Hasta La Gadget!

Amazon‘s Instant Video app for iPad has arrived in the App Store, offering subscribers to Amazon Prime a way to stream content as well as download it for offline viewing. The app, a free download though membership in Amazon Prime – currently $79 per year – is required for streaming, also supports rented and purchased digital content such as movies and TV shows.

There’s also support for Season Pass, with episodes of TV shows automatically arriving on your iPad the morning after they air. Amazon currently has over 120,000 videos to buy, and “thousands” through Prime Instant Video, with Whispersync used to synchronize downloaded content between the new iPad app, Kindle Fire, PC, Mac, PS3 or smart TV.

A watchlist for potentially interesting titles is supported, and can also be maintained on different platforms. So, you can see a movie you might like while at work and add it to the watchlist from your browser, with it arriving on your iPad to check out when you’re back home.

Unfortunately, Amazon isn’t supporting full AirPlay streaming with the app, which means no renting or purchasing a movie on the iPad and then wirelessly playing it back via an Apple TV. Whether that’s something that will be added in future is unclear.

You can download the new Amazon Instant Video app for iPad here [iTunes link]

Amazon Instant Video for iPad takes media mobile is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

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.

Spotify announced last month that it would be adding a radio feature to iOS devices that would let users set up custom stations based on genres, artists, and playlists, and now the company has announced that it’s bringing the same feature over to Android too. Free Android users and those with a premium subscription to Spotify, which adds mobile access on top of unlimited music streaming, will be able to enjoy the same functionality as iOS users starting from today.

Just like the iOS version, users will be able to create personalized stations based on artist, album or playlists, and can enjoy unlimited listening as part of their premium subscription. Any songs that users stumble across while they’re listening can also be saved for later use, and songs can also receive the thumbs up and thumbs down treatment.

Any changes made on mobile devices sync across the platform as well, so you can pick up where you left off on the desktop later. Best of all, you don’t need a paid subscription to use the radio side of Spotify’s service, marking the first time that free users can get access to Spotify’s music catalogue on mobile devices. It might not be as flexible as total access, but it’s a step in the right direction.

While Spotify operates a free music streaming service which is supported by ads, it has two subscriptions tiers for unaltered listening. Unlimited costs $5, but only the Premium $10 option allows for Spotify usage on mobile devices. If you want an alternative to Pandora and similar services, head on over to the Play Store and grab the latest Spotify update.

Spotify adds mobile radio to Android is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Roku will use a $45m investment round to develop new digital media devices and services, after securing the backing of News Corp., BSkyB and others to build out its streaming platform. A combination of cash and “business agreements” are included in the deal, with Roku intending to increase its international footprint and “increase engineering and production” with further pushes into advertising, games, transactional and pay-per-view video along with content packages.

Roku is known for its range of eponymous set-top boxes, which provide a straightforward way to supply internet-based media to a regular TV. Originally focused on Netflix, Roku expanded its platform with various other “channels” for other providers, adding in games and more. Next up – on the public roadmap, anyway – is the Roku Streaming Stick, which will provide a more discrete way of accessing Roku services.

“The streaming stick is Roku’s first step in expanding its platform from streaming players to Smart TVs and other devices connected to the TV” the company said today in a statement [pdf link]. “With the News Corporation and Sky strategic relationships, we are poised to further grow our leadership position and to become the TV distribution platform of the future.”

While the financial backing will undoubtedly help Roku keep its R&D labs running for a while longer, it’s the unspecified business agreements that could have the biggest impact. Exactly what has been promised as part of the new deal hasn’t been revealed, but with News Corp. running Fox, Sky Sports, National Geographic, and dozens of other TV services, not to mention film studios and digital content, it might mean a fresh flush of channels for Roku users.

Meanwhile, News Corp.’s chief digital officer Jon Miller will join the Roku board of directors as a side-effect of the deal.

Roku pals with News Corp. for $45m hardware and content investment is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Vizio made a strong case for the reintroduction of Google TV when it announced the Co-Star box last month, offering full Google TV functionality plus OnLive capabilities for a penny under $100. The company has begun to take pre-orders for the Co-Star on its website, and is still offering free shipping for anyone willing to give the box a chance. You’ll get access to the full Chrome web browser, Google TV apps, and streaming games with the optional OnLive controller and subscription.

Naturally, the box will run apps from other services as well. YouTube is onboard, as is the ever important Netflix for all your movie and TV needs, and Amazon Instant Video is along for the ride too. The box plugs into your existing cable or satellite set top box via HDMI, allowing you to overlay Google TV on top of your current feeds so that you can get as much out of your television as possible.

Connectivity for the box includes WiFi b/g/n, and a single USB port for hard drives or other accessories. If you want, you can also stream content from other hardware via DLNA. The Co-Star should be shipping sometime in August, so if the whole package sounds ideal for your home entertainment needs, head on over to Vizio’s store to pre-order.

[via Google+]

Vizio Co-Star Google TV box up for pre-order is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.