Showtime Following the Streaming Trend and will Offer Internet Only Subscriptions Next Year
The cord cutters across the US have apparently done a great job at proving to the media moguls that it is time to start changing how they deliver their content. Over the last few weeks we have seen CBS push out a subscription based service online, and sub-sequentially through their Android app, to give consumers the ability to get their content directly for a monthly fee. Just before that we heard from HBO that they will be breaking the mold of being a Cable only offering and bring a streaming subscription to consumers in 2015. Now Showtime is jumping on the bandwagon so they don’t miss-out on potential revenue from the cord cutters.
CBS chief executive officer Leslie Moonves said that a standalone access option for Showtime’s programming is coming in 2015 “fairly definitively.” Which means that is what he wants to do, he believes they can do it, but they have some things to work out and it might take some time.
There’s many millions of people out there on college campuses, the cord-nevers, the cord-cutters … and there are 10 million broadband-only consumers out there, and we expect to be able to get those people and reach those people,” Moonves said, according to a transcript on investing site Seeking Alpha. “We could say fairly definitively, sometime in ’15, there will be some service from Showtime.”
Showtime already has the Showtime Anytime app available in the Play Store that streams content, so long as you pay for the channel on your current accepted TV provider. It would really come down to the contracts they have for the premium package channel with the various cable and satellite networks.
I see all of his as the first step in a bigger picture move. Once the premium channels migrate, and offer, their content as a package to your TV through a provider and direct to customers via streaming then there will need to be a bigger move in the industry. A fully streaming accessible anywhere package that you can pick and choose with varying payment methods. I would have no qualms about picking a few core channels and premium channels that can be accessed through a single app login on a monthly payment option that is less than current packages pipped in to your home over cable or satellite.
What do you all think? Are these media moguls finally seeing that cord cutters aren’t just an elite trendy few that they can afford to ignore any longer?
Source: USA Today
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Microsoft debuts Office for Android with Tablet Preview
Back in March, Microsoft released Office for the iPad, but it required a subscription to Office 365. Unfortunately at the time, there wasn’t a version of Office available for Android tablets, but as of today, that’s no longer the case. Along with releasing iPhone apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Microsoft has also announced a preview of Office for Android.
The best part about all of this is the fact that you don’t need an Office 365 subscription anymore, meaning that you can use the suite of Office Mobile apps, for free. Now if you want to take advantage of Dropbox integration, then you will still need to subscribe to Office 365, but if you’re okay without it, then feel free to jump on board.
If you want to get the Office for Android tablet preview, then just head over to Microsoft’s form found here, and fill out the necessary information. After completed, you should receive an invite in the next week or two. One thing that Microsoft would like everyone to note, if your device is expected to be updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop, please do not install the Office preview. It’s not known whether the Office preview will work, but if you are going to be using the preview, just keep compatibility in mind.
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Pushbullet updated to send SMS messages from your computer
Pushbullet has a lot of great functionality that allows you to view and reply to notifications from your computer without touching your phone. Up until now, you could only reply to SMS messages sent to you through Pushbullet. With an update yesterday, this has changed.
Now you can start SMS messages from your computer with Pushbullet
With this update, you can now start a SMS message from your computer to send to someone. As long as you have the app installed and the browser extension, you can head to the “SMS” tab and get going. Auto-complete for contacts is available, but if you don’t like that you can change this under the settings.
Currently this is only available on Chrome, but it is making its way onto Firefox and Opera.
If you don’t currently have the app and want to try it, hit the widget below.
Do you like this update?
via Android Police
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Motorola now offering Nexus 6 on their website
Yesterday we reported on the fact that the Nexus 6 is quite popular as it keeps selling out, however Google is planning on replenishing their supply every Wednesday. Well, Motorola is wanting to help out with their site.
Do not pass go, do not collect $200. In fact, spend it on the Nexus 6 on motorola.com
Right now you can go to this page on Motorola’s site and pick up a Nexus 6. There’s no telling how long this will last, so it’d be in your best interest to head over to the page if you want one.
The Nexus 6 starts at $649 for a 32GB version, and comes with Google’s latest version of Android, Android Lollipop.
At any point if you want to see if the Nexus 6 is available, click the widget below that says “Is the Nexus 6 available?” and it’ll take you to a page that tells you the answer.
