You’ve selected Mad Men? Moviefone redesign tacks on TV listings
Earlier this year, AOL shuttered Moviefone’s call-in directory service. The brand lives on though, and today it outed a new look, with a retooled web site and mobile apps in tow. Chief amongst the changes? The addition of TV. Now, episode listings, cast info, curated Watch Lists and other details are baked in alongside a handy list of viewing options — if you’re itching to stream a selection right this second. There’s an emphasis on search, too. A query box now appears at the top of every page you’ll swipe or click to, and the results now include those Watch Lists — allowing for theme- or occasion-based title hunting. Moviefone has also ditched its iconic red paint scheme for blue as a part of the UI makeover. What’s more, the outfit is looking for a new voice, so if you’ve ever wanted to follow in Kramer’s footsteps, now could be you chance to do so. Perhaps now the only thing left to do is to come up with more accurate name for the service. “Videofone” gets our vote.
Filed under: Software, HD, Mobile
Via: Recode
Source: Moviefone
Variety: Microsoft finds a co-op partner in Showtime for Halo TV series
It’s been almost a year since Microsoft first announced its live-action Halo TV series, but the amount we know about it hasn’t exactly changed that much. That stops now, as we’ve learned that Redmond and premium network Showtime are deep in talks to tag-team distribution, according to a recent Variety report. Apparently, the program is scheduled to debut first on the cable channel and then become available on the Xbox platform with “enhanced interactivity” of some sort. A deal with a pair of showrunners is also close to being locked, as Variety tells it, which indicates that at least some progress has been made toward moving into production. With this not surfacing during Microsoft’s original-programming focused event earlier this week, though, it’s possible that we could hear new details (or maybe even see some video evidence) of the Spielberg-produced drama come E3.
Filed under: Cameras, Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Source: Variety
Play nearly any video on your Chromecast using this browser add-on
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Software, HD, Google
Via: Lifehacker
Source: Chrome Web Store, Videostream
No Revamped Apple TV or iWatch Expected at WWDC
Apple does not have plans to use the company’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference to debut new Apple TV hardware, its related software, or the iWatch, reports John Paczkowski of Re/code.
Citing sources familiar with Apple’s plans, Paczkowski confirms that Apple’s big announcements will focus on OS X 10.10, iOS 8, and possibly Healthbook, an app Apple is said to be developing to aggregate fitness and health information.
An Apple TV concept via Curved
Sources familiar with Apple’s plans tell Code/red that Tim Cook will not use WWDC to unveil Apple’s mythical wearable device. Nor will he use it to show off a new Apple TV, or even preview the new software the company is developing for it. Which makes perfect sense, really. There’s little point in Apple unveiling a new OS in advance of a significant hardware update.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts on June 2, has historically been used as a platform for unveiling new operating system software. Apple has, however, occasionally debuted new hardware at the event, including new MacBook Airs in 2013 and the Retina Macbook Pro in 2012.
Though the company does not have plans to unveil an updated Apple TV set-top box at WWDC, the product is said to be in the works. The revamped box is rumored to include an App Store, gaming support, iOS 7 controller integration, and possibly new content deals.
Apple may have had plans to debut the box earlier in 2014, but according to a recent product roadmap from often reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, we may not see an updated Apple TV until the third quarter of 2014.
As for the iWatch, which also remains in development, a late 2014 release date is expected.
LG is making a webOS TV range just for John Lewis stores
John Lewis is a big fan of cornering retail exclusives on gadgets, and it now appears that this love is extending to smart TVs. Pocket-lint has noticed that the department store chain is teasing the JL9000 series, a line of self-branded, LG-designed webOS TVs that should be more than just a rehashes of the sets we saw at CES this year. The 49-, 55- and 60-inch models will all include stands with built-in 2.1-channel soundbars, giving you decent (if likely unremarkable) audio out of the box. There’s also promises of support for local streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Now TV, although we’d frankly be surprised if these didn’t appear on a UK-specific set.
The catalogue only promises that the JL9000 range will be available “next month,” so it’s not clear exactly when you’ll get to swing by the local shop for a look. However, these models will certainly be pricier than garden variety webOS sets. The 49-inch variant will start things off at £1,499, while the 55- and 60-inch editions will respectively cost £1,899 and £2,299 — apparently, those speakers command quite a premium.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG
Comcast will give up 3.9 million customers to clinch its TWC merger
Comcast said it would be willing to shed customers to secure its buyout of Time Warner Cable, and today it’s backing up those words with (tentative) deeds. The media behemoth has reached a deal that will see it offload 3.9 million subscribers if the merger goes through. About 1.4 million of those would go to Charter; the remaining 2.5 million will go to a spin-off company where Charter will have a one-third stake. The move should keep Comcast under 30 percent of the TV market and make Charter the second-largest cable provider in the US. In theory, that’s good news for those worried that Comcast would carry too much industry clout if it gets TWC under its belt.
