YouTube comes to Sky’s Now TV box
Sky’s done a reasonable job of bringing new channels to its Now TV set-top box, especially given the rebranded Roku is just a vehicle for selling short-term entertainment and sports passes to the contract-adverse. Today, that £10 box gets a little bit more useful, with the addition of an official YouTube app to the Now TV channel store. Sky can take credit for giving it the green light, but its arrival is no big surprise when the channel launched across the entire Roku range a few months ago (after being exclusive to the Roku 3 for a time). It’s been possible to watch YouTube content on the Now TV box through third-party channels such as Plex, but the official app has a much better interface for searching and browsing. Unfortunately, it’s slow to navigate to the point of frustration, but if you want to catch a quick fail compilation while the kettle’s boiling, it’ll do the trick.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Sky
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Latest Apple television rumors: not this year
Despite years of rumors about what Apple might, could or should do to revolutionize the TV experience, the company hasn’t done much beyond releasing (and occasionally updating) its Apple TV set-top box. The Information reports that engineers working on the long-rumored project to go further, have been told not to expect a launch this year, and are targeting 2015. If true, the leaks today reflect mostly the same situation as they did about two years ago, with Apple trying to talk cable operators and studios into a sort of joint operation. That way, viewers could watch live TV or cloud-stored recordings / VOD (plus apps and gaming) all through Apple’s box and UI. Of course, working out how everyone will get paid and trying to convince operators like Comcast to give up their hold on the (often troubling) relationship with customers hasn’t been easy and the usual “people in the know” say those negotiations are to blame for the slow progress.
Source: The Information
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Revamped Apple TV Debut Likely Delayed Until 2015 Due to Negotiation Difficulties
For several months now, rumors have continually suggested Apple is working on a revamped Apple TV, which may include capabilities like support for games and apps and expanded access to television content.
Every rumored release date has come and gone thus far, and according to a new report from The Information, an updated Apple TV is not likely to appear until 2015.
A source that spoke to The Information has suggested that Apple engineers who are working on the device have been informed that the product will not launch in 2014, largely due to ongoing contractual issues with cable companies and Comcast’s pending purchase of Time Warner Cable.
Apple engineers who are working on aspects of the device have been told by their bosses not to expect a launch this year and are working off timelines that assume a launch next year, according to a person familiar with the plans. Apple employees have cited cable companies “dragging their heels” and the pending Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger as reasons the device and accompanying TV service haven’t launched.
Conversely, sources in the television industry have denied that cable companies are behind the delay, suggesting Apple has “bit off more than it can chew,” and needs permission from many different rights holders to “create the service it wants to offer.”
Over the years, various rumors have pointed towards very ambitious plans for the Apple TV, suggesting Apple once aimed to create a subscription television service that would potentially replace cable packages. Due to a continual inability to negotiate a deal with cable companies, Apple is said to have scaled back on its television ambitions, aiming to work with cable companies rather than against them.
The most recent content rumors from February of 2014 have suggested Apple is working to wedge itself between cable companies and consumers, potentially providing content from cable companies through its set-top box, overlaid with an Apple TV-style interface. Apple is also seeking to add DVR capabilities to the service.
In 2013, Apple was said to be close to completing a deal with Time Warner Cable over a possible TWC Apple TV app, allowing Time Warner subscribers to watch live television through the Apple TV, but the negotiations may have stalled due to the pending Time Warner-Comcast merger.
Earlier this year, a product roadmap from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo pointed towards a Q3 2014 launch date for the redesigned Apple TV, but based on The Information‘s new data, it seems any potential launch plans have now been pushed back.
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Verizon’s FiOS Xbox apps now let you watch ‘The Walking Dead,’ er, live
Verizon’s FiOS app has been leading the way on the Xbox One live-TV front, and now it’s getting a handful more channels in its stable. If you’re a subscriber, you now have access to the likes of AMC HD, Showtime, Encore, Bloomberg TV and ten others. As Verizon tells it, this brings the total channel count to 88 across both the Xbox 360 and its younger brother, the Xbox One. Whether you’re going to use them to keep up with the exploits of the Ricktatorship or Homeland, however, is up to you.
