Hasta La Gadget!

Time Warner Cable has accused Netflix of discriminatory behavior, unfairly limiting content to subscribers since it demands ISPs join its Open Connect delivery system before they get select 3D and Super HD movies. “While they call it ‘Open Connect’, Netflix is actually closing off access to some of its content while seeking unprecedented preferential treatment from ISPs” Time Warner Cable told Multichannel News, referring to the new high-bandwidth media types Netflix announced it would offer last week.

“We believe it is wrong for Netflix to withhold any content formats from our subscribers and the subscribers of many other ISPs” the ISP continued. “Time Warner Cable’s network is more than capable of delivering this content to Netflix subscribers today.”

The contention is around Netflix’s insistance that, if ISPs want to serve up its more bandwidth-demanding content like higher-resolution Super HD or 3D, they need to also opt into the (free) Open Connect scheme. That puts a direct pipe between Netflix and ISP, by co-locating a caching server – storing copies of the most frequently-viewed media – on site with the ISP’s own hardware.

Such a scheme saves Netflix on bandwidth costs. Super HD content, for instance, requires a 5Mbps connection; a current list of Open Connect-participating ISPs is here.

“Open Connect provides Netflix data at no cost to the location the ISP desires and doesn’t seek preferential treatment” CCO Jonathan Friedland told We hope TimeWarner will join the many major ISPs around the world who are participating in Open Connect to reduce costs, minimize congestion and improve data delivery to enhance the consumer experience.”

It’s uncertain whether the ISP will settle for complaining about Netflix’s policies, or if there’s a lawsuit in the offing.

[via GigaOm]

Netflix is discriminating against its customers accuses Time Warner Cable is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Amazon has renewed its assault on Apple’s iTunes business, launching AutoRip, a virtual CD ripping service that not only gives a free MP3 copy of (eligible) albums bought online, but does the same for the past fifteen years of purchases. Rumored earlier, AutoRip automatically adds an MP3 version of a purchased CD to the customer’s Amazon Cloud Player, with a catalog of more than 50,000 tracks and 256kbps quality.

Anyone who has been using Amazon for their CD needs – since 1998 – will also get a nice surprise, as if they’re also in the 50,000 track catalog they’ll be automatically added too. The AutoRip content doesn’t count toward your Cloud Player storage allowance, and it can be streamed to Android and iOS devices, the browser, and various streaming media hardware.

Among the titles included in the new service are Adele’s 21, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

If you weren’t convinced that Amazon is directly challenging Apple with AutoRip, the company specifically calls out its Cupertino rival in the press release. “In many cases,” it claims, “customers can buy an AutoRip CD, including the free digital copy, for less than they would pay for only the digital album at iTunes.”

You can find your new MP3 copies by signing into your Cloud Player account. AutoRip appears to be US-only at present.

Amazon AutoRip: Free MP3 of your CD purchases since 1998 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Netflix has launched Super HD, offering a new top-tier of streaming video quality for those on select ISPs, but there’s Ultra HD content in the pipeline thanks to a special partnership with Samsung. Funneled out through Netflix’s Open Connect delivery network direct to ISPs, the Super HD video is even higher quality 1080p than the streaming company offers as standard, with certain 3D titles available in the US. Meanwhile, at CES, Netflix is demonstrating the fruits of its 4K resolution experiments with Samsung.

Hiding in Samsung’s booth at the show – or at least, as close to hiding as an 85-inch TV can manage – was an Ultra HD set running a 4K stream from Netflix’s servers. There were few details to hand, and no sign of a public launch date, but the picture quality looked great.

Still, it’s Super HD that will be reaching more people – though not everyone – first. Netflix subscribers will need to get their internet connection via one of the ISPs currently working with the media company, a list that includes Cablevision, Virgin Media, British Telecom, Telmex, Telus, TDC, GVT and others.

Everyone else will have to wait, unfortunately, and only those subscribers in the US will get Super 3D content, at least initially. You can find out if you’re on an Open Connect compliant ISP here.

Netflix launches Super HD and 3D; Reveals Ultra HD trial with Samsung is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re looking for a way to get the content from your notebook or desktop computer to your big screen in the living room without having to use wires, Actiontec has a new product offering that will do the trick. The device is called the ScreenBeam Wi-Fi Certified Miracast HD kit for wireless display. The kit is designed to mirror content on your computer, tablet, or smartphone displays to a big-screen TV in the living room.

The technology is available as a standalone wireless display adapter and as a kit. The standalone wireless display adapter is called ScreenBeam and is compatible with a broad range of Miracast-certified sources such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other devices running WiDi 3.5 or higher. The kit includes wireless display software and a USB transmitter for Windows 7 and 8 PCs that lack native WiDi support.

ScreenBeam is the only wireless display solution that supports all Miracast-enabled devices. The product is also Wi-Fi certified and Miracast certified. The system supports up to 1080p HD resolution video and audio. The wireless solution has a 50-foot range with no line of sight required.

ScreenBeam has its own dedicated wireless connection and does not require a home network connection to work. Using the system you can shoot streaming video from your notebook from sources such as Netflix to the big-screen TV in the living room, even if you’re desktop computer isn’t in the same room. The system also supports photos as well. Pricing on the ScreenBeam system is unknown at this time.

Actiontec ScreenBeam Wi-Fi certified Miracast HD kit debuts is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

ASUS promised a Google TV device for CES, and the company has delivered with the Qube, a squared-off media box with a matching cuboid user-interface for easily navigating live, on-demand, web, and other content. The compact box uses an motion-control remote, though those with an Android phone can also find ASUS’ Mobile Remote app in the Play store to turn their phone or tablet into a touchscreen controller.

What you’ll be navigating through is the Qube interface, which slaps each of the features onto a different pane of a rotating cube on-screen. That will include Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Google Play media purchases, as well as web browsing and all the other features we already know from Google TV.

ASUS is keeping hardware details close to its chest, though the Qube’s slinking through the FCC suggested a Marvell ARMADA processor is inside. USB and HDMI also seem more than likely, given the Qube needs to hook up to your TV directly, along with WiFi and quite possibly Bluetooth for the remote.

Cube set-top boxes aren’t exactly common, but ASUS isn’t the first to pick the shape. Boxee’s ill-fated Boxee Box by D-Link had a similar shape, albeit at more of an angle than the Qube.

We’ll hopefully find out more about pricing and availability of the Qube at the show this week. Keep an eye on our CES hub for more.

ASUS Qube Google TV box official: It’s hip to be square is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.