Amazon is reportedly preparing to bundlestreaming movie content with its Prime subscription service, in an attempt to better take on Netflix in the US. According to the FT‘s sources, the web retailer has been readying the streaming system for some time now; rather than pushing individual rentals, as the current Amazon Video On Demand system offers, it will follow a subscription-based pattern with unlimited access to movies and TV shows.
Amazon Prime currently offers unlimited fast shipping on purchases, for a flat fee of $79 per year. It is currently available in the US, UK, Germany, France and Japan; Amazon recently purchased European rental and streaming company LoveFilm in a $200m deal that will see the retailer gain an instant catalog of licensed titles to distribute.
Whether or not that acquisition heralds the start of an Amazon Prime streaming bundle in Europe as well remains to be seen.
The promised Boxee Netflix app – which the streaming media company had previously said would be released by the end of January – is once again delayed. According to the Boxee blog, the Netflix app works but has “not yet satisfied Netflix’s security requirements.”
Boxee doesn’t have a timeline for the release, but according to marketing lead Andrew Kippen the company is meeting with Netflix on Wednesday and hopes to have “a better idea” at the end of this week about what’s happening. The issue appears to center around DRM, and how secure Netflix believes its feeds are when they reach the Linux-based Boxee Box.
Boxee has added VUDU support to the Boxee Box by D-Link, as promised, with US users of the streaming media cube now able to access rented and purchased content. The Boxee STB supports VUDU’s HDX format, for 24fps 1080p HD with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound.
Netflix support, meanwhile, is coming later this month, and there’s a full list of bugfixes and enhancements below. You can either wait for your Boxee Box to update automatically, or you can trigger the firmware update via the settings page.
Enhancements:
Settings to control de-interlacing and video filters configuration
Support for language selection in subtitle/audio
Forced subtitle automatic selection during MKV file playback
An option to ignore the prefix in the sort order for movies/albums/artists which start with ‘The’ and ‘A’ (big one!)
Enhancements to Browser performance
Browser opens in lower resolution to allow easier reading of text
Browser is zoomed into Video by default for non auto full screen websites
Direct launch of website when defining full URL in the search bar
Preselecting the current chapter when opening chapter selector for MKV/BluRay
Bug Fixes:
HTTPS support for the browser
4:3 Videos Stretched to 16:9
MKV Chapter Time is Displayed Incorrectly
Audio dropouts in DTS-HD audio
Improved WTV support
3gp playback errors
Improve BluRay titles loading time
Allow larger subtitles time offsets
Audio re-buffering when entering commercials in TV episodes.
Viewing “Info Menu” while watching 24hz videos cause temp reversion back 60hz
With playlist over 999 items, track numbers overlap repeat icon in OSD
TV Shows no longer show as watched and can’t set to watched/unwatched
Crash at manual resolve if the user rapidly presses the menu/back button whilst the OS tries to apply details to files in a folder
When choosing from search suggestion list -> update the search editbox
Embedded fonts ignored on MKV playback with embedded SSA/ASS subtitles
SSA/ASS Subtitles position and font
Overlapping text when network settings changed
Empty state for App Favorites appearing for empty third-party repository
Crashing while resolving metadata for movies from UPNP
Listview mode is not preserved when returning from an artist selection
In certain cases video freezes when selecting play after pausing
Playing a video and after several times of pausing and skipping the video freezes and audio continues
Boxee remembers wrong PGS subtitle track in MKV file after leaving and then resuming playback
All subtitles (PGS) appears as ‘unknown’ for some BluRay titles
Crash when attempting to identify media via UPNP
Some .mkv and .m4v files with 2.35:1 AR are playing back vertically stretched to 1.78:1
Hang and video freezes or black screen when Pause Resume and or seeking FF/RWD during playback
Hang on WMV Stream Seeking
Crashed on shutdown and restarted automatically
Scrolling in Files Browse list results in partial control of Files menu and also crash
SMB credentials are not saved on reboot
When deleting an item from the watch later list the focus location of the last item is not remembered
Music tracks which are longer than an hour appears as “01:00:…” on the OSD
Rear channels on AAC 5.1 are not played properly w/ LPCM 5.1 out
Prompting user for credentials that are not used in accessing shares
Can’t access network share due to Window Live on Windows 7
large flash videos stop playback when reaching Boxee file system limit
Reconnecting to disconnected shares disables selection in the Movies database view
Subtitles is disabled in the playback OSD for local content
No video only audio while playing certain m4v files
Flash video audio drops out for long length online videos
Disconnects from OSX SMB sources
Occasional loss of focus on main menu
Unidentified files in File Source with “Movies” in path name are being identified as a title called ”Movies”
Crashed on shutdown and restarted automatically
Scrolling in Files Browse list results in partial control of Files menu and also crash
TiVo has released its TiVo Premiere for iPad remote control app, a free download [iTunes link] which turns your iOS slate into not only a remote but an EPG guide and recording management station. The app also packs integration with Facebook and Twitter, for easier commenting on broadcast shows.
