Hasta La Gadget!

Apple’s iCloud may have only just launched but according to rumors reported by the LA Times and Wall Street Journal, it’s already negotiating with Hollywood to add movies to the service (funny how things have changed in five years.) The timing is particularly curious because Apple, along with Disney, is one of the notable holdouts from the movie studio-backed Ultraviolet scheme with similar buy once / stream anywhere aspirations that just hit the streets this week. However, according to “people familiar with the matter” it could allow Ultraviolet access on iThings via app, while also bringing its usual media lock-in magic by also throwing in streaming copies of any flicks purchased on iTunes, but only on its own hardware. Recently activated streaming of purchased TV shows to the Apple TV shows the cloud’s potential, but we’ll have to wait for deals to be signed before that North Carolina datacenter puts Hollywood’s best on its to-do list.

Apple reportedly trying to add movie streaming to its iCloud originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  LA Times, Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

Continue reading SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30

SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Android Market  | Email this | Comments

The Netflix Contrition Tour 2011 continues today, as the company announced today that it won’t be spinning off DVD-by-mail rentals into a new company called Qwikster. While the plan for DVD operations to be separated internally appears to still be under way (no word yet on the promised videogame rental option), for customers things will stay the same, with one login and one website. While the retreat will probably prompt even more speculation about the company’s true plans, CEO Reed Hastings has issued yet another apology to customers, admitting Netflix may have moved too fast this time.

Another sticky issue that’s not so easily dealt with is the recent pricing change that took effect last month. While many speculated at the time about what percentage of customers would see higher prices as a result, spokesperson Steve Swasey reveals it affected about half of the company’s subscribers. For the rest who had signed up for the $7.99-streaming only package (an option selected by the overwhelming majority in the quarter before the change) prices didn’t go up at all. We have our own ideas about what the pricing should be, but it seems Netflix has finally realized not all customers got the message that it’s a streaming company now, and tacking DVDs onto its new primary offering for only $2 extra just didn’t work. Since all that uproar Netflix has announced a few new / expanded content deals for its streaming service, with Discovery and exclusive rights to previous seasons of The Walking Dead from AMC. But with renewed competition from the likes of Blockbuster and Amazon only time will tell if it can do enough to stop the subscriber bleeding. The Netflix Q3 earnings report is due October 24th — think that will be an interesting call to listen in on?

Continue reading Netflix backtracks on Qwikster, will keep DVDs and streaming under the same URL

Netflix backtracks on Qwikster, will keep DVDs and streaming under the same URL originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Netflix Blog  | Email this | Comments

Don’t expect Comcast to stop its Xfinity VOD streaming to the living room rollout with just the Xbox 360 this Christmas, as executive Sam Schwartz promised during a CTAM panel that it plans to develop apps for the PS3, Wii, Roku and other connected TV platforms. Multichannel News reports it doesn’t plan to roll out streaming to as many platforms as Netflix, so we’ll have to wait and see where this initial venture into IPTV stops. Think big cable is scared of over the top services? Maybe not yet, since Comcast claims Netflix subscribers tend to be the most voracious users of its VOD. Also in Comcast’s future is its completely revamped Xcalibur guide software with internet and social media tie-ins (check out our early sneak peek here), which Schwartz reiterated would be available nationwide at some point next year.

Comcast promises Xfinity VOD streaming on more devices, new Xcalibur guide in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Multichannel News  | Email this | Comments

CRTC won’t regulate Netflix as a broadcaster in Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CBC  |  CRTC  | Email this | Comments