Hasta La Gadget!

It’s a little hard to know exactly who to blame here, but one thing is for sure: consumers lose. Last week Suddenlink started deploying TiVo Premiere DVRs to its customers minus Netflix, saying that it was the agreements Netflix has with studios that prevents its streaming service from being deployed on a cable company DVR. At the time it was hopeful that Hulu Plus could still work, but now it’s confirmed that its customers won’t get that either, blaming the same sort of agreements between Hulu and its content providers. Frustrating? Absolutely — but there is one obvious work-around: buy your own darned TiVo Premiere, get access to Netflix and Hulu Plus, and stop paying your cable provider that monthly rental fee. Mind, you’ll have to rock a CableCard, losing the ability to watch video on demand, and the separate TiVo plus Hulu Plus fees might cost a bit more, but consider that a small price to pay for the right to stick a finger in the eye of The Man.

Hulu Plus not happening on cable-provided TiVo Premiere DVRs, Scrooge wins again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The first update for the Google TV platform since its release is now available on Logitech and Sony devices, and takes major strides towards addressing issues we pointed out in our review. The antiquated Netflix app is now sporting a new HTML5 based UI that resembles the one seen on the PlayStation 3, while Dual View has addressed one of our biggest complaints by allowing users to move and resize the video window at will. Another major upgrade is support for an Android remote app arriving today with iPhone version “coming soon.” The last major update should be appreciated by Kevin Bacon stalkers enthusiasts with a new info page for movies that pulls in plenty of relevant information and availability online and from the listings all on one page. Our Sony Google TV had the 218 MB update downloaded and ready to install when we turned it on that also promised a few other updates on top of Google’s as seen above. We’ll check back in a moment to see how things are working — no word from Google yet on any progress breaking down the walls networks have put up around their streaming content — peep the updated Dual View and a video of the new remote control app after the break.

Update: The Google TV Remote for Android is now available in the Market, click this link from your Android device to download or snag the QR code after the break.

Continue reading Google TV gets a major update with new Netflix, movable Dual View, Android remote app support

Google TV gets a major update with new Netflix, movable Dual View, Android remote app support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the massive patent lawsuit leveled at Apple, Google, AOL, Facebook, ebay, Netflix, and a number of other companies by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen? Well, it’s now hit something of a snag — a federal judge dismissed the case on Friday, stating that Allen’s suit “failed to identify the infringing products or devices with any specificity,” and that the court and defendants were basically “left to guess what devices infringe on the four patents.” For his part, Allen apparently plans to persevere with the patent fight, and said through a spokesman that the dismissal was merely a “procedural issue,” and that “the case is staying on track” — Allen now has until December 28th to file an amended complaint.

Judge throws out Paul Allen’s massive patent suit, Allen plans to continue originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to 2011. Standard & Poor’s made a big shakeup on its S&P 500 this week, adding in a number of new names, including Netflix, Cablevision, and networking company F5 Networks.

Cablevision took the place of King Pharmaceuticals, which dropped out of the running after being acquired by S&P 100 company Pfizer. Netflix, F5, and Newfield Exploration Co., meanwhile, swapped spots with The New York Times, Office Depot, and Eastman Kodak.

It’s hard not to view such a move as a pretty clear indication of where our priorities lie in 2010. Netflix and Cablevision’s stocks jumped 5.6 and 5 percent at the news.The New York Times, Office Depot, and Kodak all dropped.

We’re not sure if Netflix ended up paying the $100,000 per episode it was rumored to be offering to put new TV shows on Watch Instantly, but it has reached a new deal with Disney-ABC Television Group that keeps episodes of shows like Lost on the streaming service while also adding new ones. The delay time for adding new episodes is at least 15 days for new programming so keep that ABC.com / Hulu bookmark handy if streaming video is your viewing method of choice, but with every single episode of older favorites like Scrubs, Ugly Betty and Reaper due up in 2011, plus expanded offerings from Disney Channel and ABC Family including Greek and the High School Musical / Camp Rock series of movies we’re sure everyone can find something to watch in the meantime. ABC/Disney has been down with Netflix streaming since early on, not to mention 99-cent TV sales/rentals, whether the rumored popularity of cord cutting is true or not, it seems both companies have found a balance they can agree upon for now, check the press release after the break for more details on what’s available and when.

Continue reading Netflix licenses even more TV for streaming from ABC/Disney

Netflix licenses even more TV for streaming from ABC/Disney originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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