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Dish Network’s new Hopper set-top boxes gained a new feature where users can watch live television through their smartphone or tablet, but it seems not everyone is into such a thing. Fox has ended up asking for an injunction against Dish to ban the new mobile feature, citing that the new service breaches its licensing agreement with Dish and infringes on the network’s copyrights.

In the filing, Fox mentions that “paying Dish for a satellite television subscription does not buy anyone the right to receive Fox’s live broadcast signal over the internet or to make copies of Fox programs to watch [on mobile devices] because Dish does not have the right to offer these services to its subscribers in the first place.”

The new features in the second-generation Hopper box allow users to watch television on their mobile devices by sending live broadcast signals over the internet to users’ devices, and the service also allows subscribers to transfer recorded television shows from the DVR to users’ iPads. A hearing on this issue is set for March 22.

Last year, Fox actually tried to sue Dish over the Hopper on the set-top box’s ability to skip commercials. However, the case was thrown out and an appeal by Fox hasn’t been ruled yet. In the end, Fox says Dish Hopper opens up a world of illegal and unethical practices, including piracy, devaluation, and unfair competition.

[via Bloomberg]

Fox wants to ban Dish’s mobile live TV feature is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mobile World Congress is just a few days away, but that hasn’t stopped Samsung from pulling back the curtain on TV Discovery: a new service that lets users search for and watch live TV, on-demand video and even online content from outfits such as YouTube. The platform, which will work on Samsung’s mobile devices and Smart TVs, serves up recommendations and even hones its ability to gauge your interest in programs the more often its used. When loaded on a tablet or smartphone, TV Discovery can act as a universal remote control, slinging commands to cable and satellite boxes, Blu-Ray players, home stereos and more.

Of course, if you’re feeling social, the solution will also let you share what you’re watching with others and check up on your friend’s TV-viewing habits. Netflix and Blockbuster will be on tap for the platform in the US, while Europe will have access to Acetrax, Wuaki, MovieMax, FilmIn, Chili, Pathé and SF Anytime. TV Discovery will hit all of the firm’s 2013 Smart TVs in the US, Korea and 12 European countries — including France, Germany, Italy and the UK — during the first quarter of this year. Slates and smartphones in those countries, however, will see nab the experience during Q2.

Filed under: HD, Samsung

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Apple TV rumors have slowly been gaining steam recently, and even more speculation should be wound up from the fact that Apple has a job listing that looks to find an “experienced engineering manager to help deliver the next generation features for Apple TV.” While it makes sense that Apple will update the Apple TV set top box at some point, “next generation features” sort of hints at the possibility that Apple may change things up a bit.

While the listing doesn’t offer any specific information about Apple’s plans for the Apple TV, it looks like the Cupertino-based company is bumping up the number of people working on the Apple TV. This wouldn’t be too surprising, considering that the Apple TV is an area of “intense interest” for Apple.

There’s also a rumored event planned for March where Apple is said to be unveiling some new details on the Apple TV, specifically a new SDK that would allow app developers to make apps for the platform, something that Apple may be doing to prepare for an actual television set launch sometime later this year possibly.

As far as what these “next generation features” will consist of, it’s hard to tell at this point, but it’s even possible that Apple may aim for the gaming consoles, and could possibly introduce some new advanced features for the Apple TV that would see it take on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 head on in a battle in the living room.

[via 9to5Mac]

Apple job listing hints at “next generation features” for Apple TV is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Amazon only managed to land a slice of CBS’ library for Prime Instant Video on the first pass; it’s coming back for a second helping, including one of its first cracks at genuinely recent content from the network. A widened licensing deal gives subscribers access to further CBS and Showtime series that include Jericho, The L Word and an unspecified number of other shows. And for those intrigued by the broadcaster’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Under the Dome, Amazon will be the only choice for many viewers: Prime Instant Video will be the exclusive home for subscription streaming and purchased downloads of the series, delivering streaming episodes about four days after their air date in order to shelter CBS’ traditional advertisers. Amazon may not have have completely locked in an audience between this and the Downton Abbey deal, but the recent set of exclusives is likely to leave Netflix feeling nervous.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Amazon

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Source: Amazon Instant Video

By the end of December, rumors had started to surface about Intel’s intentions of joining the race for providing Internet TV, alongside Apple. Erik Huggers, General Manager of Intel Media, has confirmed that Intel is indeed working on providing internet television. “We have been working for around a year now to setup Intel Media — it’s a new division that includes a lot of people from outside of the company. We’ve hired people from Apple, Netflix, Google, BBC, etc. We’re aiming to develop an internet television platform. My opinion is that not many of those rivals have cracked it — have truly delivered” commented Erik at AllThingsD’s D: Dive Into Media conference. (more…)

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