Filed under: Industry, Cable, SatelliteVirgin Media's in a pretty big hole compared to Sky on the HD front. As it stands, VM has a single linear high-def station (BBC HD), while Sky delivers 29. Pretty easy choice, right? Virgin Media's CEO Neil Berkett, in a presentation to the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York, noted that it was looking to "level the linear content playing field versus Sky," and also mentioned a "plan to add linear high-definition channels." Unfortunately, he failed to elaborate on a quantity or time frame for delivery, but at least we know it's...
Filed under: Industry, Cables, Other formats A full year after we expected wireless HD to really take off, we're barely in a position different than the one we started in. If we can point to any initiative in particular that has grown legs over the course of 2008, it'd be AMIMON's WHDI. Today, the company has shipped its 100,000th Wireless High-Definition (WHDI) chipset, a milestone that's pretty impressive given the general ignorance of wireless HDTVs in the consumer space. As of now, these chipsets are shipping in ultrathin LCD TVs by top-tier brands (think Sony, Mitsubishi and Sharp), and they're...
Filed under: Cable, Internet, Satellite, SportsWhile you and your crew kick in a few bucks to catch the Pacquiao / de la Hoya fight tonight, keep in mind you're witnessing the launch of a new network, Event TV HD. The new high definition version of TVN's linear Pay-Per-View net promises to bring boxing, MMA and wrestling action in crisp 1080i and 5.1 surround. That usually includes All Day Event tickets if you want to see a replay, or themed programs during the week. TVN sells its package to cable, satellite and other providers who then pass the PPV on to...
Filed under: Cable, New contentAfter gifting Hampton Roads, Virginia with a few fresh high-definition channels in early November, the carrier has came bearing real gifts in December. Starting this week, users in the region will find 13 newcomers in beautiful HD, bringing the total to 47. The high-def additions are: Lifetime Network, Lifetime Movie Network, Hallmark Movie Channel, USA, MTV, CNBC, Nickelodeon, CMT, Sci-Fi, Spike, Bravo, VH1 and Planet Green. For whatever reason, Cox also threw in the SD version of Chiller, even though the HD version is more than accessible. At any rate, the company is also planning to...
If you wanna pick up a YouTube-ready video camera for Mom, we are hard pressed to find something as good as the Kodak ZI6, for the price. This little camera shoots in 720p high-definition at 60 frames per second, and can also take regular old still images as well. Other cameras, like the Flip Mino can’t do that. It supports SD cards in sizes up to 32GB, which basically means you’ll be able to shoot video until your (rechargeable) battery dies, as opposed to worrying about how much space you have left. You can pick them up from Kodak...
By Joe Hall Well, it’s official, YouTube can now be seen in High Definition. What an awesome way to start the weekend! It wasn’t long ago that we reported on YouTube’s change in size. And now we are seeing what we assumed was right around the corner, is here! The change also comes as YouTube announces more and more deals with professional content providers including CBS and MGM. Surprisingly YouTube’s new HD format looks phenomenal! Some are even saying that it surpasses the quality found from rivals such as vimeo. I will admit that I am not a good enough...
Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Internet We heard from TiVo's PR firm regarding that mysterious "Available in High Definition" menu pick discovered yesterday under Amazon's streaming Video on Demand service. The message says, "The Amazon HD link pulled in screengrabs has already (or soon will be) removed. TiVo is continually testing different screen presentations and options for subscribers, but at this time we have nothing to announce, and don't expect to making an announcement on this subject in the near future."If you accept the spin at face value (which we never do) then we shouldn't expect to see HD streaming...
Video technology sure has come a long way in the past 30 years. In the early days the first video recorders used by TV production crews were large quad decks about the size of refrigerator lying on its back and recorded video onto 2-inch wide videotape. Now you can easily find camcorders that fit in your pocket and even shoot high-definition video. This holiday season millions of people will give and receive some form of video, whether it's a LCD TV, video game system, camcorder or other device. Why not consider giving the gift of video in the form...
Netflix was a pioneer in the business of movie rentals — getting consumers to rent DVDs online and mailing them out in cheery red envelopes. Recently, it has put a lot of effort into a service that delivers movies digitally over the Internet to subscribers, preparing for a day when getting movies on a physical disc will become outmoded. People today use the Netflix service on their computers, but Netflix (NFLX) has cut a series of deals with hardware partners to make the service available on TV sets through an array of devices. Most of these devices were designed to...
Listen up, couch potatoes! It looks like NetFlix and Vudu might not be the only streaming services that will offer up a high definition content. Opening up Amazon Video On Demand on your TiVo now shows a tab called “Available in High Definition,” but apparently clicking on it does nothing. A teaser, maybe? Or a slip up? We get the feeling that we’ll all find out very soon, but it seems as though it’s a done deal. Blockbuster is going to have to do something about the “DVD quality” streams they’ll be doing via set-top boxes in order to...
