Apple today unveiled their new Apple TV device, which as rumors had suggested costs $99, tops out playback at 720p and is focused on renting TV episodes for a dollar or new films for five dollars.

There’s no hard drive in this incarnation, with everything streamed via either 802.11n Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity. The unit also comes with Netflix streaming service embedded. As rumors also suggested, broadcasters are still afraid of cannibalizing their traditional TV cash cow, so Apple scrapped a more interesting subscription-based TV service for this fairly standard rental model, which only features content from ABC and Fox.

Great price, great option if you were looking for one that has no internal storage is basically a “rent only” device; however it is not for me.

Link to the original article…

It has been interesting watching Blockbuster video adapt to the broadband age, with the company seemingly not trying very hard, either out of fear of cannibalizing their brick and mortar revenue, or just a general fear of losing control. Early efforts to mirror Netflix’s success at broadband video delivery have seemed relatively lackluster, and the company’s CEO, when announcing such broadband initiatives, seems to almost expect them to fail.

Rumors of an impending bankruptcy have been around for a while, but a Blockbuster filing is now expected in September.

Link to the original article…

HBO hasn’t exactly warmed to the broadband-driven Internet video revolution. Over the years they’ve been accused of poisoning copies of their TV shows available for download via BitTorrent, petitioned the FCC to make DVR recording of subscription video-on demand illegal, and even hinted at possibly suing Slingbox for allowing the re-transmission of their content.

Now as Netflix streaming gains in popularity, HBO Co-President Eric Kessler tells Bloomberg the company has no intention of letting Netflix gain access to HBO content:

“There is value in exclusivity,” Kessler said in an interview. Consumers “are willing to pay a premium for high quality, exclusive content,” he said. HBO’s stand prevents Los Gatos, California-based Netflix from gaining online access to titles from all of the major studios. Netflix members can see films from Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures Entertainment online through a deal between the subscription movie service and Liberty Media Corp.’s Starz channel, which has separate accords with both studios.

While that’s certainly HBO’s right, it’s possible they could stand to make more money collaborating with Netflix than competing with them. HBO’s of course protecting their new broadband-video service HBO Go. HBO Go is only available to customers whose ISP or cable provider have struck an arrangement with the company and right now, only Comcast and Verizon have.

Link to the original article…

Last May leaks emerged that Apple was starting to get serious about their next incarnation of Apple TV which is expected to be a much smaller, simpler broadband-connected device that will cost somewhere around a hundred bucks. Subsequent leaks indicated that the service will be co-launched with a rental service providing TV shows for 99 cents down from the $1.99 Apple charges now for standard-definition programs and the $2.99 it charges for high-definition programs.

Now Engadget has a little more detail, and says the unit won’t be capable of anything higher than 720p. Oh and Apple’s also going to change the name of the unit (which will of course be tied tightly to iTunes and have an app store) from Apple TV to iTV.

Link to the original article…

Televisions, computers, DVD players, VCR players, video game consoles, compact disc players, external hard drives, stereo components, speakers… they all just end up creating a bunch of ugly wires that some people try to stash behind stands, hide under cases or wrap up in cable wraps and it can get downright frustrating. To add to the wire count, imagine wanting to play your downloaded content streamed over to your television or stereo. Seems like Wisair has come to the rescue.

The Wisair Wireless USB Audio/Video Adapter Set — an easy-to-use USB adapter system that allows home and office users to “cut the cord” and wirelessly stream content from their laptop—including pictures, movies, presentations and online media—to any HDTV, projector or monitor without the tangled mess of cords and complicated setup.

Featuring HDMI video/audio support and VGA connectivity with stereo audio support through a 3.5 mm audio jack, the Wisair Wireless USB A/V Adapter Set delivers 32-bit True Color depth and up to 1400×1050 screen resolution for high-quality images. With 48 kHz, 16-bit stereo sound and HD video resolution up to 720p, movies (Blu-ray excluded) and videos look sharp and sound crystal clear for an optimum viewing experience.

Although limited to only 720p and excluding Blu-Ray, invariably due to needed bandwidth, the Wisair Wireless USB Audio/Video dongle system seems to allow for ample room for downloaded music, movies and other streamed media that normally resides on your PC for viewing and enjoyment in your living room setting without the need or use of wires.

By now it should be known that I truly hate wires and avoid them at all costs – this definitely probably warrants further research. I’m not sure about the lack of Blu-ray support – but it still looks interesting nonetheless. Priced from $129 – $149 at various online retailers, the Wisair Wireless USB dongle will hopefully remedy having wires run from your PC to your TV.

[ Links: Wisair ]

Blogger Dave Zatz directs our attention to the fact that Comcast and Blockbuster have teamed up for a venture called DVDs By Mail, which does exactly what its name suggests.

From the looks of things, this appears to be little more than a marketing effort created by Blockbuster aimed at temping Comcast’s 47.7 million customers with slightly reduced rates. The deal certainly falls in line with Blockbuster’s MO: here you have a company that’s teetering on bankruptcy in large part because they’ve failed to adapt to the broadband age, partnering with the nation’s biggest and fastest broadband ISP to use the U.S. Postal Service to deliver movies.

