Netflix Reaches 4 Billion Hours Of Streaming Video Milestone In Q1 2013

Netflix Reaches 4 Billion Hours Of Streaming Video Milestone In Q1 2013

Netflix has had quite the first quarter of 2013 as the company’s CEO Reed Hastings took to his Facebook yesterday to not only promote its exclusive show, House of Cards, but also to announce its customers have watched over 4 billion hours of streaming content through the service. The last time Hastings revealed the amount of streaming video Netflix users have watched was in July with one milling hours being viewed at the time.

Hastings didn’t announce which videos contributed to their 4 billion hours of streaming video milestone in only the past three months, but his mention of House of Cards may hint at the possibility its inclusion onto Netflix might have something to do with the increased viewership. (more…)

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Facebook Messenger for Android updated with chat head support

Facebook Messenger for Android updated with chat head support

If you’re an absolute Facebook addict, then today is the day you’ve been waiting for. Home should officially be hitting the Play store at some point today. In preparation for its debut, the company has just updated its Messenger app. The change log features the usual slew of bug fixes but, most importantly, it adds support for chat heads. Those floating IM shortcuts are one of the most anticipated features of Facebook’s homescreen replacement, and appear to be as irritating as they are convenient. To get your update, head to the Play store now.

Update: The official Facebook app has also been updated, with the permissions necessary to run Home. But, we’re not seeing the launcher yet, either buried in the Facebook app’s settings or in the Play store. We’ll be keeping an eye out, though.

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Source: Facebook Messenger (Google Play), Facebook (Google Play)

Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat learns habits, matches your neon decor (video)

Honeywell WiFi Smart Thermostat

Honeywell has had WiFi-capable thermostats on the market for some time, but few of them would be a great match for home interiors that have escaped 1980s beige chic. The company’s new Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat is going a long way toward bringing that design fully into the present century. Owners can color match the touchscreen interface with the paint on their walls, down to very exact shades. Of course, the thermostat wouldn’t be much of a competitor in the Nest era if it didn’t have some of that namesake intelligence underneath. As with its main rival, the Honeywell system has (already existing) Android and iOS apps, and can tell how long it takes to change the temperature; it’s also aware of when filters need a change based on furnace behavior. If you’re on the cusp of a home renovation and don’t want anything so gauche as a differently-colored screen, home improvement shops should have the Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat this May for $249.

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Source: Honeywell

Adobe Launching Primetime To Tackle TV Everywhere

Adobe Launching Primetime To Tackle TV Everywhere

TV Everywhere has been a dream for many people who would love to have their paid television subscription be viewable from anywhere in the world and not just the confines of their home, but cable companies have been having a rough time providing the service as both content providers and currently technology have made it rather difficult. Adobe is announcing they’re going to be taking on the TV Everywhere challenge by launching its Primetime service.

Adobe is announcing the launch of Primetime at this year’s NAB conference as it making the service available to more providers. The service most notably powered the apps and online video coverage of the London 2012 Olympics and is now being used by Comcast for its Xfinity app and NBC for a variety of sports broadcasts. (more…)

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Roku Hits 5 Million Roku Players Milestone

Roku Hits 5 Million Roku Players MilestoneIt was all the way back in May 2008 when Roku launched their maiden player that was capable of streaming entertainment directly to the TV, where some have dubbed it to be “the Netflix player,” as Netflix was the first available channel back then. Roku’s effort enabled consumers to stream thousands of TV and movie titles on their TVs instantly, courtesy of a speedy Internet connection.

Since then, half a decade has passed, and Roku today celebrates the shipment of their five millionth Roku streaming player Stateside. This will definitely have a spot in the pantheon of Roku’s industry, where channels like Amazon Video on Demand were added in 2009, HBO GO in 2011 and TWC TV in 2013. Apart from 5 million Roku players shipped, 8 billion streams of video and music were sent to Roku players since 2008, in addition to having approximately 750 channels for you to fill up your spare time with. Are you rocking to a Roku streaming player, or do you think that you will be able to resist the lure of Roku for the next five years?

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HTC First with Facebook Home review

DNP HTC First with Facebook Home review

With a billion users, it’d be an understatement to say Facebook has done a good job conquering the desktop world. Mobile, however, is the social network’s next frontier: although it has a significant presence on every major smartphone and tablet platform, the company has a reputation for bringing its key features to the PC environment long before they arrive on mobile — if at all.