var bc_params = “api”:”hybrid”,”playerId”:”83327935001″,”playerKey”:”AQ~~,AAAAAAuyCbQ~,-gfAmfm8njJ8S-9E4q2UfzG931rvkxuP”;
brightcove.createExperiences();
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Verizon
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LG’s 105-inch 4K TV is here, if you can afford it
Sure, Samsung just launched its 105-inch ultrawidescreen, Ultra HD TV, but if spending $120,000 on such a screen is probably out of reach there may be a solution. For the the budget minded-consumer, we’d recommend taking a look at LG’s 105-inch 4K (they call it 5K, because of the expanded number of pixels horiontally) set. Beyond coming with an integrated speaker (value!), if we’re reading this machine-translated Korean press release correctly, in Korea it’s priced at 120 million won, or about $117,000 and will start shipping in just a few days. That way, you can buy one of these and a nice 65-inch TV for your kids instead of that college education they wanted. During CES we’d heard that the MSRP would be around $70,000 US so we’re still hoping for even more savings on this side of the Pacific — of course, as much as we like high-res TVs we’re not sure any of them are worth two Teslas.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG
Source: LG
Spotify comes to (a few) Vizio smart TVs
Despite the popularity of its music service, Spotify’s presence on connected TV platforms is still spotty. It’s on Apple TV via AirPlay, Roku, LG and Samsung, but not Xbox, PlayStation or Chromecast (officially). We can add on one more today, as Vizio says it’s coming to their VIA Plus enabled TVs. The only bad news? That list is currently limited to just a few models consisting of the 2014 E- and M-series TVs, and you’ll need Spotify Premium to tune in. If you don’t have Spotify Premium you can try it free for 48 hours — check out some favorites from our editors if you need musical suggestions.
Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Vizio Blog
Now TV arrives on the PlayStation 4 today, Xbox One in the coming weeks
A couple of months back, Sky revealed that it was working on bringing Now TV to Sony and Microsoft’s next-gen consoles. Today, it finally started that rollout with the PlayStation 4, ensuring Sony fans have all of their bases covered in the process. Although the Xbox One app is still in development, the broadcaster notes that it will become available in the coming weeks. Neither the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One require a subscription to access the Now TV app, meaning you’ll only need to put money down for Sky’s movie, entertainment or sports packages to get streaming.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Denon unveils its first receivers with extra-immersive Dolby Atmos sound
If you’re wondering just when you can envelop yourself in Dolby Atmos sound at home, Denon is more than happy to tell you. The home theater firm says it will launch two Atmos-equipped AV receivers, the X4100W and X5200W, in the US this October. Neither will be cheap, as the bleeding-edge tech implies. For $1,399, the X4100W delivers Dolby’s all-encompassing audio in up to a 7.1.2-channel setup (seven regular speakers, one subwoofer, two overhead); splurge on the $1,999 X5200W and you can add two extra speakers to the mix, whether they’re on the ground or the ceiling. Either will bring the media support you’d expect for that kind of outlay, including 4K video processing and media sharing over AirPlay or DLNA. That’s a lot of cash to shell out to add an extra dimension to your surround sound, but Denon is undoubtedly targeting very high-end living room setups — if you didn’t flinch at buying an expensive 4K TV, these receivers are for you.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Denon
Apple TV now auto-plays the next episode of whatever you’re watching on Netflix
When you start chugging a series, it’s hard to stop, even for trips to the bathroom, or going to work, or catching up on sleep. It’s a problem that Netflix loves to exploit, only giving you a few seconds before offering up the next episode of whatever series you’re currently immersed in. For some reason, however, this post-play feature didn’t work on the Apple TV, until it suddenly did a few days ago, without warning. The Roku-rival has even popped up on Netflix’s list of supported devices, so never again will you have the option of stopping House of Cards after a single episode. Well, unless you disable it, of course.
Via: Cult of Mac
Source: Netflix
Samsung’s curved, 105-inch 4K TV can be yours for just $129,000
There were so many TVs on display back at CES, that you’d be forgiven if they all blended together. So allow us to give you a recap: The Samsung UN105S9W was, in the company’s own words, the “world’s first, largest and most curved 105-inch curved UHD TV.” Well then! Sounds like an expensive piece of kit, huh? You have no idea. Sammy just put its flagship TV up for pre-order and it’s kind of a doozy. The whole thing costs $129,000 — also known as, a mortgage. For the money, you get 5,120 x 2,160 resolution on an unusually large screen, with an unusually wide aspect ratio of 21:9. Additionally, you’ll receive a visit from one of Samsung’s “Field Engineers” to walk you through all the features, if that’s any consolation. It’s also a Smart TV, with all the usual built-in apps, and the ability to separate the screen into four quadrants for watching live TV and surfing the web at once. Honestly, though, we’d be offended if a TV this expensive didn’t do that. You can pre-order now if you like, but let’s be real: Most of you are probably saving $129,000 for your future child’s college tuition.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung
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