Link to the original article…

Last year it was noted how Netflix was planning to offer stand-alone broadband video streaming in certain unspecified countries, as long as you’re not spelled with the letters U, S and A where Netflix oddly claims there “isn’t a demand” for this kind of service. The mystery country Netflix mentioned last year appears to be Canada where Netflix is launching their broadband streaming service without tying it to DVD rentals (in fact they’re not offering DVD rentals at all). Netflix says the service officially launches this fall:

In addition to representing its inaugural international market, Canada will also mark the first streaming-only service promoted by Netflix. At the time of launch, the Netflix Canadian service will be available in English only, but the company said it expects to add French language capability over time. Canadians interested in Netflix can go to www.netflix.ca and sign up to receive an email from the company when the service launches in Canada this fall.

The press covering this announcement seem to have forgotten Canadian broadband users face some of the most restrictive cap and overage penalties anywhere, with companies like Cogeco and Rogers charging up to $5 per extra gigabyte of usage, despite paying pennies for bandwidth, plummeting hardware costs, and being perfectly profitable under the flat-rate model.

Heavy Netflix HD streaming potentially eats bandwidth like popcorn shrimp, so you can do your own math.

Of course the result will be more timid usage of the new service as an alternative to cable and greater revenues for cable and phone companies… which is exactly why low caps and high overages are imposed in the first place.

Link to the original article…

Netflix recently struck deals with several major Hollywood studios, agreeing to delay new DVD release availability to Netflix subscribers by 30 days in exchange for expanded access to streaming film titles. Now Netflix appears to have struck a deal with independent film producer Relativity Media that will allow them to enter a pay TV window traditionally dominated by HBO, Showtime and Starz. Under the terms of the deal, Netflix gets exclusive rights to distribute Relativity content (of which there isn’t much) instead of premium cable channels. While the companies call it “groundbreaking,” it’s a small win and seems to contribute to growing confusion by consumers as to how, when and where you’ll be able to get films.

Link to the original article…

As if there’s not enough Apple iPhone and Apple iPad accessories already. I mean, there’s cases, luxury cases, totes, docks, cables, camera lens zoom attachments, socks, hats, underwear… ok, maybe that last one isn’t for the actual phone but instead for people instead; however there’s a lot of useless stuff for your Apple products.

But Movie Peg, I do like. I’ve had times while traveling where I didn’t want to hold the phone, needed both of my hands free or wanted to watch a video that I had gotten via iTunes. The rounded back of the Apple iPhone 3GS, or the current flat back of the iPhone 4, doesn’t exactly make for a friendly angle for watching videos. Movie Peg does just that.

Movie Peg comes in movie inspired colors such as: Black Rain, Yellow Submarine, Soylent Green, Blue Velvet, Pretty in Pink and Red Dawn and retails for $7.48. The Apple iPhone 4 version is bound to debut soon for approximately the same price.

[ Links: Movie Peg ]

LaCie has introduced another one of those monolithic looking external hard drive with the “in style” Blue LED and what not. But the LaCie Lacinema Classic HD has HDMI outputs, 1080p playback and a remote control.

The LaCinema Classic HD offers a timeless and sleek design making it a great addition to any TV setup. Providing the widest media format compatibility, LaCinema Classic HD will play all your files without concern – from the most popular DivX format to high-quality MKV H.264 video format via its HDMI 1.3 connection. Uncompromising support for Dolby Digital audio quality enhances the LaCinema Classic HD, as well as your entertainment viewing experience.

The LaCinema Classic HD keeps it easy – use it as an external hard drive to load media from your Mac or PC. Then, simply connect the LaCinema Classic HD to your HDTV for instant playback.

Acting as a DLNA media player, LaCinema Classic HD can conveniently play movies, music, and photos from your computer or network storage. LaCinema Classic HD even offers network access to easily transfer files from your Mac and PC, while keeping it connected to the TV.

Drool. Do want. Comes with a 1TB drive and will cost $249.99 when it comes out shortly at your typical LaCie resellers.

[ LaCie ] [ LaCinema Classic HD ]

mSpot already offers the ability to find song lyrics and download ringtones of popular music; they’ve now added the ability to view movie rentals through their website for $4.99 for each movie with no application needed. Point your browser to http://m.mspot.com and go from there with no application download necessary.

mSpot’s Mobile Movies are available on over 30 different cell phone models, including the iPhone, smartphones and some high-end feature phones, and across all major carriers. In the coming months, the service will be available on over a hundred different phone models.

“The launch of Mobile Movies makes mSpot the first company to give movie lovers what they want, when they want it,” said mSpot CEO Daren Tsui, whose favorite movies include “Mission Impossible” and “Airplane!” “Whether you’re lounging on the beach, taking the train, or just relaxing at home, we’re making movies instantly accessible to consumers everywhere.”

mSpot has inked partnerships with major studios, including Paramount Studios and Universal Studios Home Entertainment, giving mSpot customers direct access to the movies they love the most. Soon, mSpot expects to announce additional studio partnerships, giving its fans access to thousands of movies across over a hundred different mobile phones.

And before you ask, yes it does support the iPhone too. Thanks to Margaret for the tip!

[ mSpot ]

After Megatron, there was no greater villain than Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, or just plain old Destro. He had a metal mask that somehow moved, had the Baroness on friggin’ lock down and despite being Scottish in origin, had a baritone voice fitting of a Barry White’s long-lost third cousin and was an arms dealer that had access to some of the most harmful pieces of weaponry on the planet. And was basically on his own side at all times.

And somehow… this upcoming GI Joe movie puts the old Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston as Destro. I won’t even start to rant about their choice for Cobra Commander – who I never really liked in the cartoons.

You could have made Destro the villain I always saw him to be. But… no. I am not looking forward to this movie.