Why are you still reading this? GO!
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U2’s Bono on Collaborating With Apple: ‘They Let Us Into the Labs’
With the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple announced a partnership with U2 that saw the band’s latest album distributed to iTunes users for free. In interviews following the launch of the album, U2’s manager suggested Apple and U2 had formed a “long-term” relationship that would see them collaborating on additional projects, and now U2 frontman Bono has shed a bit more light on the partnership.
At the Web Summit in Dublin that VentureBeat attended, Bono told the audience that Apple “let us into the labs,” suggesting the band’s been able to work with Apple on unreleased products and services. Bono went on to share a story about an interaction with Steve Jobs that hints at what U2 and Apple might be doing.
Image via Chris O’Brien of VentureBeat
To illustrate the kind of concepts U2 and Apple might be exploring, Bono told the story of being in a house in France with Steve Jobs a decade ago. Bono looked at a version of iTunes being displayed on a TV screen and asked Jobs if he liked design so much, then “why does that look like a spreadsheet?”
Bono said he had wondered why the album covers displayed on iTunes weren’t interactive or why they didn’t display archival photos, lyrics, or 3-D versions of band members: anything that would make for a more engaging visual experience with fans to complement the music.
Jobs replied that the operating system and the technology didn’t quite exist yet for such an experience.
“But it does now,” Bono said.
Over the course of the last few years, Apple has been facing declining music downloads, which has led the company to launch iTunes Radio and purchase streaming music service Beats Music. There are rumors suggesting Apple is planning both a dramatic overhaul of iTunes and a rebranding of Beats Music, possibly merging the two into one all-inclusive service, and it’s possible U2 is offering advice on new iTunes features.
Apple has also been aiming to get artists more involved in the music distribution process. In a recent interview, Apple employees and Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine said Apple’s goal was to bring together the people who create art with those who distribute it, which has been evidenced in the company’s recent endeavors with U2.
In addition to his comments on what the band might be working on with Apple, Bono told the audience that U2 “wanted to work with the creative people at Apple, and that Jony Ive is a guy he’d “like to be in a band with. He’d be like a bigger Edge.” He also commented on the negative reaction that the “Songs of Innocence” album garnered from some users, which he apologized for in October, saying “We got a lot of people who weren’t interested in U2 to be mad at U2. I would call that an improvement in the relationship.”
Sony has AOSP Android Lollipop Running on Xperia Z1, Z2 and Z3 [Video]
Everyone is eagerly awaiting their device manufacturer, and corresponding carriers, to start pushing out updates to the latest Android OS version, Lollipop. While we all know in our hearts that the first set of updates for devices beyond the Nexus line aren’t likely to begin rolling out for another month or two, we are all still eager to see and hear about progress for our specific devices. A blog post that went up today on the Sony Mobile Blog shows owners of the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z3 some hope. Not that Sony didn’t already announce that Android 5.0 would be coming to those devices starting early in 2015.
It is all still very early and is just straight AOSP Android, meaning Sony hasn’t put in all their software and specialty apps yet. It is sure pretty looking though.
A secondary post was published to the Sony Developer blog as well that lets developers, and tinkerers alike, know that they are working hard to bring the binaries for unlocked Xperia devices to use as a base for compiling your own AOSP ROM from the AOSP source code. They also already have the device configurations ready for the Xperia Z1 and Z2 with the Z3 on the way.
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Motorola Announces more choices for the Moto 360 with new metals, interchangeable bands and More
Not that long ago a set of details made their way out that Motorola had some new Moto 360 offerings on the way. Today the company makes the news official by announcing new metals, new interchangeable bands, and enhanced user experiences.
First up is the new metal band offerings. The new option gives you the choice of the light or dark band that is made from aircraft-grade stainless steel with a tri-link design. The new metal band attached Moto 360 will set you back $299 in either color. Motorola will also be offering a new slim band line that will be available in holidays in Light Metal and Champagne Gold. The Champagne Gold will be slightly more expensive at $329. The slim bands are 18MM where as the new standard meta bands are 23mm.
