Fanhattan updates iOS app with WatchList feature, content from Cinemax, HBO and NBC

Fanhattan updates iOS app with WatchList feature, content from Cinemax, HBO and NBC

Fanhattan’s often been praised for offering a one-stop hub where folks can keep track of all their cherished entertainment shows, which has led it to become a crowd favorite amongst iOS users. Well, today the application’s expanding its TV guide services a little more, announcing it’s now showing content from 10 new providers, including HBO, Cinemax, NBC and, better yet, The CW — you know, because we just can’t miss out on the latest Gossip Girl episodes. In addition to these channel inclusions, Fanhattan’s also introduced a novel, Amazon-esque WatchList feature that pushes out alerts as soon as added shows (movies, too) are ready to be watched. If you’ve yet to give the handy application a try, you can do so now by grabbing it at no cost from Cupertino’s well-known app mart.

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Fanhattan updates iOS app with WatchList feature, content from Cinemax, HBO and NBC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple TV Hulu Plus is here, but what caused the hold-up?

Hulu Plus may have arrived on the Apple TV today, popping up unexpectedly on the company’s set-top box, but there’s no word on what held up the release of an app that was supposedly functionally ready eight months ago. According to rumors back in November 2011, Hulu had already finalized its Hulu Plus software for the Apple TV and was merely waiting for the Cupertino company’s own approval for release, something which Apple was oddly reticent to grant.

Apple, so the rumors go, had put the Hulu Plus Apple TV app on ice over concerns that it could bite into its own iTunes revenue. The delay was not said to be a technical one, with all elements of software and service ready for action, with Apple instead suspecting that Hulu Plus subscribers might be less likely to spend money renting or purchasing movies from its own download store.

Muddying the waters were Hulu Plus’ existing iOS apps, available on the iPad and iPhone, and which already offered access to the subscription based streaming media service. At the time it was suspected that the absence of AirPlay streaming support for the apps that was all that had prevented Apple from denying its a place in the App Store; users would simply be too lazy to plug in an HDMI cable and adapter.

Availability on the Apple TV, however, makes opting for Hulu Plus rather than iTunes far more straightforward. Hulu hasn’t mentioned the delay in its blog post on the new functionality, and Apple was apparently content to push it out without fanfare.

Apple TV has seen a sales boom in its third-generation, though Apple itself still refers to the set-top box as a hobby among its range. The company has seen long-standing rumors suggesting it is working on a full television set as part of a more forceful challenge to the living room.


Apple TV Hulu Plus is here, but what caused the hold-up? is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Hulu Plus lands on Apple TV

Apple may be calling the Apple TV a hobby, but there’s no doubt that the minature streaming media box has garnered some attention from various content providers. Netflix has been available on the Apple TV for some time, but Hulu has been noticeably missing. It looks it won’t be missing any more, as multiple users have taken to Twitter to show off the new Hulu Plus app that has been pushed out to Apple TVs across the United States.

Apple reportedly began rolling out the app this morning, although users may need to reboot their Apple TV before they see the app appear. The app seems to work as advertised, streaming television shows from networks such as Fox and NBC as long as you subscribe to the Plus service, which currently costs $7.99 a month.

Hulu Plus has been available on a multitude of hardware devices for some time, including consoles, and users also have the option of streaming shows through their web browser. The app finally arriving on the Apple TV makes for a compelling argument for the little streamer given its $99 price. Combine Hulu Plus with a Netflix subscription and Apple’s own access to paid movies and TV shows, and suddenly you have an inexpensive and practical way to cut the cord.

Users are also reporting that Hulu Plus can be billed straight to an Apple iTunes account. New users will be able to sign up directly from the Apple TV and given a week’s free trial, and after that they’ll be charged $7.99 a month to access Hulu’s library of TV shows.

[via MacRumors]


Hulu Plus lands on Apple TV is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Hulu Plus Just Made Apple TV a Million Times Better [Video]

Hulu Plus is on Apple TV now. Hulu just confirmed to us and in an official blog post that its streaming service is now available on Apple’s set-top box. It’s actually a pretty big deal. More »

Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV

Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV

We haven’t seen any official information yet, but tipsters report and we’ve confirmed on our own that Hulu Plus is quietly rolling out to Apple TV set-top boxes this morning. It was on our hockey pucks when we turned them on, while reports on Twitter indicate losing the connection before the icon appeared once the box came back online. We’re checking it out now, and like Netflix, it allows users to pay for the service via iTunes if they choose. The menus and UI are all appropriately Apple TV styled, if you’re not seeing it yet on your box then it should probably be there after a reboot. Otherwise it’s the same old Hulu Plus, just (finally) on Apple TV without any hacks or redirects needed, any new users can snag a 1 week free trial by signing up on the website or through the device itself.

