Mar 27
Now you can find out who played that guy Raylan Givens just shot down on Justified without frantically searching the internet while pausing the show.
Mar 27
Back in September, Amazon announced a new feature for Kindle devices called X-Ray, which essentially gives users more information about the movie they’re watching using data from IMDb. However, Amazon announced today that the feature is now expanding to include TV shows, meaning that you can now find out more information on that new television series you just started watching.
X-Ray is an Amazon feature that is also available on Kindle ereaders, and the feature first launched for books, allowing readers to gather more information about the story’s characters and even more information on the author. Now that X-Ray is available for TV shows, viewers can tap on an episode to learn more about the show, including characters, actors/actresses, and quick facts.
Amazon says that the X-Ray feature gives users a unique experience when watching streaming content that you won’t be able to experience anywhere else. Amazon wants the content portion of its physical products to be the most important aspect of the user experience, since that’s what the company makes a profit on mostly.
Of course, X-Ray only works with content from Amazon’s Instant Video library, so it’s an exclusive feature that the company hopes will encourage more people to choose Amazon Instant Video over other streaming services like Hulu or Netflix. Amazon will be expanding X-Ray to the Wii U, but there’s no word on whether or not they’ll put it on other platforms like iOS or Android.
Amazon expands X-Ray feature to TV shows is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 26
It’s a very poorly kept secret that Intel is looking to bust in the pay-TV business. Rumors have been circulating since at least December that the chip giant is working on its own set-top box and hopes to pair it with a “virtual cable” service that offers unbundled channels. Of course, content creators are reticent to give up the lucrative package deals they’ve struck, which require providers to serve up smaller outlets alongside popular ones. But the tides are starting to shift, and many are demanding that these channels be offered à la carte. According to Bloomberg, Intel is getting close to offering such a service and is reportedly closing in on deals with Time Warner, Viacom and NBC that would allow them to offer both live and on-demand content over the internet. Sources are reporting that the broad terms of the deal have been agreed to, and its only a few fine details and some financial terms that need to be finalized. Intel is also allegedly in talks with Disney, CBS and News Corp. Though, those negotiations are in the preliminary stages. If Intel can successfully land deals for CNN, Comedy Central, MTV and other properties owned by its supposed new partners then its TV experiment could stand a legitimate chance at success.
Filed under: Internet, HD, Intel
Source: Bloomberg
Mar 25
It may be no surprise that people are favoring web video and streaming TV shows over regular television nowadays, but while both cable television and broadcast television are taking a hit, broadcast TV is seeing a steeper decline in ratings this season, and that’s forcing advertisers to rethink what avenues to advertise on.
According to various analysts, it’s expected that advertisers are going to spend more of their ad dollars on cable television and web video outlets like Hulu. It’s expected broadcast networks’ dollar volume could drop by 2%, while cable television’s volume could rise about 5%. Of course, these aren’t huge gains or losses, but every percentage point matters, especially when you’re facing lower ratings.
However, CBS CEO Les Moonves says that ad demand for broadcast television (at least for CBS) is growing, and Moonves expects CBS to lead in “volume and CPM increases” this season. However, ratings have taken a dive at all four big television networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) since the start of the fall season back in September.
Specifically, among viewers ages 18 to 49 ( which is the demographic that’s most prized by advertisers,) the average numbers for primetime audiences were down 23% at FOX, 7% at NBC, 3% at CBS; and 8% at ABC. However, CBS was the only major network to see an increase in overall viewership this season, with a 2% rise.
[via The Wall Street Journal]
Broadcast TV ratings continue to fall, ad sales go down with it is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 23
Myriad Social TV brings social networking to your cable box (hands-on video)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
The marriage of social networking and television is nothing new, but Myriad recently launched Social TV, a white label solution which allows TV service providers to roll out their own custom social networking platform on your cable box. It complements services like Twitter, Facebook and Google+ by offering a more contextual way for viewers to interact with their friends while watching TV. Social TV provides an integrated HTML5 experience that’s consistent across both television and companion devices (phones and tablets). Viewers can chose between receiving alerts on their TVs, mobile devices or both and can create show- or series-specific virtual communities that automatically expire when the program ends. The system is even mindful of time zones and time-shifts messages to prevent spoilers. More after the break.
Gallery: Myriad Social TV hands-on
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD
Mar 23
Panasonic 2013 Smart TVs wield Nuance Dragon TV for voice control, text-to-speech
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Panasonic and Nuance have been close partners on TV voice recognition in the past; we now know that they’re getting a bit cozier for Panasonic’s 2013 Smart TVs. The company’s newer LCDs and plasmas with voice recognition use Nuance’s Dragon TV for voice-only control of basics like volume as well as content and web searches. The engine will also speak out content and menus if you need more than just visual confirmation of where you’re going. Panasonic’s refreshed TV line is gradually rolling out over the spring, so those who see a plastic remote control as so very 2010 won’t have long to wait.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Via: SlashGear
Source: Panasonic
Mar 22
How many Roku models are there? Like, twelve? But it doesn’t matter: the newest one is here, and thankfully (predictably?) it’s the best one yet. So good that you’ll stop using other crap you own. So good you’ll use your cable box less. That good. More »
Mar 22
It’s easy to snag a Miracast-capable device if you’re willing to shop for a brand new TV or a set-top box. but it’s much tougher if Miracast is the only thing you’re looking for. Minimalists will be happy, then, that Panasonic just released a dedicated adapter for the job. Plug the very utilitarian-looking brick into an HDMI jack and you can wirelessly stream HD-grade video from any supporting device on the same WiFi network; Panasonic would naturally prefer that it’s the company’s new Eluga X smartphone. The adapter is so far only available in Japan for an estimated and rather steep ¥8,980 ($95), although we’re hoping that it eventually crosses the Pacific at a price that befits the narrow focus.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, HD
Via: Akihabara News
Source: Panasonic (translated)
Mar 22
Apparently today is William Shatner’s birthday, and he turns 82. To celebrate, Hulu is making its entire Star Trek catalog free for everyone. Normally, only Hulu Plus subscribers would have access to all episodes, but now anyone can watch them without needing an account or having to pay up for a monthly subscription.
Shatner played the infamous Captain James T. Kirk in several Star Trek films and TV series, and while Shatner has become more of an odd character nowadays (now known as the “Priceline negotiator” in those weird hotel booking commercials), he’ll leave behind a legacy for Star Trek fans to remember forever.
Five Star Trek television series are available on Hulu, all of which will be free until the end of the month: Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Enterprise. All of these shows are available now to watch at no cost.
UPDATE: We’ve been informed that Star Trek: The Animated Series is missing out of the bunch, as well as “The Cage,” which is the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series.
As an extension of the festivities, Star Trek will be conducting a poll to see which episodes they’ll feature on the Hulu home page, and they’ll also be holding a “Star Trek Madness” tournament, putting all of the major Star Trek characters up against each other to see who is the most popular Star Trek character of them all.
Hulu making all Star Trek episodes free until April [UPDATE] is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 22
This Is How You Respond to Rumors
Posted in: Today's Chili
Don’t hand your iPhone to Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. During an interview on Finnish TV show Hjalliksen kanssa, an interviewer made exactly that mistake and is short one functional iPhone for having made it because Elop threw that sucker on the floor. More »
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.