Hasta La Gadget!

In the old days, you’d turn your TV on and see video. Typically it would just play whatever channel was on last, but more advanced digital boxes might start at a main menu or specific channel. Verizon’s latest twist on that idea is rolling out video hub office by video hub office, and should reach all 5 million customers’ set-top boxes within a few weeks. Called FiOS TV Home Page, it welcomes viewers by displaying weather and other basic info next to highlighted VOD or Flex View services, all tailored to each customer’s viewing habits. Sure, some might find it useful, but others might be annoyed at seeing the screen for 15 seconds every time they turn on the TV or because there are tiles advertising package upgrades and VOD. Luckily, if simply hitting exit doesn’t stop the pain fast enough then there is an option to disable the screen completely if desired.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Fox has been quietly busy over the last few days, unveiling plans for a 24-hour sports network that may be the biggest challenger to ESPN’s throne, and adding new features to its mobile apps. Fox Sports 1 is scheduled to launch Saturday August 17th, loaded with content including NASCAR, soccer (Champions League, Europe League and World Cup in 2018 and 2022), weekly UFC fights, college football, college basketball and in 2014, pro baseball. The bad news? According to the LA Times, for Fox Sports 1 to live Speed TV will die this fall, while Fuel TV is expected to be replaced by Fox Sports 2 while Fox Soccer is turned into an entertainment channel. One tweak it will bring is the “double box” commercial format that keeps the game on while ads play, which is expected to be used frequently on the new channel. It will have a suite of studio shows to compete with the sports leader as well, and even a Fox Sports Go “mobile experience” on iOS, Android and the web with live video streaming and news/stats for authenticated subscribers.

Speaking of “authenticated” cable and satellite subscribers, the broadcaster also updated the free Fox Now second screen apps on iOS and Android, adding access to stream full episodes of its TV shows wherever you are — as long as you have a membership with a participating provider. That list currently consists of Mediacom and Verizon FiOS, but it may grow in the future. The Fox Now apps still have other features, with synced content, Twitter streams and behind the scenes info, so New Girl and Bones fans may still have a reason to check them out.

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Source: Fox Sports 1

The first time we saw Verizon’s FiOS Mobile app for the iPad, it was showing off the ability to stream live TV channels directly to the tablet. Unfortunately when it was released later in 2010 that feature was nowhere to be found, and it was limited to remote control. Today, an update (that we’d heard it was testing) has rectified that by allowing users to stream any of 75 channels, as long as they’re connected to their home WiFi network. FiOS also offers similar features in its apps for the Xbox 360 and Samsung’s Smart TV platform. The update also tweaks the remote control pairing process and notes iOS 6 support, subscribers can check it out at the source link, as long as they bring their My Verizon account details. Take a peek after the break for a picture of which channels are included, helpfully sorted by genre.

Continue reading Verizon FiOS Mobile app for iPad updated with streaming access to 75 channels

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD, Verizon

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Source: iTunes

While some patent lawsuits continue to drag on, the battle between TiVo and Verizon over DVR technology has come to a resolution. In exchange for cross licensing their patents and dismissing all pending litigation, the two parties have agreed Verizon will pay TiVo $100 million up front followed by recurring quarterly payments totaling $150.4 million through July 2018, as well as monthly license fees for each FiOS DVR user above certain levels. Now that they’re no longer at war the two companies may find a few things to work together on, and there is a provision for “certain commercial initiatives” which, if pursued this year, could count as credits toward the amount Verizon has agreed to pay.

Additionally, the press release indicates they are exploring support for the upcoming Redbox Instant service (which Verizon is a partner in) on TiVo’s DVRs. This all follows TiVo’s $215 million settlement with AT&T earlier this year and last year’s $500 million agreement with Dish Network. Meanwhile, lawsuits are still pending against Cisco, Time Warner Cable and Motorola. The press release is after the break and associated filings are linked below, with any luck this infusion of cash will help TiVo on new projects like dropping the price of the Stream.

[Thanks, Dave Zatz]

Continue reading TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is ‘exploring’ Redbox Instant support

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TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is ‘exploring’ Redbox Instant support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo owners who’ve wanted to record any more than two shows at a time or use more recent technology like MoCA have had to look towards the wallet-busting Premiere XL4, at least if they didn’t happen to rely on a cable provider bundling the Premiere Q. Thankfully, TiVo has told Zatz Not Funny that a more affordable Premiere 4 option is on the way. The new DVR will still require QAM digital cable or FiOS TV for its tuners to sing, but its 500GB of space will likely lead to a significant price cut versus the 2TB-touting XL4 — if also a whole lot of deleted old shows. MoCA, an eSATA port and a single CableCARD slot will carry over, so there’s few other penalties in store for those who pass on the XL4 flagship. We don’t have any official word on the launch strategy so far, although one loose-lipped rep has floated the rumor of a release within the next one to two months at $250 price tag. If true, the Premiere 4 will go a long way towards satisfying TV junkies who are more concerned about catching every show in a crowded prime time slot (and a lower cost) than digging through months-old archives.

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TiVo Premiere 4 confirmed early, promises a 4-tuner DVR for the masses originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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