimately cost $30 million, according to the Deputy Mayor’s estimates. About the only remaining costs for Provo are its already existing (if significant) development loans, and the city can always buy the network back for $1 if things go sour. The pact also leaves the door open to public WiFi, although there are no guarantees that Google will mirror its New York City efforts anytime soon. When the search giant has a very healthy bank balance, we doubt there will be much quibbling over the exact terms; just know that the arrangement isn’t strictly one-sided.

Filed under: Networking, Internet, Google

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Source: AP

In Sky’s latest bid (after getting Sony and Warner on the hook) to corner premium viewing content in the UK before rivals including Lovefilm and Netflix get traction, it has announced an extension to its 24-year agreement with Disney. Beyond guaranteeing Disney — which means Lucasfilm, of course — Pixar and Marvel flicks will be on Sky (plus Sky Go, and 3D movies on Sky 3D) a year before any other service, it’s also creating a new Sky Movies Disney Channel in its lineup that launches March 28th. In order to reach those not with the typical TV package, the deal also brings Disney’s movies to Sky’s Now TV internet video service for users with a monthly movie pass. We’re sure 24 years ago, such deals didn’t cover so many devices or avenues of access but snagging exclusives to gain a market advantage has stayed exactly the same.

Filed under: HD

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Source: Sky