Verizon Advances Video Agenda with Cloud TV, iPad and FiOS TV Online
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, August 23, 2010 · 
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Verizon is extending its FiOS video service beyond the living room to tablets, PCs and mobile devices.
Late last week Verizon CIO Shaygan Kheradpir hosted an event in New York City and offered a sneak peek of new features coming soon for FiOS customers, as well as some of the company’s long-term plans for FiOS TV. Verizon plans to offer live video programming as well as video-on-demand services to new platforms.
The service provider announced several new initiatives which rely on the concept of “cloud TV.” Flex View gives customers the ability to rent, purchase and watch video-on-demand programming on FiOS TV, the PC and select mobile devices. Flex View will initially support RIM’s BlackBerry Storm 2, the Droid 2 and Droid X and all Windows Mobile 6.5 devices, with more devices following soon. When it launches this fall, Verion plans to offer 3,000 movie titles, with rental and purchase prices ranging from $2 to $18. TV programming will follow soon after. Videos can be streamed over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G. Read more
Apps Seemingly Everywhere for TV
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, August 13, 2010 · ·
Many video providers are creating apps for the iPad.
Dish Network is “slinging” content to mobile devices such as the Apple iPad. Time Warner Cable is also developing a prototype application for the iPad. AT&T U-verse is making content available to smartphones. Verizon is developing a video application for devices than run Google’s Android operating system too. It seems like every distributor has or will have a means of making video content available to mobile devices.
Filling the “three screens” with content seems to be well on the way. Consumers will have many different choices for providers that can send content to whatever device is convenient, when it is convenient for the consumer to watch it. Is this a good thing, bad thing or just another part of the digital metamorphosis?
Mobility with the capability of effectively expanding the options for communications and entertainment is efficient.
Good or bad? Time will tell.
For more, see this Wall Street Journal article.
Dish to Stream to Mobile Devices
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, August 9, 2010 · ·
Dish Network is preparing to stream live video to subscribers’ mobile devices including iPads, iPhones, BlackBerries and smartphones that use the Android operating system, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Starting in September, iPad, iPhone and BlackBerry users who are Dish subscribers will be able to use the Slingbox from Sling Media, or Dish’s HD DVR with Slingbox functionality. Users also will have access to live programming, and be able to change channels remotely, but they’ll have to watch whatever’s on at home unless they have a second tuner. The service will roll out to Android users in October.
EchoStar, which owns Dish, purchased Sling Media in 2007 for $380 million.
In the race for subscribers, Dish hopes this latest time- and place-shifting application will help it establish a competitive differentiation.
For more, see this AP report.
Sony Developing iPad Rival?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, May 14, 2010 · ·
The big tablet story this week is that Google and Verizon are working on a competitive device to compete with Apple’s iPad that will utilize the Android operating system. But there is also a rumor that Sony may be in the game as well. What isn’t clear is what Sony might use as its operating system.
Sony has been offering a line of electronic ”readers” for some time. Indications are that Sony and its supplier E Ink Corp. are working on improvements to battery life and and wireless conectivity in the readers. They are also thought to be working on the introduction of color to the products.
While a tablet may seem to be the next logical step, Sony is thought to be planning with caution. The competitive market for iPad type devices may already be too crowded.
To iPad or Not to iPad?
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, April 5, 2010 · ·
The much anticipated Apple iPad multimedia device was released this past Saturday and, according to the company, more than 300,000 people purchased the device during the first day of sales, about in line with industry expectations.
The iPad has received middle of the road reviews, with techies lamenting the fact that it does not offer multitasking functionality, support for Adobe Flash, camera or ichat capabilities, an HDMI port, and, unless you go with a pure WiFi model, it’s still dependent upon AT&T’s 3G network. Many analysts also questioned the need or use for the device.
Yesterday I trekked on down to the Apple store and took the gadget for a test run. Read more
Apple Engages in TV-Pricing Talks
Posted by Jesse Ward on Thursday, February 11, 2010 · ·
Apple Inc. is reported to be in discussions with television networks to lower the price of downloaded TV shows available on its iTunes store front. Apple is attempting to beef up its content offerings in advance of the retail launch of its new iPad tablet computer in late March.
The Financial Times broke the story yesterday, followed by a report in the Wall Street Journal. Read more
FCC: iPad May Strain Wireless Networks
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 8, 2010 · ·
Apple’s new iPad has the potential to overwhelm wireless networks when it hits the market later this year, this according to two FCC officials who voiced their concerns in an official blog posting.
Phil Bellaria, director of scenario planning, and John Leibovitz, deputy chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, noted potential network problems surrounding the release of the iPad. The posting compared AT&T’s current capacity crunch to congestion problems AOL experienced in the 1990s when it decided to allow unlimited Internet use. Read more