Update: We have official confirmation now, check the Hulu Blog for more information, or after the break for two quick demo videos.

[Thanks, Rune]

Continue reading Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV

Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WD TV Play media hub revealed by the FCC, puts Texas Hold’em on the big screen

WD TV Play media hub gets a full reveal from the FCC, puts Texas Hold'em on the big screen

Western Digital must not want to leave casual TV gaming to the Roku crowd. Our friends at the FCC have just posted a filing that shows the as yet unannounced WD TV Play taking on its set-top rival with a dedicated gaming channel. We’re only given a small peek into the new media hub’s gaming universe through the pre-release user manual, but we know that a Texas Hold’em variant and other titles will find their way in through the gaming services Funspot and PlayJam. No signs have surfaced of a Roku-like motion control, either, although the remote has been given an overhaul compared to its WD TV Live cousin with prominent shortcut buttons for Hulu Plus, Netflix and Vudu. There aren’t any immediate clues as to when the otherwise pedestrian-looking Play will take over store shelves — that said, the virtually complete details hint that there’s not long to wait.

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WD TV Play media hub revealed by the FCC, puts Texas Hold’em on the big screen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HBO Go And Hulu Plus: The Perfect Living Room Marriage?

I’ve become an expert of sorts on entertainment. I’ve spent the better part of my life watching televisions, enjoying movies, listening to my favorite artists, and playing video games. To me, having all of that media available to me whenever I want it is a blessing.

Because of that, I spend an awful lot of time evaluating different entertainment opportunities. From Netflix to Hulu Plus to iTunes, I’m always out there examining what’s best and what might need some work.

For a long time, I truly believed that Netflix was the best entertainment option available to me. The platform had all kinds of movies and television shows, and it was cheap. Netflix was, for a while, the best living room entertainment option we had.

But now, I’m starting to move away from that. Netflix’s content library is on the decline, and I’m finding myself watching programming on Hulu Plus and HBO Go far more often. To me, those two services are delivering the very best in living room entertainment.

How, you might ask? Simple: top-notch content.

Let’s start with Hulu Plus. Although the commercials can be annoying, the sheer amount of content on the service is delectable. I can watch some of the latest episodes of television shows I might have missed, as well as check out some older films that, in some cases, really aren’t too bad. Granted, Hulu Plus has its limitations, but for those looking for a solid television alternative to Netflix, it’s quite good.

“How HBO gives away so much content for the price is beyond me”

HBO Go, however, might just be the best addition to the living room experience I’ve seen in years. How HBO is willing to give away so much of its content for only the price of subscribing to its network is beyond me. But I’m more than happy to take advantage.

If you haven’t tried out HBO Go, you should do so sooner rather than later. HBO offers every episode (yes, you read that correctly) of its series both on now and off the air. In addition, it comes with the network’s documentaries, sports coverage, and films.

The issue with HBO Go is its general lack of availability in the living room. Unless you have certain devices or televisions, you’ll more than likely be watching it on a computer. Luckily, my Samsung television recently started supporting HBO Go, so I can watch all of its programming right from the couch. Over time, I expect more vendors to support the application, as well.

So, let’s consider this new scenario: when we want to watch popular, current major network and cable programming, we can opt for Hulu Plus. And in those cases where we want to check out what, I believe, is a grouping of even better shows and entertainment, we can go for HBO Go.

With Hulu Plus and HBO Go in tow, I don’t quite miss Netflix. In fact, I couldn’t care less about it.


HBO Go And Hulu Plus: The Perfect Living Room Marriage? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Hulu Plus Android app updated for more devices

If you pay for Hulu’s premium monthly service and are frustrated because you still can’t access any of the content from your smartphone, your days of waiting may be over. That is, if you have a Galaxy S II or HTC One. Those are among the new devices to gain Hulu Plus support in the latest update to the Android app. The Galaxy Tab 2 tablet is also included in the new version of the app.

For those who could already stream Hulu on your device, the update may still be relevant to you. The company said that it optimized playback for 7-inch tablets and also enhances resolution for devices capable of presenting high-resolution video. While support for Hulu Plus is still not universal for Android users, the company remains committed to providing updates as often as possible.

Hulu Plus’s availability on Android has been dicey from the start. When it first began rolling out to Google’s mobile platform, very scattered and random updates brought the service to devices with seemingly no logic. Some suggested they were only adding support for devices that their employees happened to have around the office. But now, it has grown to very wide availability.

[via Engadget]


Hulu Plus Android app updated for more devices is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.