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Amazon might be continuing its European HD streaming video invasion by arriving in France next March, according to Canal Plus’ president, Bertrand Meheu. The executive is well-placed to have that info, as he says his company will be supplying Amazon with content for the service’s launch on the Kindle Fire. If true, it’s not known yet if it would be in the form of Lovefilm, which launched in Germany and the UK recently, or if it would be available on PCs, Macs, Xbox 360 consoles or Smart TVs as it is elsewhere. Canal Plus has been fighting to keep such competitors out of the notoriously protectionist country, but it was recently blocked by a state watchdog from hoarding VOD rights exclusively for its own networks. The company also said that Netflix would arrive in France by “early 2013” — another credible claim, considering the huge amount of content it produces that the US streaming service would surely need.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Amazon

Canal Plus chief: Amazon, Netflix will bring video-on-demand to France early next year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earlier this year Starz pulled its online content library back from Netflix and now it’s relaunching the old Starz Play branded websites and apps (iOS and WiFi only for now, 3G and Android coming soon) for authenticated streaming, similar to HBO Go and Showtime Anytime. There’s also an Encore Play site, and it plans to launch one for its Movieplex channel in the future. Currently, the services only support logins from Cox cable subscribers, but if you’re not on that pay-TV provider you may not be missing out after all.

Starz has already licensed its content to providers like Comcast for streaming through its Xfinity website and apps, deals which it tells The Hollywood Reporter cover about 70 percent of its customers. Like HBO and Showtime, this probably is not a prelude to offering its service beyond the tethers of cable and satellite, but as exec Ed Huguez puts it, “it is an expression of (Starz’) brand and user interface.” That likely only applies domestically however, as Starz also announced it’s licensing its content to the cable-free HBO Nordic service, and one can see how building up its technology means it could serve up its own streams internationally some day. Even if you get Starz, if your provider is large enough to handle its own business when it comes to online services this probably won’t affect you. However, for customers on smaller cable companies or in the future when deals get renegotiated, you may have another app to add to your drawer for TV Everywhere-style viewing.

Continue reading New Starz Play website and apps stream only to Cox customers, but you might not need them

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

New Starz Play website and apps stream only to Cox customers, but you might not need them originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No one can accuse the BBC of neglecting radio in its quest for streaming nirvana — not when the number of radio listeners on iPlayer has shot up 56 percent in a year (and 300 percent on tablets). Nevertheless, from tomorrow morning, iPhone users will find a brand new way to listen to their favorite content: a dedicated radio app with a spinning dial which — compared to the regular iPlayer app — will put much greater emphasis on live shows rather than catch-up. There’ll also be mobile-friendly features like an alarm clock which will wake you up to your choice of show, reminders for shows you just can’t miss, and the ability to identify current and recently-played songs at a glance. The app will reach Android too, as soon as some Flash-related difficulties have been ironed out, and its alarm function will benefit from slightly better multi-tasking on Google’s OS, so you won’t have to leave the app open before you fall asleep. If you don’t want to wait or if you’re outside the UK, check out the desktop iPlayer at the source link, or the gallery below, and you’ll see just what the Corporation’s philosophy about treating radio differently — rather than as “TV minus video” — actually looks like.

Continue reading BBC launches iPlayer Radio: a separate radio-only mobile app and web UI

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Mobile

BBC launches iPlayer Radio: a separate radio-only mobile app and web UI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those of you wishing to go gigantic with your streaming content would be wise to take a peek at the brand new 3M Streaming Projector Powered by Roku. That’s the full name, mind you, and that’s how you’re going to be keying it out if you want to find it – lucky you though, it’s an Amazon exclusive. What we’ve got here is a potential for a 120-inch wide picture streaming from a projector that’s able to keep up to 2.5 hours of live in it on a single charge.

This device is relatively small at 7.8 x 7 x 4.5 inches with a weight of 1.3 pounds – perfect for your backpack or large purse. You’ve got an audio out port for connecting external speakers or your own set of headphones, and the whole device runs fabulously with its included Roku Streaming Stick. This stick is a wi-fi connected USB stick that connects with the projector to bring you every bit of your Roku-handled content like a snap.

Roku presents a service that brings on all of your favorite networks – Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, Hulu PLUS, Crackle, and a whole lot more. You open Roku and download the apps you need from Roku’s built-in market, each of them working on their own with their own free or subscription-based pricing structures. The streaming stick can also connect yo your device – and device, not just the projector – via MHL port to stream content on the go.

The streaming projector has a built-in speaker and is able to output to HDMI as well so you can work with your gigantic HDTV – two in one! This device will be released on October 15th and will be running at $299 USD – shipping will take place from that time forward – and of course you can pre-order it now! Also note that the Hulu Streaming Stick is available from many sources on its own – cool stuff!

3M Streaming Projector teams with Roku for giant entertainment is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
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While Netflix has built its streaming service on content previously available elsewhere, its dive into exclusive original content begins in earnest February 1st of next year. That’s when the David Fincher-directed House of Cards series that it reportedly outbid the likes of HBO and AMC for will debut, with all 13 episodes immediately available for streaming in all of Netflix’s service areas. Lilyhammer was an exclusive of sorts that debuted earlier this year, however that was in association with Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

Netflix is going it alone backing several original series that will roll out over the next year including the highly anticipated return of Arrested Development (they’re apparently looking for walk-ons, check the video after the break), a murder mystery titled Hemlock Grove from Eli Roth, comedy Orange is the New Black from Jenji Kohan, the creator of Showtime’s Weeds, and the second season of Lilyhammer. There’s no word on why the series will launch next year instead of the originally scheduled “late 2012” window, however production of the second 13 episode season (which Netflix agreed to up front) is already scheduled to begin in the spring as well. We’ll see if the new push for exclusive content can cover some of the holes in Netflix’s catalog and keep current customers aboard while also attracting new viewers, even as competition in the subscription streaming arena increases.

Continue reading Netflix schedules its original series ‘House of Cards’ for release February 1st

Filed under: HD

Netflix schedules its original series ‘House of Cards’ for release February 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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