Tag Archives | Internet TV

Roku Launches New Netflix, More

Posted by Harry McCracken on May 27, 2010 at 10:00 am

As I’ve chatted with various folks about Google TV over the past week, one question has come up repeatedly: What does this mean for Roku? The inexpensive little box is currently one of the simplest, most effective ways to get Internet video onto an HDTV, and I’ve never met anyone who owned one who wasn’t a fan. Products based on Google TV won’t be carbon copies of Roku boxes by any means, but they’ll surely compete with them.

The good news is that Roku’s player has a solid track record of getting better over time. Earlier this month, the company announced a major makeover of its Netflix channel, and plans to begin to push this update out to Roku owners this Friday.

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Yes, Virginia, Hulu Hates You

Posted by Dave Z on May 21, 2010 at 9:34 am

OK, so maybe we can’t ascribe hatred to Hulu, an emotionless corporate entity and online pawn of the studio system. Let’s just say Hulu exhibits something akin to disrespect or disdain and clearly calls the shots as they reach into our homes and devices to decide what web browsing technologies are permissible. They talk about content licensing challenges, and I bet that is the primary factor driving their behavior. However, as content consumers, most of us don’t care on a conceptual level. All we know is that Hulu blocks select, legit Web browsing software and hardware from accessing their website. Which makes this a net neutrality issue.

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Logitech's Google TV Box: Google, Intel, and Harmony Inside

Posted by Harry McCracken on May 20, 2010 at 12:17 pm

This morning’s unveiling of Google TV was so dense with stuff that needed to be explained that we didn’t hear much about Logitech’s Google TV “companion” box other than that there’d be one, and it’ll ship this fall. But I visited with Logitech after the keynote and got a few more details.

  • This isn’t a replacement for your cable box with a tuner and CableCard slots, or anything else  too fancy, technically speaking–it’s a black gadget about the size of a thin hardcover book with HDMI in (for your cable connection) and HDMI out (for your TV). There’s also a SPDIF connector, two ports for IR blasters, a couple of USB ports for accessories such as game controllers, Wi-Fi, and an Intel Atom CPU and related electronics. That’s about it. The big benefit here: It’ll work with any entertainment setup you’ve got, as long as you have an HDTV.
  • The box incorporates Logitech’s Harmony software, which powers the company’s popular universal remotes. You’ll be able to use an existing Harmony remote, an iPhone or Android app, or future Logitech remotes (including one with a touchpad and QWERTY keyboard) to control the box and all your other living-room devices, such as the TV itself or an AV receiver (the quick demo I got even included the iPhone app controlling a TiVo). The Harmony angle helps to explain why Logitech–a company synonymous with accessories–is making a set-top box.
  • The fact the remote will be able to control a TiVo doesn’t mean there’s Google TV-TiVo integration that would let you find a show using Google TV and then record it on the TiVo. Dish’s DVR is the only one which will allow that.
  • The box won’t come with a controller–you’ll choose one separately, or use one of the smartphone apps. (Correction: I misunderstood. It will come with a remote, but you’ll be able to opt for one of the other smartphone apps or other Logitech controllers instead.)
  • Logitech isn’t talking about a pricetag. I predict $199 or thereabouts…
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Google TV: It's Official

Posted by Harry McCracken on May 20, 2010 at 11:18 am

Google’s I|O conference includes two–count ’em , two keynotes–and the company definitely saves the sexier stuff for day #2. This morning, we saw a long preview of the next version of Android, version 2.2 “Froyo,” plus some beyond-Froyo features. And then we got an equally lengthy preview of Google TV. Most of the rumors about it were true: It combines TiVo-like navigation and search with Web access, supports Flash, runs Android with third-party apps and a marketplace, and is built around a special Intel Atom CPU. Sony will be making TVs and Blu-Ray players based on it; Logitech will have a standalone box and accessories.