TiVo owners found a placeholder button indicating a high definition Amazon HD service early this morning. The button, however, simply took users to the standard Amazon Top Downloads area instead of to HD content. Now the entire TiVo download section is not available, rather showing the image above instead of displaying services like Amazon, Web Videos, Jaman, and Disney. Furthermore, TiVo has denied that the service is coming soon. So we can only assume that section was pulled to remove that HD button to prevent any more rumors. The hope is still alive though that maybe sometime soon, us...
Filed under: Cable, New contentNearly half a year ago, Pittsburgh residents were cheering as Comcast ushered in a new slate of high-definition options. Now, it's time for yet another round of golf claps, as the carrier has just added in SPEED HD (219), Fox News HD (202) and FX HD (199) while replacing the now-defunct MOJO HD with Fox Sports Pittsburgh (226). And hey Comcast, tipster Steve says you should seriously consider adding ESPNU HD soon (and we're in agreement).[Thanks, Steve]Pittsburgh gets a few new HD channels from Comcast originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:07:00...
Just in case you thought 3D was only for Thursday night NFL games and NBA playoff matchups, Fox Sports is broadcasting the first college football game in the format January 8. CEO David Hill dropped the info during the 3D Entertainment Summit, acknowledging plans to bring the 3D feed to CES (finally, we won't have to miss the big game this year -- like we'd ever watch an SD feed stretched on cheap hotel plasmas) and select movie theaters, but balked at pushing technology forward. Citing costs absorbed by broadcasters in switching to high definition, he's looking towards consumer electronics...
I just grabbed that screenshot off my TiVo Series3, note the new menu item “Available In High Definition”! It looks like someone jumped the gun, if you select that item it takes you to the same screen as “Top Categories & Special Deals”. But clearly this is in indication that HD downloads are coming, and probably soon. Most likely someone flipped the wrong bit and I’m seeing a menu item meant for testers. We’ve been getting hints for a while now, back in May in an interview TiVo’s Jim Denney said we’d see Amazon HD content in the “not...
Are you a big Amazon Unbox fan who has been insanely jealous over Netflix HD streaming? Don't break that remote in passionate rage just yet. One TiVo user spotted this "Available in High Definition" option in their Amazon Video on Demand menu system. Clicking on the option did nothing, but it's probably pretty safe to assume that TiVo didn't add the choice for aesthetic reasons alone—though the company does enjoy their endless word list UI so maybe we're reading to much into it after all. [Twitter via Engadget]...
Well, lookie here. TiVo has an button labeled, “Available in High Definition” underneath the Amazon Video On Demand section. While the button can be selected and pressed, it takes you to the main Amazon Video area where High Definition content is nowhere to be found - yet. Strange? Not really. Netflix is streaming in HD and Amazon needs to compete. The only question now is, when will this button take TiVo users to high definition content? More as we get it....
Filed under: Industry, Other formats, Fox, SportsJust in case you thought 3D was only for Thursday night NFL games and NBA playoff matchups, Fox Sports is broadcasting the first college football game in the format January 8. CEO David Hill dropped the info during the 3D Entertainment Summit, acknowledging plans to bring the 3D feed to CES (finally, we won't have to miss the big game this year -- like we'd ever watch an SD feed stretched on cheap hotel plasmas) and select movie theaters, but balked at pushing technology forward. Citing costs absorbed by broadcasters in switching to high...
Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Internet Step aside NetFlix, looks like Amazon is finally ready to crash your HD streaming party. According to one reader, the "Available in High Definition" menu pick just appeared under his TiVo's Amazon Video on Demand menu. Nothing happens when he clicks it but we imagine that might get sorted by the time the sun comes back around the globe. Anyone else seeing this?[Thanks, Rich]Amazon ready to begin HD streaming to TiVo? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments...
Step aside NetFlix, looks like Amazon is finally ready to crash your HD streaming party. According to one reader, the "Available in High Definition" menu pick just appeared under his TiVo's Amazon Video on Demand menu. Nothing happens when he clicks it but we imagine that might get sorted by the time the sun comes back around the globe. Anyone else seeing this?[Thanks, Rich]Amazon ready to begin HD streaming to TiVo? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments...
Filed under: New contentFollowing the lead of BBC HD, Sky Movies has also announced its intentions to get its high-def program in gear during the run-up to Christmas. The channel is gearing up to show UK premieres of over 15 films, with a number of those being available in stunning HD. Additionally, Sky Movies HD will be showing the entire Rocky saga on Boxing Day, and certain fresh releases (like Beowulf, Stardust and The Golden Compass) will also be delivered in high-definition. The full schedule awaits you in the read link.Sky Movies gets serious with HD flicks originally appeared on...