However, this all assumes that regulators approve the acquisition in the first place — and the deal doesn’t address larger competitive issues. Public advocacy groups and internet media providers like Netflix still believe that a post-merger Comcast would have too much say over what products succeed in the marketplace, letting it restrict services that compete with its own offerings. Without answers to these concerns, the company may not be much closer to completing its takeover.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Comcast
Hulu attempts to block international viewers using VPNs
The blockade isn’t absolute. Hulu is currently checking only for specific internet addresses and not the actual presence of a VPN; if you’re on a dedicated VPN address or use a smaller provider, there’s a possibility that you’ll get around the new limitation. However, that still leaves you in a bind if you’re an American relying on a VPN to protect your privacy. If you want to keep watching, you’ll likely have to shell out for that dedicated address or else expose your internet traffic every time you catch up on Parks & Recreation. VPN companies like Private Internet Access are talking to Hulu about a solution, but we wouldn’t count on one. Shared VPNs by their nature make it hard to identify where someone lives, so Hulu may have to give up some legitimate US customers if it wants to restrict outsiders.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: TorrentFreak
Dish reportedly launching internet TV service this summer
How do you fight cord-cutters? Offer an internet streaming service with all of cable TV’s best content. It sounds like a bit of a stretch, but it could be happening: the distribution deal that settled Disney and Dish’s ad-skipping dispute also gave the TV-provider the rights to stream Disney-owned channels over the internet. Sources close to Bloomberg are now saying that Dish is hoping to launch the service before the end of the summer.
According to Bloomberg, Dish is currently in talks with CBS, NBCUniversal and other major content providers to create a package it can sell to a younger audience — 18 to 34 year olds who aren’t willing to pay cable prices for cable content. Sources familiar with the talks say that several larger networks are holding out until Dish can can promise that at least two major networks will be on board. It’s a challenge, but doable: Dish’s deal with Disney already gives it access to ABC, the Disney Channel and content from ESPN. The company has reportedly made strong progress securing the rights to broadcast NBC channels too, which could add the USA network, Bravo or E! to the internet-package. We’ve reached out to Dish for more information, but don’t get too excited: the company already declined to comment to Bloomberg writers.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Bloomberg
AT&T wants to power the next big video streaming service
AT&T has a new way to take on TV-threatening internet video services like Netflix: it’s going to offer a few services of its own. The telecom is teaming up with the Chernin Group — previously a bidder in the Hulu sweepstakes — to start a venture that will “acquire, invest in and launch” both online video platforms and on-demand TV channels. While the two companies aren’t saying much about their plans, they’re already willing to pledge over $500 million to the project and fund providers whether they’re ad-supported or subscription-based.
The motives are fairly transparent — the two firms see a chance to profit from viewers’ demand for video “how and when they want it.” They may have the skills to compete, too. AT&T is counting on its experiences with both networking and TV to give it an edge, while the Chernin Group touts its control of the anime-focused Crunchyroll video service as an advantage. It’s too soon to know whether these credentials are enough to give existing streaming offerings a run for their money, but the move should at least give AT&T a direct answer to Verizon’s Redbox partnership.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, AT&T
Via: GigaOM
Source: AT&T
HBO renews ‘Silicon Valley’ three episodes in
If you’ve been enjoying Mike Judge’s (King of the Hill, Office Space) take on Silicon Valley, you aren’t alone. After just three episodes, HBO has ordered a second season of the eponymous show. What’s more, the outfit has also cleared a fourth term… err, season, of the political comedy Veep. Both have apparently done better in terms of viewership than the sadly ill-fated Hello Ladies, which is especially good news for Judge’s satirical look at the NorCal tech corridor. Say what you will about being hasty, but it’s pretty awesome to see the premium-TV outfit keep rewarding its viewers’ favorite shows –regardless of whether or not they knock HBO Go offline. Now, if we could just get a True Detective season two announcement, all would be right with the world.
.@HBO renews @VeepHBO for a fourth season and #SiliconValleyHBO for a second season: http://t.co/26FYqzDwTo
– HBO PR (@HBOPR) April 21, 2014
[Image credit: HBO/Jaimie Trueblood]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: HBO (PDF), HBO PR (Twitter)
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