More thoughts on both Froyo and Google TV soon–for now, a few fuzzy photos of the Google TV interface after the jump.

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YouTube Turns Five

Posted by Harry McCracken on May 17, 2010 at 8:58 am

YouTube is celebrating its fifth birthday–and the fact that it now streams two billion videos a day. (Just thinking about it, it’s disorienting to remember that we lived without it, and its rivals, a mere half-decade ago.)

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Roku to Get a Nicer Netflix

Posted by Harry McCracken on May 5, 2010 at 2:22 pm

Netflix may be among the most widely-available Internet video services on gadgets like set-top boxes, game consoles, DVRs, and TVs themselves, but what you get has been a Netflix player–you’ve had to find, queue, and otherwise manage stuff you want to watch in a browser on a computer.

Now Internet  TV box maker Roku is offering a sneak peak at a software update which will give Roku users apparently comprehensive access to Netflix on the TV, no PC required. Looks pretty slick. (Bonus: I assume that this interface shows only Watch Instantly titles, removing the clutter of movies and TV shows that are available only on DVD.)

Roku says the new Netflix experience will be ready in June; it’ll ship on new Roku boxes and will be a free update for current owners.

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Hulu Wants You to Pay for Internet TV. Would You?

Posted by Harry McCracken on April 23, 2010 at 11:13 am

Over at All Things D, Peter Kafka is reporting that Internet TV megasite Hulu wants to try a $10/month “Hulu Plus” premium subscription option. He’s not so sure about the idea–it’ ll be hard to come up with an offering that sounds like it’s worth ten bucks in a world of plentiful free online video, doesn’t muck up the good thing which is Hulu’s free version, and makes enough money to make it all worthwhile.

I actively like the idea of Hulu–or someone–coming up with a for-pay Internet TV option that’s so compelling that I’d dump cable for it. Here’s what would get me excited:

  • One fee for a service that’s available on PC, smartphone, TV (through something like a Roku box), and iPad
  • Not just prime-time entertainment but news, too (sports would also be a plus)
  • A treasure trove of episodes of old shows–including stuff they don’t play on cable and don’t put out on DVD

I’d pay $10 a month for that–heck, I’d pay a lot more than that if it were the TV service of my dreams.

How about you?

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Hey, My TV Just Crashed!

Posted by David Worthington on April 21, 2010 at 8:22 pm

There’s a little-known fact: you don’t need to buy set-top boxes or gaming consoles to enjoy digital media on your TV. Unfortunately, buying more hardware is oftentimes the easier–although more limited–option at the moment.

I just got a great deal on a nicely equipped Samsung LCD television. It comes equipped with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) client software. DLNA is an industry specification that allows devices to share content over a home network.

DLNA servers share content that is played and viewed on clients like televisions. Samsung provides free software to turn your PC into a home media server.

Easy, you might think. Wrong. Samsung’s DLNA server software only works on Windows, and the application’s interface is hardly intuitive. Weaker yet, the client can only play a limited volume of codecs, and has no support for copy-protected media. The average non-geek would be in over his or her head.

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Five Ways to Get More Out of Internet TV

Posted by Harry McCracken on April 17, 2010 at 11:40 am

(Here’s another story I wrote for FoxNews.com.)

TV or PC? That’s the question I find myself asking these days when I’m in the mood to watch the tube. There are still plenty of reasons to opt for the HDTV in my living room: It’s got the biggest and best picture, the most theater-like audio, and — overall — the best selection of stuff to watch. But so many popular programs are now available online that I’m just as likely to catch them on my PC.

TV on a TV may still be the most immersive experience, but TV on a PC feels far more personal. For one thing, most of it is available on demand, on your own schedule. For another, there’s an ever-expanding universe of sites, services, and software designed to make it a cinch to find both shows you know you love and ones you haven’t discovered yet, and then watch them your way. Such as these five winners, all of which work on both Windows PCs and Macs and are absolutely free.

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