Both one-off and season pass recording scheduling is possible, as is managing the to-do list. Users can also review their recorded content and remotely begin playback from the iPad, while keeping the currently-showing program full-screen on their TV.
If you’ve a Netflix or Amazon Video on Demand account, you can also browse those streaming services from the iPad as well. You’ll need a a TiVo Premiere or TiVo Premiere XL box, as well as an iPad obviously, in order to make use of the free app.
Netflix has removed the “Add to DVD Queue” option from streaming devices, meaning subscribers can no longer request physical rentals from the streaming side of the service. According to product management director Jamie Odell, the change has been implemented so that Netflix “can concentrate on offering you the titles that are available to watch instantly”; however, users are vocal in their complaints about the UI alteration.
The change marks another step in Netflix’s ongoing transition from physical to streaming delivery, and many subscribers have accused the company of wanting to put another block in the way of opting for DVDs rather than the relatively limited streamed content. Back in November 2010 Netflix introduced a new, cheaper streaming-only plan for $7.99 per month, but simultaneously increased the prices of many of its DVD plans; at the time, CEO Reed Hastings described the Netflix as “primarily a streaming video company.”
For TVs, having a connection to the Internet, where users can access applications in some fashion or another, has been a big point at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. For Haier, which have officially unveiled a new line of Internet-connected TVs, it’s about the hardware as much as it is the partnership that they’ve developed with Yahoo!.
They’ve announced the partnership with Yahoo! at CES 2011, and outlined the plan to incorporate Yahoo! Connected TV into the new sets with built-in WiFi. The new units will be able to access 50,000 TV shows and movies, courtesy of Yahoo! Connected TV’s on-demand feature. It also means that the TVs will have access to Connected’s applications, which include YouTube, CBS, Twitter, and Facebook, amongst others.
The new TVs will also feature Netflix integrated, and the remotes will feature a Netflix button as well for easy access. However, the remotes with the Netflix button will only appear on the remote controls that ship with Haier’s upcoming Web-connected Blu-ray players. As of the time of this writing, the company has not said when the new TVs will be released, nor a price point for any unit.
For some, Microsoft’s keynote, where CEO Steve Ballmer (and others) takes the stage and talks about what’s to come from the Redmond-based company is the kick-off for the Consumer Electronics Show. This year, Microsoft took some time to talk about their recently released motion-controlled peripheral, Kinect, and the features that will be added into the accessory soon. For those who believe that Kinect’s usage through the Xbox 360′s system isn’t as in-depth as they’d like, Microsoft is happy to add functionality to two main features, along with adding an entirely new way to interact with your friends on Xbox LIVE.
First and foremost, Avatar Kinect is how Microsoft believes that many gamers will want to interact with their friends. Thanks to Kinect, users will be able to actually “interact” with their friends, right in the digital world played out on their TV. It’s not as vast as, say, Sony’s PlayStation Home digital world, but the Kinect camera does add a bit of personalization to the usage that some may enjoy. The Kinect sensor is now able to track not only a person’s movements of appendages and head, but also the mouth and eyebrows, all of which will be repeated by the Avatar in the game. Avatar Kinect will feature different backgrounds, where users can basically sign into a real-time chat, with their Avatar mimicking their movements in real-life.
The other main part of the announcement from Microsoft, as far as it relates to Kinect, is the addition of Kinect-based controls for not only Hulu Plus, but also Netflix. Users will be able to make use of this method of navigation as soon as Microsoft pushes out a dashboard update, which should be any minute. Both of the newer support services will allow for users to select movies, shows, or the like without having to use a controller. Additionally, players will also be able to use voice commands to control some functions. The updates are said to be rolled out in the Spring of 2011.
Roku has announced that it has recently served its one billionth stream of content, hot on the heels of confirmation that one million of the company’s streaming STBs had been sold. According to the company, Roku viewers averaged over 11 hours of playback per week, and Roku reckons its user-base now matches the reach of a top-10 cable company.
Roku CEO Anthony Wood actually credited Apple and the launch of the streaming-centric Apple TV for the success of Roku in 2010, claiming that the high-profile device actually helped raise awareness of streaming media.
Press Release:
Roku Reaches 1 Billion Streams of Content to the TV
User base now matches reach of a Top 10 cable company; Over 130 unique streaming entertainment channels now available.
Saratoga, Calif. – January 4, 2011 – Roku, Inc., maker of the award-winning family of Roku streaming players, announced today that the company served its one billionth stream of content. This follows on the company’s previous announcement of surpassing 1 million units in 2010.
Roku streaming players continue to grow in popularity and usage as Roku makes more streaming apps, or “channels,” available. In December 2010, Roku players averaged over 11 hours of playing time per week – a significant amount of TV viewing for Roku customers when compared to the national average of 36 hours per week.
