FCC wants you to have 100Mbps broadband: TechVi Now Afternoon Edition
A new plan would get 100 million homes a minimum broadband speed of 100Mbps by the year 2020. Also, Apple will be fixing certain MacBooks for free and HBO officially unveils its video streaming service.
YouTube to charge for shows?
We're hearing via Peter Kafka that YouTube is slated to charge $1.99 to view TV shows commercial free. Is this something people want, and what's going to get people to pay to watch TV? We ask Paul Miller from Engadget, and Nicholas Carlson from The Business Insider about YouTube's alleged strategy, and how they think things should work.
Do you agree? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think.
Guests:
Apple TV to add $30 / month subscription video?
Source:
Permalink
Apple is said to be pitching TV networks on the idea of a $30 / month bundle that would add TV network video streaming to iTunes according to Peter Kafka of AllThingsDigital. His report claims no network has signed on for the deal, which Apple had hoped to launch early next year. Also, rather than have the service be tied to a specific device, like the "hobby" Apple TV, the report claims the service would augment iTunes, which could mean multiple platforms could support the service.
We're filing this one firmly in the rumor mill, though we're eager to see if Steve Jobs' best buddies at Disney would be up for hooking ABC and ESPN up to the service.
Netgear releases Internet-connected set-top box
Source:
Via:
Permalink
Netgear, known for its computer networking products, has thrown its hat in the set-top box ring. Its offering, the Digital Entertainer Live, streams video directly from a number of web sites such as YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix via PlayOn. The unit will also play HD video and music, and display photos, from a PC, network attached storage, or USB drive, and is available now for $149.
Comcast online OnDemand: Will it work?
Comcast has signed on CBS and 17 other cable networks to participate in a limited study of 5,000 households who get to watch OnDemand content online. Obviously, this requires the participants to have Comcast's cable service in addition to internet service, so it throws up some unique hurdles to online adoption. Is this a good idea, or is this taking online video in the wrong direction? We talk with two members of Engadget HD, Richard Lawler and Ben Drawbaugh and get their take on the situation.
Guests:
Qik hits the Android Market
Source:
Permalink
Qik has launched their video streaming app on the Android Marketplace. Â The app was in the hands of testers when one anxious tester started spreading it around to his friends. Â When news of the app for the popular video streaming service showed up on Twitter, Qik decided to release it a few days early since it was set to launch later this week anyway.
Disney signs on board for Hulu
Disney says it has signed up to provide content for video-destination site Hulu, and the Wall Street Journal reports Disney has taken a 30% stake in the company. The agreement paves the way for ABC shows like "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy" as well as Disney movies to appear on the service.
QTV launches on PS2
The new service will allow PS2 owners to watch YouTube videos, and other networked video content, on their TVs. Our instant analysis makes us think this concept isn't going to work, but going after PS2 owners, of which there are hundreds of millions, seems like an interesting tactic.
Adobe brings Flash to TV and Mobile video launches in DC
Adobe has long been seen as the market leader in video on the web, with its Flash player seeing such a large install base. Now, Adobe is looking to bring Flash support to TVs and set-top-boxes, initially bringing widgets for displaying data like stocks or weather info, similar to the Yahoo Widget Engine implementation on some Sony TVs. It seems to me that this might be the first volley by Adobe at shoehorning itself into as many devices as possible, making Flash a defacto standard for video both on the web and on TV. One of our guests, Brad Linder of Liliputing, sees it as purely the way Adobe has sold it, since TVs already have enough TV content, and content providers are scared of splitting their broadcast revenues. On the other hand, as Brian Heater of PC Mag points out, Adobe has signed some notable content partners, including Disney, which might make an interesting match for on-demand content.
Also on the show, and in the TV world, Washington, D.C. has become the first city to roll out the new mobile DTV standard for broadcasting. The new service, unlike other subscription services from cell carriers, is free to watch and doesn't use data networks of any sort. That's great and everything, but mobile TV isn't exactly new, nor is it a high demand feature for our panel. Do you think you'd like mobile video? Or is it a product in search of a market?