But the April 4th reveal of Facebook Home, a solidly built Android launcher, reflects a change in attitude for Mark Zuckerberg and Co. Instead of simply maintaining a smartphone presence, Facebook is ready to go to battle and is putting mobile on the top of its list of priorities. It’s even adding a proper piece of hardware to its arsenal in the form of the HTC First, a 4.3-inch device on AT&T with LTE, reasonable mid-range specs and a gorgeous display. Is it worth $99 with a two-year commitment to purchase a handset dedicated to the social cause? Should you just wait until Home is available as a free download in the Google Play Store? Or is it best to ignore it altogether? Continue reading to find out.

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DirecTV Making Dog-Specific Channel Available For $5.99/mo In Q3

DirecTV Making Dog Specific Channel Available For $5.99/mo In Q3

We know you pet owners may find it difficult to leave your furry little friend at home while you’re at work all day, making it nearly impossible to keep them from being bored while you’re gone. But DirecTV will soon offer relief to you dog owners as they’ll soon be broadcasting television programming specifically for dogs.

DirecTV will begin offering DogTV for an additional $5.99 a month in the Q3 2013 which will broadcast content specifically aimed at canines and includes scenes that may or may not include animals, animation sequences and a variety of moving objects. Keeping your dog relaxed is also important, which is why relaxation segments will also air which show sleeping dogs as well as nature scenes with soothing music playing in the background.

DogTV is already available as Cox customers in California can already subscribe to the channel for an additional $4.99 a month. Having the channel roll out on DirecTV means a much broader audience will be able to keep their canines entertained while you’re living the good life.

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Eye+ Delivers A Breathtaking View Regardless Of Room

Eye+ Delivers A Breathtaking View Regardless Of RoomWhether one likes it or not, those living in large cities, eking out a living, would stay in an apartment. Mind you, I am referring to “shoeboxes” in essence, and definitely not one of those posh penthouses. The thing is, regardless of how small your apartment is, having a decent view is definitely worth looking into, and it would also ultimately affect the selling or rental price. Don’t you wish that your view was better than the unit five doors down? If that is the case, then the Eye+ is just the thing for you.

The Eye+ is actually a HDTV that can be hung on a wall, where this 46” HDTV will be able to play back special scenic videos for you and the rest of your family or guests to enjoy. Located around the bezel are optical sensors which will keep track of just where you are in relation to the screen, so whenever you look out of the Eye+ “window,” the video will be smart enough to shift its perspective, depending on your relative position. Pretty neat, no? The sensors and built-in microphones can even be used for remote security purposes, now how about that?

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Microsoft Focuses On Xbox With Mediaroom IPTV Sale To Ericsson

Microsoft Focuses On Xbox With Mediaroom IPTV Sale To Ericsson

It looks as though Microsoft will be betting big on its Xbox division to hopefully take over the living room of millions around the world as the company announced it will be selling its Mediaroom IPTV business to Ericsson.

Microsoft called the acquisition of its Mediaroom IPTV business to Ericsson as “mutually beneficial and strategically aligned for both parties”. The purchase will make Ericsson the leading provider of IPTV as the service is said to power 22 million set-top-boxes within 11 million subscriber households. The deal also allows Microsoft to fully focus on its consumer TV strategy with its Xbox division. (more…)

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Hotaru Bathtub From Japan Comes With Built-In LED Lights

Some people like to relax in the bathtub by turning on some slow and relaxing music, maybe fire up some bubbles and light some candles. However if that’s too traditional and clichéd for your liking, Japanese company Takeshita has announced a bathtub they are calling the “Hotaru”, and if you check out the video above, it’s actually a bathtub that comes with built-in LEDs that according to the company, will provide a “healing bath experience”, or whatever that means. Naturally the LED lighting will be waterproofed and will come with 7 different colors that users can choose from. For those interested in a more random experience, an auto mode is provided that will change the colors by itself. Capable to holding up to 350 liters, the Hotaru bathtub is available in Japan and will cost a whopping $15,000. Yikes!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft Focuses On Xbox With Mediaroom IPTV Sale To Ericsson, Samsung Opening ‘Experience’ Shops Within Best Buy Starting April 8,