“A billion streams is pretty amazing and shows just how engaged our customers are with their Roku players,” said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku, Inc. “If you think about it, our active user base now matches that of a top 10 US cable company. Our core values of simplicity, great content and affordability clearly resonate with mainstream customers.”
Starting at $59.99, Roku players now feature over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Video On Demand and Hulu Plus; live and on demand sports and highlights from MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter Live and NBA GameTime; music from Pandora, MP3tunes, MOG, and TuneIn Radio; photo and video sharing from Flickr and Facebook; plus news and entertainment from thousands of sources around the world. The Roku platform has become the platform of choice for top content partners looking to reach TV viewers via instant and live streaming.
About Roku, Inc.
The market leader in streaming entertainment devices for the TV with over 1 million units sold, Roku has always believed that anything you want to watch, listen to, and enjoy should simply be there on your TV, whenever you want it. Roku streaming players are renowned for their simplicity, variety of entertainment choices, and exceptional value. Roku is privately held and based in Saratoga, Calif.
As smart TV options get more and more comprehensive, actually deciding which service you’re going to use takes some planning. Netflix has sensibly decided that the best place to be isn’t just on a menu but as a dedicated button on the remote control, and so has agreed deals with various manufacturers to get placement on their TV, Blu-ray and media streamer controllers.
Best Buy’s own Dynex brand, Haier, Memorex, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba will all slap a Netflix button on certain remotes for select models of their Blu-ray players, while Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba also will place the Netflix one-click button on remote controls for select new Internet-connected TVs. Finally, the Boxee, Iomega and Roku STBs will get Netflix buttons on their remotes as well.
The service itself will be unchanged, but Netflix is obviously hoping that more straightforward access to the service will gain them extra mind-share. Oh, and before you ask, that janky remote control mock-up above is the handiwork of Netflix. For shame!
Press Release:
Streaming From Netflix Will Soon be Even More Convenient With Netflix One-Click Remotes Introduced by Major Consumer Electronics Makers
Members to Benefit with a Netflix One-Click Button on Remote Controls for New Internet Connected TVs, Blu-ray Disc Players and Other Devices that Stream from Netflix
LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced that streaming from Netflix on TVs will soon be as easy as one click of a remote control as a number of the world’s leading consumer electronics companies have joined in a development effort to place Netflix-branded one-click buttons on remotes that operate Internet connected TVs, Blu-ray disc players and other devices that connect the Internet to the TV.
Beginning this Spring, buttons that specify “Netflix” – including some featuring the iconic red Netflix logo – are planned to be situated prominently on remote controls that operate certain new Blu-ray disc players from a variety of companies including Best Buy’s in-house Dynex brand, Haier, Memorex, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba. Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba also will place the Netflix one-click button on remote controls for select new Internet-connected TVs. Remote controls for the Boxee, Iomega and Roku set-top boxes also will feature the Netflix one-click remote.
“For members who want even more convenience when instantly watching TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix, the answer is about to be right in their hands,” said Netflix Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt. “No more turning on the TV, going to a home screen and searching for the Netflix icon. With the Netflix one-click remote, it’s simply a matter of pushing the Netflix button to instantly watch any of the vast selection of TV shows and movies available to stream from Netflix.”
The Netflix one-click remote is the latest in a series of rapid technological advancements by Netflix to enable Netflix members to instantly watch TV shows and movies streamed by Netflix over the Internet. Today there are more than 250 Netflix ready devices on the market.
iTunes’ rental business has already grown to 10-percent that of Netflix‘s, according to one analyst, and is likely to shift from being a hook for selling more Apple TV hardware and instead become a source of significant revenue in its own right. Gleacher & Co. analyst Brian Marshall suggested that cash-rich Apple’s most sensible option would be to acquire Netflix, pointing out that “Netflix has approximately 150,000 titles, while Apple has just 15,000. Apple has a tremendous opportunity.”
“Despite iTunes’ TV/movie availability being only half as old as Netflix’s service, it is our belief that iTunes’ rental business is already roughly one-tenth the size of Netflix” Brian Marshall, analyst, Gleacher & Co.
Such a deal, Marshall calculates, could well reach $12bn assuming Apple paid a healthy 20-percent premium over Netflix’s current market price. Still, the company is known to have cash reserves of around $51bn, which would make a Netflix acquisition at least possible, if still the most expensive in Apple’s history.
Netflix’s position is particularly strong, the analyst believes, because it is not only a rival to iTunes rentals but a partner on devices like the Apple TV. If Apple could bring that in-house, it would not only instantly boost its catalog of titles, but gain a significant bargaining chip in the growing streaming media market.
Amazon is reportedly preparing to bundlestreaming movie content with its Prime subscription service, in an attempt to better take on Netflix in the US. According to the FT‘s sources, the web retailer has been readying the streaming system for some time now; rather than pushing individual rentals, as the current Amazon Video On Demand system offers, it will follow a subscription-based pattern with unlimited access to movies and TV shows.