If you already have a Moto 360, then you won’t need the whole watch. Motorola will soon be offering interchangeable stone, black and cognac leather bands for individual purchase along with the light and dark metal offerings above. They have also partnered with DODOCase who will bring a stitched leather band in 4 colors as well as a set of colorful silicone bands headed out from TYLT.
Beyond physical hardware additions, there will be an update to the Moto Connect app coming shortly as well. The update will bring in the watchface design face-off winner, David Pascual, watchface to your device (pictured above). It will also bring a slew of new watchfaces to pick from and the ability to create your own in the new My Design watch face options. You can customize everything from the background image to the style of tick marks and watch hands.
Also in the Moto Connect update there will be a new Moto Body experience that will track your steps, distance, heart rate and calories. Based on the data collected the app will provide new goals for you to help keep you motivated all day, everyday.
The new metal band offerings are currently available on Motorola.com for purchase today in the light or dark color offerings. the two slim bands in light or champagne are labeled as ‘coming soon’. No specifics on the individual band options if you already have a Moto 360. I assume they will be announced as the become available. With the message being geared toward holiday shoppers, they should start showing up pretty soon.
Via Motorola
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No root needed for screen recordings in Android Lollipop
Google debuted the ability to record your screen in Android 4.4 KitKat, but it was more for developers in that you needed to use ADB to control it. There were also other third party apps that made it easier, but you needed to root. Now with Android 5.0 Lollipop, you can record any app as long as the developer utilizes the new API for android.media.projection.
The API lets you capture anything but secure content or audio. Users will also have to give consent for recording through a popup.
The downside to all of this is that you can’t just record anything you want. The developer has to implement the API in their app(s). You will be lucky to find more than a few apps in the Play Store now, and the question is how eager will developers be to get this API up and running?
source: Android 5.0 APIs
via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: No root needed for screen recordings in Android Lollipop
LG working on a G Flex Mini
The LG G Flex was a decent phone, but my biggest complaint was the size. I know the Nexus has a 6-inch display as well, but the curved display on the G Flex made it more awkward. Now it appears LG might be preparing a mini version of it.
This news comes from Dawn Lily of the Israeli technology site, Ynet. She recently visited LG in Korea for a tour and saw the device. Unfortunately we don’t know when or if ever LG will release the G Flex Mini. I could very well be something we see at CES in January or Mobile World Congress in February.
What do you guys think? Would you buy a smaller version of the G Flex?
Come comment on this article: LG working on a G Flex Mini
Engadget Expand starts tomorrow: Prepare yourselves, people!
Yes, we know…we have repeatedly bombarded you with info about Expand. To recap, it’s our FREE event showcasing the future of technology happening tomorrow and Saturday in New York City. Whether you join us in person at the Javits Center, vicariously through live streaming video online, or even by beaming in, we hope you’re as excited as we are to get the show started! Here’s a quick rundown of all you need to know before it does.
Before you get to the Javits Center, you’ll want to have the schedule of events handy, which tells you who’s speaking and when, and has info about the workshops, our Insert Coin competitors and more. (We recommend bookmarking the schedule and adding it to your smartphone’s home screen for easy access.)
We’re bringing in some of the most influential folks and brightest minds in science and technology, not to mention musician and producer RJD2 and four-time Olympic medalist Angela Ruggiero. They’ll be chatting with our esteemed Engadget editors about the tech topics that matter. We’ll also be live streaming everything happening on stage via engadget.com.
We’re excited to have a host of great sponsors exhibiting on the show floor, showing off their latest gear, too. See what Toyota’s new rides look like, get your hands on Huawei’s burgeoning line of smartphones, eat Dovetailed’s 3D-printed fruit and more. Also, be sure to check out our schedule for the list of workshops we’re doing, too.
We’ve told you all about our Insert Coin competition and hopefully you’ve met our 10 semi-finalists, all of which will be competing for glory as our Judges’ Choice, Readers’ Choice winners or both (all told, there’s $25,000 at stake for these folks!) Come watch them show off what they’re working on throughout the weekend.
Of course, you should follow us on Twitter at @Engadget and also @EngadgetEvents, the latter of which will be the place to find out about #ExpandNY contests and giveaways. And, you’ll want to use that same hashtag to talk about it on all the social media platforms you adore. Finally, as we’ve mentioned more times than we can count, tickets are absolutely free, so be sure to get yours right here!
AIVAnet 