At the end of this month, the agreement for Starz supplied content on Netflix Instant video streaming expires. Last year, Netflix and Starz were not able to negotiate an extension to keep Starz original series and movies on Netflix streaming. That means that just over 840 movies that are currently on Netflix streaming will no longer...
While it was initially announced in March 2011, customers have been dutifully waiting for HBO to release its popular HBO GO app for Samsung connected devices including its Smart TVs and Blu-ray players. Samsung announced the availability of HBO GO on select models of its Smart TVs via its Google+ page this evening. The app first...
Is the Apple TV, the little black hockey puck, not the full sized mythical HDTV, ready for a refresh? 9to5 Mac is reporting that some authorized Apple retailers such as Target, Amazon and Walmart have run out of inventory. Since the 9to5 Mac article was posted, Amazon has removed the 2 to 5 week lead...
Onkyo just announced a refreshed home theater receiver line-up as well as updates to their well-regarded home theater-in-a-box systems. The top two receiver models, the TX-NR616 and the TX-NR515 add a number of new features including InstaPreview and Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) support. For connectivity, both models add two additional HDMI inputs for a total...
As you read through all of the coverage of the mythical Apple HDTV (or iTV), a lot of it focuses on the nuances but no one seems to know what the product is actually going to do or why we would want to buy it. What would an Apple TV’s differentiators be? Will it...
While in the works for some time, the FCC’s proposed change to encrypt all cable service is getting some attention again. Boxee recently posted a strongly worded note asserting that the encryption rule is anti-consumer. Given all this, I thought it was appropriate to share a cautionary tale about the CableCARD standard and how it’s...
Today, Verizon and Redbox (Coinstar) announced a new joint venture to be a potential one stop shop for video needs of consumers. The service will include Redbox’s current Kiosks which rent DVDs, Blu-rays and video games as well as a streaming video catalog from Verizon. The to-be-named service (I like Red Verizon) is supposed...
Are you happy with the Roku you received this Christmas? Everyone I recommended a Roku to this past holiday has been happy with it. They all love the easy set up and that they can access lots of content from Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO GO and Amazon Instant Video. It’s my go-to box for...
Yep, still got some CES news to share. For me, like many folks, my home theater system resides in the living room, given I don’t have a dedicated room for it. To peacefully co-exist in the living room, most folks don’t have monster speakers but something on the smaller side. While some simply opt...
Wired’s Tim Carmody provided a thoughtful analysis of how Amazon Instant Video could overtake Netflix as well as iTunes in the streaming video area. Carmody makes a strong argument about Amazon’s value proposition as a one stop shop for video with it’s all-you-can-watch Prime video streaming, on-line rentals and purchases as well as its...
Experiencing significant subscriber loss in 2011 after announcing a price increase and the splitting of the service into DVD and streaming plans, Netflix bounced back as it reported its Q4 2011 financials. In addition to beating the expected financial results, Netflix reported in its letter to invenstors that it had positive subscriber growth for its...
2012 CES Coverage